Edward L. Nelson
Division of Hematology/Oncology, Chao Family Comprehensive Cancer Center
School of Medicine
School of Medicine
Professor, Division of Hematology/Oncology, Medicine
School of Medicine
School of Medicine
Professor, Molecular Biology and Biochemistry
Charlie Dunlop School of Biological Sciences
Charlie Dunlop School of Biological Sciences
Outpatient Medical Director, Cancer Center, Medical Center
School of Medicine
School of Medicine
Director, Supportive Oncology Program, Chao Family Comprehensive Cancer Center
School of Medicine
School of Medicine
Vice Chair for Academic Affairs, Medicine
School of Medicine
School of Medicine
Associate Director CRTEC, Chao Family Comprehensive Cancer Center
M.D., Oregon Health Sciences University, 1986, Medicine
B.S., Willamette University, 1977, Chemistry
B.S., Willamette University, 1977, Chemistry
ORCiD: 0000-0001-7887-032X
University of California, Irvine
839 Health Sciences Road
Sprague Hall, Room 136
Irvine, CA 92697
839 Health Sciences Road
Sprague Hall, Room 136
Irvine, CA 92697
Research Interests
Tumor immunology, Psychoneuroimmune axis, Immunomodulation & Immunotherapeutics, Dendritic cell biology, Supportive Oncology, Cancer stem cell biology,
Academic Distinctions
Top Doctors in CA 2024-onward: America’s Top Doctors, Castle Connelly 2012-onward: 2018 Top UCIMC Physicians Patient Satisfaction: Elected Fellow of the American College of Physicians - 2010: OCMA Physician of Excellence – 2007-2025; ASCO Merit Award - 1994; Pfizer Immunology Postdoctoral Research Fellowship - 1992; Dean's List - 1986; Merck Award for Scholastic Achievement - 1986; Sneeden Award for Excellence in Pathology - 1986; Alpha Omega Alpha Medical Honor Society - 1985; Tartar Research Fellowship - 1982
Appointments
1992-95 Stanford University-Pfizer Postdoctoral Immunology Research Fellowship
Research Abstract
Dr. Nelson is a translational Physician/Scientist, tumor immunologist who conducts both laboratory and clinical studies with a focus of improving the ability of the immune system to fight patient’s cancer. He served as Chief of the Division of Hematology/Oncology for 14 years until 7/8/2024, a member of the Chao Family Comprehensive Cancer Center, Cancer Research Institute, Institute for Immunology. His work incorporates cutting edge technologies to improve patient care and outcomes. His most recent engagement is as Director of the new Supportive Oncology Program
Dr Nelson collaborates with several multi-disciplinary team that conduct biobehavioral clinical studies in cervical cancer patients, who are typically low socioeconomic class, underserved ,and often minority patients. Our work is the first to demonstrate, in human clinical trials, an association between the psychological response to chronic psychological stress and the stance or balance of the immune system. We were also the first to demonstrate that telomere length of peripheral blood leukocytes could be affected by changes in the chronic stress response. Together, these groundbreaking studies have adding significantly to the growing understanding of the PNI axis.
Dr. Nelson also conducts laboratory research into mechanisms for eliciting antigen specific, anti-tumor immune responses and methods for translation into clinical trials. Specifically, he is developing strategies for anti-tumor immunotherapy that take advantage of immune system dendritic cell biology. We were the first to demonstrate a significant level of plasticity in the major human DC subset. We have evaluated the Venezuelan Equine Encephalitis virus derived vector for use in anti-tumor immunotherapy, which has intrinsic tropism for a subset of DCs, which we initially identified. We collaborate with investigators from the Institute for Molecular Medicine in preclinical antigen specific immunotherapies targeting the cancer testes antigen BORIS, and with our material scientists in targeting antigens to DCs.
Dr. Nelson was a co-investigator and faculty member in the NSF funded IGERT LifeChips program. Together with nanotechnology engineers and experts in advanced optics at the Beckman Laser Institute, Dr Nelson is refining a novel pallet array technology to be able to examine the cellular profile of individual patients’ tumors. We are applying this platform to study tumor cellular subsets at the single cell level, inclusive of putative cancer stem cells. This functionality of the platform has the potential to lead to the rational design of individualized treatment strategies.
