Smarter CARs: Using AI to Improve Chimeric Antigen Receptor Design

Artificial intelligence is opening new possibilities in the design of next-generation immunotherapies. In this episode of EHA Unplugged, Dr Andrea Schmidts discusses how AI-driven approaches are reshaping the development of chimeric antigen receptor (CAR) T-cell therapies, particularly at the design stage of the CAR receptor binding domains.  Dr Schmidts explains how structure-based AI models can generate entirely new protein binders, moving beyond the traditional reliance on monoclonal antibody–derived fragments. The conversation explores how these tools enable large-scale exploration of CAR designs, the experimental challenges of validating thousands of candidates, and the potential to tailor therapies that overcome resistance mechanisms such as antigen escape. Looking ahead, Dr. Schmidts highlights the role of AI across the entire CAR T-cell development pipeline—from early design to testing and manufacturing—and reflects on the practical and regulatory considerations of bringing AI-designed therapies to the clinic. Guest:  Dr Andrea SchmidtsAffiliation: Emmy Noether Group Leader, Medicine III – Hematology/Oncology, Technical University of Munich, Germany Host: Leah de LeonLearn MoreWhat did you think of this podcast? Share your opinions with us in this short feedback survey.⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Provide Feedback⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Would you like to explore more eLearning or podcasts? Please visit the EHA Campus.⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://ehaedu.org/Campus⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Subscribe, share, and review this podcast to be able to address topics you enjoy and like to listen to.Follow EHA on Instagram: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.instagram.com/EHA_Hematology/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Facebook: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://e-h-a.link/facebook⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠LinkedIn: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.linkedin.com/company/eha/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Email us: [email protected] to receive the EHA Educational Updates via ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://eha.news/subscribe⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