Alberto D. Guerra, MD, PhD
Locations: Main Building, Buerger Center for Advanced Pediatric Care
About Alberto D. Guerra, MD, PhD
Alberto D. Guerra, MD, PhD, is a fellow physician in pediatric hematology and oncology and a lab-based scientist focused on the development of novel immunotherapy platforms for pediatric solid tumors to improve treatment outcomes and reduce treatment-related morbidities. In the laboratory of Dr. Yael Mossé, they are developing immunotherapy platforms targeting the Anaplastic Lymphoma Kinase (ALK). We have demonstrated preclinical validation of an ALK-directed antibody-drug conjugate (ADC) and now aim to enhance the ADC linker/payload technology to develop an ALK-directed ADC candidate for IND-enabling studies and early-phase clinical trials. In parallel, they are developing an ALK-directed chimeric antigen receptor (CAR) T cell platform for a sustained antitumor response with central nervous system penetration and aim to modulate the CAR T platform to address the therapeutic limitations in solid tumors by enhancing the memory phenotype.
Titles
Fellow
Awards and Honors
2021, Horatio C. Wood Prize in Pharmacology, Perelman School of Medicine at the University of Pennsylvania
2021, Abramson Cancer Center Basic Science Research Award, Perelman School of Medicine at the University of Pennsylvania
Leadership and Memberships
2022, Immunobac Therapeutics, Clinical Advisor, Nucleate Bio Activator Program, Boston, MA
2020, Pediatric Near Peer Mentors, Mentor, Perelman School of Medicine at the University of Pennsylvania
2019-2021, American Physician Scientists Association, Member, Perelman School of Medicine at the University of Pennsylvania
Education & training
Graduate Degree
PhD in Pharmaceutical Sciences - University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, WI
Medical Degree
MD - Perelman School of Medicine at the University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA
Internship
Pediatrics - Boston Children’s Hospital/Boston Medical Center, Boston, MA
Residency
Pediatrics (Accelerated Research Pathway) - Boston Children’s Hospital /Boston Medical Center, Boston, MA
Fellowship
Pediatric Hematology and Oncology - Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia, Philadelphia, PA
Publications
PubMed
Publications
2025
Alberto D Guerra, Smita Matkar, Christina Acholla, Colleen Casey, Grant Li, et al. A humanized anaplastic lymphoma kinase (ALK)-directed antibody-drug conjugate CDX0239-PBD demonstrates potent efficacy in ALK-expressing cancers. Nature Communications. 2025. In Press.
2017
Alberto Daniel Guerra, Oscar WH Yeung, Xiang Qi, W John Kao, Kwan Man. The anti-tumor effects of M1 macrophage-loaded poly(ethylene) glycol and gelatin-based hydrogels on hepatocellular carcinoma. Theranostics. 2017;7(15):3732-3744.
Alberto Daniel Guerra, Warren E. Rose, Peiman Hematti, Weiyuan John Kao. Minocycline modulates NFκB phosphorylation and enhances antimicrobial activity against Staphylococcus aureus in mesenchymal stromal/stem cells. Stem Cell Research and Therapy. 2017;8(1):171.
Alberto Daniel Guerra, Warren E. Rose, Peiman Hematti, Weiyuan John Kao. Minocycline enhances the mesenchymal stromal/stem cell pro-healing phenotype in triple antimicrobial-loaded hydrogels. Acta Biomaterialia. 2017;51:184-196.
2015
Alberto Daniel Guerra, David Antonio Cantu, Joseph T. Vecchi, Peiman Hematti, Warren E. Rose, Weiyuan John Kao. Mesenchymal stromal/stem cell and minocycline loaded hydrogels inhibit the growth of Staphylococcus aureus that evades immunomodulation of blood-derived leukocytes. The AAPS Journal. 2015;17(3):620-630.
2013
Edwin R. Price, Lisa J. Ruff, Alberto Guerra, William H. Karasov. Cold exposure increases intestinal paracellular permeability to nutrients in the mouse. Journal of Experimental Biology. 2013;216(21):4065-4070.
Abstracts (includes Posters and Scientific Presentations)
2024
Alberto Guerra. Targeting the anaplastic lymphoma kinase (ALK) with novel immunotherapeutic platforms in pediatric and adult malignancies. Cancer Grand Challenges Future Leaders’ Conference, Barcelona, Spain. Nov 2024.
Alberto Guerra. Targeting the anaplastic lymphoma kinase (ALK) with novel immunotherapeutic platforms in pediatric and adult malignancies. International Conference on Cellular Immunotherapy in Pediatric Oncology, Memphis, TN. Nov 2024.
Lectures by Invitation
2025
Alberto Guerra. Targeting the anaplastic lymphoma kinase (ALK) oncoprotein with novel immunotherapeutic platforms in neuroblastoma and ALK-expressing malignancies. Advances in Neuroblastoma Research Meeting, Washington, DC. May 2025.
2023
Alberto Guerra. Preclinical validation of an ALK antibody-drug conjugate for neuroblastoma and other cancers. Saint Baldrick’s Empowering Pediatric Immunotherapies for Childhood Cancer Virtual Meeting. May 2023.
Alberto Guerra. A humanized anaplastic lymphoma kinase (ALK)-directed antibody-drug conjugate demonstrates potent cytotoxicity in neuroblastoma (NB) and other ALK-expressing cancers. Advances in Neuroblastoma Research Meeting, Amsterdam, Netherlands. May 2023.
Editorials, Reviews, Chapters
2017
Heather Waldeck, Alberto Daniel Guerra, Weiyuan John Kao. Extracellular Matrix: Inspired Biomaterials. Comprehensive Biomaterials II 2nd Edition. 2017:132-146. Waltham, MA: Elsevier. doi.org/10.1016/B978-0-12-803581-8.10147-X.