Dr. Nelson is the principle investigator on several clinical trials examining both therapeutic agents, biomarkers, and immunomodulatory interventions. Dr. Nelson's clinical interests are focused on lymphomas. He is active in quality improvement measures, in cancer survivorship, and in maximizing patient quality of life.
Dr. Nelson holds a joint appointment in the Department of Molecular Biology and Biochemistry in the School of Biological Sciences.
Patents:
US Application No. 09/242,202 and European Patent 0920522 (issued 10/03)
“Novel Vector for Polynucleotide Vaccines.” Edward L. Nelson, Peter J. Nelson
U.S. Patent No. 6,479,286 B1 (Issued Nov 12, 2002)
"Methods and Compositions for Making Dendritic Cells from Expanded Populations of Monocytes for Activating Cells." Edward L. Nelson, Susan L. Strobl;
U.S. Patent No. 7,446,185, (Issued November 4, 2008)
“HER 2/neu Target Antigen and Use of Same to Stimulate an Immune Response.” Edward L. Nelson
Dr Nelson collaborates with several multi-disciplinary team that conduct biobehavioral clinical studies in cervical cancer patients, who are typically low socioeconomic class, underserved ,and often minority patients. Our work is the first to demonstrate, in human clinical trials, an association between the psychological response to chronic psychological stress and the stance or balance of the immune system. We were also the first to demonstrate that telomere length of peripheral blood leukocytes could be affected by changes in the chronic stress response. Together, these groundbreaking studies have adding significantly to the growing understanding of the PNI axis.
Dr. Nelson also conducts laboratory research into mechanisms for eliciting antigen specific, anti-tumor immune responses and methods for translation into clinical trials. Specifically, he is developing strategies for anti-tumor immunotherapy that take advantage of immune system dendritic cell biology. We were the first to demonstrate a significant level of plasticity in the major human DC subset. We have evaluated the Venezuelan Equine Encephalitis virus derived vector for use in anti-tumor immunotherapy, which has intrinsic tropism for a subset of DCs, which we initially identified. We collaborate with investigators from the Institute for Molecular Medicine in preclinical antigen specific immunotherapies targeting the cancer testes antigen BORIS, and with our material scientists in targeting antigens to DCs.
Dr. Nelson was a co-investigator and faculty member in the NSF funded IGERT LifeChips program. Together with nanotechnology engineers and experts in advanced optics at the Beckman Laser Institute, Dr Nelson is refining a novel pallet array technology to be able to examine the cellular profile of individual patients’ tumors. We are applying this platform to study tumor cellular subsets at the single cell level, inclusive of putative cancer stem cells. This functionality of the platform has the potential to lead to the rational design of individualized treatment strategies.
Dr. Nelson is the principle investigator on several clinical trials examining both therapeutic agents, biomarkers, and immunomodulatory interventions. Dr. Nelson's clinical interests are focused on lymphomas. He is active in quality improvement measures, in cancer survivorship, and in maximizing patient quality of life.
Dr. Nelson holds a joint appointment in the Department of Molecular Biology and Biochemistry in the School of Biological Sciences.
