Katherine Freitas
About Katherine Freitas
Katherine Freitas is a Research Scientist at Kite Pharma, specializing in genetic engineering and immunology. She has a strong background in CRISPR/Cas9 technologies, flow cytometry, and has contributed to multiple publications and patents in her field.
Current Role at Kite Pharma
Katherine Freitas serves as a Research Scientist at Kite Pharma, a position she has held since 2023 in Emeryville, California. In this role, she focuses on advancing research initiatives related to CAR-T cell therapies. Her expertise in genetic engineering and cell sorting contributes to the development of innovative cancer treatments.
Previous Experience at Renewable Energy Group, Inc.
Before joining Kite Pharma, Katherine worked as a Senior Research Associate at Renewable Energy Group, Inc. from 2016 to 2018 in South San Francisco, California. During her two years there, she contributed to research projects aimed at enhancing renewable energy technologies, leveraging her scientific background.
Educational Background in Immunology and Neurobiology
Katherine Freitas earned her Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) in Immunology from Stanford University School of Medicine, where she studied from 2018 to 2023. Prior to this, she obtained a Bachelor of Science (BS) in Neurobiology and Physiology from the University of California, Davis. Her educational journey has equipped her with a strong foundation in biological sciences.
Research Expertise and Contributions
Katherine is recognized for her expertise in CRISPR/Cas9 and Base Editing technologies, which she applies in genetic engineering. She has designed high-dimensional flow cytometry panels and performed cell sorting. Her research has led to the discovery of new pathways that inform the design of next-generation CAR-T cell therapies. She has also published 11 articles in top-tier journals, showcasing her contributions to the scientific community.
Innovations and Patents
Katherine Freitas has filed four patent applications related to her research, reflecting her innovative contributions to the field. Her work includes utilizing mouse xenograft models for studying various cancers, such as leukemia, osteosarcoma, neuroblastoma, and melanoma. These efforts highlight her commitment to advancing cancer research and therapy development.