Rishi Patel

Research Interest:

My research focuses on antigen presentation machinery, specifically cytosolic aminopeptidases, and their relative contribution to MHC class I peptide (pMHC-I) presentation. These enzymes trim N-terminally extended peptide precursors in the cytosol prior to TAP-mediated translocation into the endoplasmic reticulum, where final loading onto MHC-I occurs. The effect of the individual cytosolic aminopeptidase enzymes on the presented immunopeptidome available for CD8⁺ T cell surveillance remains poorly resolved, as they can modulate antigenic peptides depending on substrate sequence and cellular context.

I am supporting DPhil candidate Om Gandhi on this project, contributing to broader efforts to understand how antigen presentation machinery underpins immune escape, ultimately to improve the design of cancer vaccines.

Background:

I am currently an MSc student in Applied Cancer Science and a member of the Clarendon Scholars Association. I completed my undergraduate studies at the University of Illinois, where I majored in Economics with a minor in Biological Sciences. During this time, I investigated the role of endothelial ACKR1 expression in regulating neutrophil infiltration and breast cancer metastasis.

Following completion of my master’s degree, I will begin medical training at the University of Illinois College of Medicine, with the long-term goal of becoming a medical oncologist.