Patents:
US Application No. 09/242,202 and European Patent 0920522 (issued 10/03)
“Novel Vector for Polynucleotide Vaccines.” Edward L. Nelson, Peter J. Nelson
U.S. Patent No. 6,479,286 B1 (Issued Nov 12, 2002)
"Methods and Compositions for Making Dendritic Cells from Expanded Populations of Monocytes for Activating Cells." Edward L. Nelson, Susan L. Strobl;
U.S. Patent No. 7,446,185, (Issued November 4, 2008)
“HER 2/neu Target Antigen and Use of Same to Stimulate an Immune Response.” Edward L. Nelson
Available Technologies
Awards and Honors
2007-2025 - OCMA Physician of Excellence
2008- onward - Consumers’ Research Council of America - America’s Top Oncologists
2010 - Fellow of the American College of Physicians -
2018, 10th Annual C. Ronald Koons Humanitarian Award 12/2018
2019 ACS Southern California Chapter Medical Honoree - 7/27/2019
2023- onward Sigma Xi, International Scientific Research Honor Society
2008- onward - Consumers’ Research Council of America - America’s Top Oncologists
2010 - Fellow of the American College of Physicians -
2018, 10th Annual C. Ronald Koons Humanitarian Award 12/2018
2019 ACS Southern California Chapter Medical Honoree - 7/27/2019
2023- onward Sigma Xi, International Scientific Research Honor Society
Publications
Lee, BJ*, Griffen SP*, Doe J, Quach A, Sun Y, Brem EA,Van Etten RA, Nelson EL, Coombs CC, Chan A. "R-DA-EPOCH versus DA-EPOCH-R: Impact of Chemoimmunotherapy Sequencing on Treatment Outcomes in Patients with Diffuse Large B-cell Lymphoma” Accepted 6/23/2025 Clinical Lymphoma, Myeloma, and Leukemia doi: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.clml.2025.06.018
Evaluating Anti-tumor Immune Responses of Protein Nanoparticle-Based Cancer Vaccines.
Li E, Butkovich N, Tucker JA, Nelson EL, Wang SW.
Methods Mol Biol. 2023;2671:321-333. doi: 10.1007/978-1-0716-3222-2_18.
Li E, Butkovich N, Tucker JA, Nelson EL, Wang SW.
Methods Mol Biol. 2023;2671:321-333. doi: 10.1007/978-1-0716-3222-2_18.
Loukinov D, Anderson AL, Mkrtichyan M, Ghochikyan A, Hinojosa SR, Tucker JA, Lobanenkov V, Agadjanyan MG, Nelson EL. A therapeutic vaccine targeting rat BORIS (CTCFL) for treatment of rat breast cancer tumor. Int. J. Mol. Sci. 2023, 24, 5976. https://doi.org/10.3390/ijms24065976 PMID: 36983050
Butkovich N, Tucker JA, Ramirez A, Li E, Meli VS, Nelson EL, Wang SW. Nanoparticle vaccines can be designed to induce pDC support of mDCs for increased antigen display. Biomater Sci. 2023 Jan 17;11(2):596-610. doi: 10.1039/d2bm01132h. PMID: 36476811
Li, E; Brennan, CK; Ramirez, A;Tucker, JA; Butkovich, N; Viyaykumar, MS; Ionkina, AA;, Nelson, EL; Prescher, JA; Wang, SW. Macromolecular Assembly of Bioluminescent Protein Nanoparticles for Enhanced Imaging. Mater Today Bio. 2022 Oct 8;17:100455. doi: 10.1016/j.mtbio.2022.100455. eCollection 2022 Dec 15. PMID: 36304975
Juat DJ, Hachey SJ, Billimek J, Del Rosario MP, Nelson EL, Hughes CCW, Zell JA. Adoptive T cell Therapy in Colorectal Cancer: A Systematic Review. Oncologist. 2022 Mar 11;27(3):210-219. doi: 10.1093/oncolo/oyab038. PMID: 35274719
Tucker JA; Osann K; Hsieh, S; Wahi, A; Monk, BJ; Wenzel, L; Nelson, EL. Longitudinal Changes in Sleep: Associations with Shifts in Circulating Cytokines and Emotional Distress in a Cancer Survivor Population. Int.J. Behav. Med. 2021 Feb;28(1), 140–150 (2021). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12529-020-09950-0 PMID: 33598780
Denney JM, Nelson E, Wadhwa P, Waters T, Mathew L, Goldenberg RL, Culhane JF. Cytokine profiling: variation in immune modulation with preterm birth vs. uncomplicated term birth identifies pivotal signals in pathogenesis of preterm birth. J Perinat Med. 2021 Mar 26, 2020 Oct 9:/j/jpme.ahead-of-print/jpm-2020-0025/jpm-2020-0025.xml. doi: 10.1515/jpm-2020-0025. Epub ahead of print. PMID: 33035192.
