David Knorr, MD, PhD

Education

MD, PhD, University of Minnesota

Residencies

Internal Medicine - New York-Presbyterian/Weill Cornell Medical Center

Fellowships

Medical Oncology - Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center

Board Certifications

Medical Oncology

I am currently an Assistant Attending Physician at Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center (MSKCC). I am also co-appointed as Director of Clinical Operations and Translational Immunology and Visiting Assistant Professor at Rockefeller University. My clinical and laboratory interests focus on the mechanisms of antibody-based immunotherapies, including how they both enhance the immune system and, in some patients, lead to severe adverse events, limiting their use.

Using novel pre-clinical mouse models expressing human receptors for antibody therapeutics (hFcγR mice), we have demonstrated the ability to recapitulate toxicities seen in patients while developing better treatment approaches limiting such toxicities. Our studies have provided mechanistic insights into how antibodies targeting an immune stimulatory receptor called CD40 can promote antitumor immunity within tumors. My recent research efforts have identified a unique approach whereby intratumoral delivery of an Fc-enhanced CD40 agonist leads to potent T cell immunity.

This work was advanced into a phase I clinical trial (NCT04059588) for which I am the Principal Investigator. Early results from this study have shown it is safe, while demonstrating dramatic responses in a few of the patients treated thus far. Uniquely, such responses have been seen in tumors previously not responsive to immune based therapies, in particular breast cancers.