Neek M, Tucker JA, Butkovich, N, Nelson EL, Wang SW. An Antigen-Delivery Protein Nanoparticle Combined with Anti-PD-1 Checkpoint Inhibitor Has Curative Efficacy in an Aggressive Melanoma Model. Accepted Advanced Therapeutics 9/7/2020, First published: 01 October 2020 https://doi.org/10.1002/adtp.202000122. PMID: 34141865
Anthony L, Atweh G, Bhatia R, Carey LA, Chang JC, Edelman MJ, Kantoff PW, Markham MJ, Messersmith W, Nelson EL, Oettel K, O'Regan R, Verschraegen CF, Vose JM. Benchmarks for Academic Oncology Faculty. JCO Oncol Pract. 2020 Sep 30:OP2000020. doi: 10.1200/OP.20.00020. Epub ahead of print. PMID: 32997608.
Fruehauf KR, Kim TI, Nelson EL, Patterson JP, Wang SW, Shea KJ. Metabolite Responsive Nanoparticle-Protein Complex. Biomacromolecules. 2019 Jul 8;20(7):2703-2712. doi: 10.1021/acs.biomac.9b00470. Epub 2019 Jun 3. PMID: 31117354
Osann K, Wilford J, Wenzel L, Hsieh S, Tucker JA, Wahi A, Monk BJ, Nelson EL. Relationship between social support, quality of life, and Th2 cytokines in a biobehavioral cancer survivorship trial. Support Care Cancer. 2019 Sep;27(9):3301-3310. doi: 10.1007/s00520-018-4617-z. Epub 2019 Jan 5. PMID: 30612237; PMCID: PMC6612537.
Lee A., Garg N., Westerhof, T.M., Nelson E.L.. Whole blood Sorting, Enrichment and in situ immunolabeling of cellular subsets using acoustic microstreaming. Microsystems & Nanoengineering – Nature (2018) 4, 17085; doi:10.1038/micronano.2017.85
Qiu X, Lombardo JA, Westerhof TM, Pennell M, Ng A, Alshetqiwi H, Luna BM, Nelson E, Kassenbrock K, Hui EE, Haun JB. Microfluidic filter device with nylon mesh membranes efficiently dissociates cell aggregates and digested tissue into single cells. Lab on a Chip, August 3, 2018, DOI: 10.1039/C8LC00507A PMID: 30090895
Bagaev A, Pichugin A, Nelson EL, Agadjanyan MG, Ghochikyan A, Ataullakhanov RI. Anticancer Mechanisms in Two Murine Bone Marrow-Derived Dendritic Cell Subsets Activated with TLR4 Agonists. Journal of immunology 2018; 200(8):2656-2669. PMID: 29500244
Westerhof, T.M., Cox-Muranami W. A., Li GP, Bachman M., Fan H., Nelson E.L. Highly efficient purification of transfected cell colonies using Ferro-core Micropallet Arrays. Sci Rep. 2017 Oct 12;7(1):13081. doi: 10.1038/s41598-017-13242-1. PMID: 29026113
Neek, M., Tucker J., Kim TK, Molino NM, Nelson E.L., Wang S.W. Co-delivery of human cancer-testes antigens with adjuvant in protein nanonparticles induces higher cell-mediated immune responses. Biomaterials. Feb 2018; 156:194-203. PMID:29202325
Qui X., Huang J.H., Westerhof, T.M., Lombardo J.A., Henrikson K. Pennel M., Pourfard P.P., Nelson E.L., Nath P., Haun J.B. Microfluidic divice for rapid digestion of tissues into cellular suspensions. Lab Chip. 2017 Sep 26;17(19):3300-3309. doi: 10.1039/c7lc00575j. PMID: 28850139
Hinkle P., Westerhof, T.M., Qiu Y., Mallin D.J., Wallace M.L., Nelson E.L., Taborek P., Siwy Z.S. A hybrid resistive pulse-optical detection platform for microfluidic experiments. Sci Rep. 2017 Aug 31;7(1):10173. doi: 10.1038/s41598-017-10000-1. PMID: 28860641
Molino N.M., Neek M., Tucker J.A., Nelson E.L., Wang S.W. Display of DNA on Nanoparticles for Targeting Antigen Presenting Cells. ACS Biomater Sci Eng. 2017 Apr 10;3(4):496-501. doi: 10.1021/acsbiomaterials.7b00148. Epub 2017 Mar 14. PMID: 28989957
Westerhof, T.M., Williams, G., Guan Z., Bachman, M., Li, G-P., Nelson, E.L. Multicolor Immunofluorescent Cell Surface Marker Detection of Single Adherent Cells: Functionalizing the Micropallet Array Towards the Analysis of Human Primary Tumor Cell Subsets. Adv Healthc Mater. 2016 Apr 6;5(7):767-71. doi: 10.1002/adhm.201500859, http://dx.doi.org/10.1002/adhm.201500859 Epub 2016 Feb 29. PMID: 26924570
Molino N.M., Neek M., Tucker J.A., Nelson E.L., Wang S.W. Viral-Mimicking Protein Nanoparticles For Inducing Tumor Antigen-Specific Cd8+ T Cell Responses. Biomaterials 2016 86:83-91. doi: 10.1016/j.biomaterials.2016.01.056 PMID: 26894870
Cox-Muranami W, Nelson E.L, Li GP, Bachman M. Large Area Magnetic Micropallet Arrays for Cell Colony Sorting. Lab Chip. 2015 Dec 15;16(1):172-81. doi: 10.1039/c5lc01131k. PMID: 26606460
Wenzel L., Osann K, Hsieh S, Monk, B.J., Nelson E.L. Psychosocial Telephone Counseling for Cervical Cancer Survivors: Results of a Randomized Biobehavioral Trial. Journal of Clinical Oncology, J Clin Oncol. 2015 Apr 1;33(10):1171-9. doi: 10.1200/JCO.2014.57.4079. Epub 2015 Feb 23. PMID: 25713429
Ghochikyan, A., Pichugin, A., Bagaev, A., Davtyan, A., Hovakimyan A., Tukhvatulin, A., Davtyan, H., Shcheblyakov, D., Logunov, D., Chulkina, M., Savilova, A., Trofimov, D., Nelson, E.L., Agadjanyan, M.G., Ataullakhanov, R.I. Anti-tumor activity of a pharmaceutical grade, plant-derived TLR-4-agonist in the 4T1 post-resection metastatic breast cancer model. J Transl Med. 2014 Nov 29;12(1):322. doi: 10.1186/s12967-014-0322-y. PMID 25432242
Nelson E.L. HER2/neu: an increasingly important therapeutic target. Part 3: clinical applications and investigations. Clinical Investigation (2014), 4(9), 791–823. doi:10.4155/cli.14.63 http://www.future-science.com/doi/pdfplus/10.4155/cli.14.63
Nelson E.L. HER2/neu: an increasingly important therapeutic target. Part 2: Distribution of HER2/neu overexpression and gene amplification by organ, tumor site and histology. Clinical Investigation (2014), 4(8), 705–728. doi:10.4155/cli.14.62 http://www.future-science.com/doi/pdfplus/10.4155/cli.14.62
Nelson E.L. HER2/neu: An increasingly important therapeutic target: Part 1 Basic Biology & Therapeutic Armamentarium. Clin. Invest. (2014) 4(7),649–671 http://www.future-science.com/doi/pdf/10.4155/cli.14.57
Ghochikyan A, Davtyan A, Hovakimyan A, Davtyan H, Poghosyan A, Bagaev A, Ataullakhanov RI, Nelson EL, Agadjanyan MG. Primary 4T1 tumor resection provides critical "window of opportunity" for immunotherapy. Clin Exp Metastasis. 2014 Feb;31(2):185-98. doi: 10.1007/s10585-013-9619-0. PMID: 24096737 PMCID: PMC3946940
Molino N.M., Anderson, A.K.L., Nelson E.L.,Wang, S.W. Biomimetic Protein Nanoparticles Facilitate Enhanced Dendritic Cell Activation and Cross-Presentation. ACS Nano. 2013 Nov 26;7(11):9743-52. doi: 10.1021/nn403085w. PMID: 24090491
Biegler K.A., Anderson A.K.L., Wenzel L.B., Osann K., Nelson E.L, Longitudinal Change in Telomere Length and the Chronic Stress Response in a Randomized Pilot Biobehavioral Clinical Study: Implications for Cancer Prevention. Cancer Prev Res Oct;5(10):1173-82. doi:10.1158/1940-6207.CAPR-12-0008 [Epub ahead of print Jul 24 2012] PMID: 22827974
Mkrtichyan M., Ghochikyan A., Davtyan H., Movsesyan N., Loukinov D., Lobanenkov V., Cribbs D.H., Laust A.K., Nelson E.L. and Agadjanyan M.G. Cancer-testis antigen, BORIS based vaccine delivered by dendritic cells is extremely effective against a very aggressive and highly metastatic mouse mammary carcinoma. Cell Immunol. 2011 May 12. PMID: 21641588
Casey S.C., Nelson E.L., Turco G., Janes M.R., Fruman D.A., and Blumberg B. B-1 Cell Lymphoma in Mice Lacking the Steroid and Xenobiotic Receptor, SXR. Mol Endocrinol. 2011 Jun;25(6):933-43. Epub 2011 Mar 24. PMID: 21436254
Gunn NM, Chang R, Westerhof T, Li G.P., Bachman M., Nelson E.L. Ferromagnetic Micropallets for Magnetic Capture of Single Adherent Cells. Langmuir 10/2010 doi: 10.1021/la101960v. PMID: 20968293
Nishimoto K.P., Laust A.K., Nelson E.L. A Human Dendritic Cell Subset Receptive to the Venezuelan Equine Encephalitis Virus-Derived Replicon Particle Constitutively Expresses IL-32. Journal of Immunology, Sept 15 2008, 181: 4010–4018.
Nelson E.L, Wenzel LB, Osann K, Dogan Ates A, Chantana N, Reina-Patton A, Laust AK, Nishimoto KP, Chicz-DeMet A, du Pont N, Monk BJ. Stress, Immunity, and Cervical Cancer: Biobehavioral Outcomes of a Randomized Clinical Trial. Clin Cancer Res. April 1, 2008;14(7):2111-18.
Laust A.K., Wang K., Sur B.W.R., Hubby B., Smith J.F., Nelson E.L. VRP immunotherapy targeting neu: treatment efficacy and evidence for immunoediting in a stringent rat mammary tumor model. Breast Cancer Res Treat, Mar 10, 2007, DOI 10.1007/s10549-007-9517-8, Dec 2007, 106 (3):371-82.
Nishimoto K.P., Laust A, Wang K, Van C., Kamrud K.I., Fralish B., Smith J.F., Nelson E.L. Restricted and selective tropism of a Venezuelan equine encephalitis virus-derived replicon vector for human dendritic cells. 2007 Viral Immunol 20, 88-104.
Wilford J, Osann K, Hsieh S, Monk B, Nelson E, Wenzel L. Validation of PROMIS emotional distress short form scales for cervical cancer. Gynecol Oncol. 2018 Aug 2. pii: S0090-8258(18)31086-2. doi: 10.1016/j.ygyno.2018.07.022. [Epub ahead of print] PMID: 30078504
Professional Societies
American Association for Cancer Research
American Association of Immunologists
American Society for Clinical Oncology
Clinical Immunology Society
American College of Physicians/American Society for Internal Medicine
Alpha Omega Alpha Medical Honor Society
American Association for the Advancement of Science
Society for Immunotherapy of Cancer
Medical Oncology Association of Southern California (MOASC)
Other Experience
Board of Directors
Breast Cancer Solutions - second term of service 2025—2028
Breast Cancer Solutions - second term of service 2025—2028
Graduate Programs
Cellular and Molecular Biosciences
Research Centers
Chao Family Comprehensive Cancer Center,
Institute for Immunology
Cancer Research Institute
Link to this profile
https://faculty.uci.edu/profile/?facultyId=4910
https://faculty.uci.edu/profile/?facultyId=4910
Last updated
10/30/2025
10/30/2025