Dr. Jelani Zarif Investigates the Role of Macrophages in Prostate Cancer Progression and Therapeutic Resistance

Dr. Jelani Zarif is the Robert E. Meyerhoff Endowed Professor and Associate Professor of Oncology at the Sidney Kimmel Comprehensive Cancer Center, as well as a Cancer Moonshot Scholar. He is investigating the mechanistic role of immune cells in prostate cancer growth, metastasis, and treatment resistance. 

Before becoming a cancer researcher, Dr. Zarif was a young student who was curious about science, including how the human body works. He continued to pursue these interests as a certified nursing assistant in high school, a job where he worked with many people who were impacted by cancer. 

These experiences led him to study biology at Jackson State University, one of the nation’s historically black colleges and universities. “My time at Jackson State University was very transformative because I had so many great examples of great scientists and mentors there, as well as peers who were very interested in conducting cutting edge research,” said Dr. Zarif. 

As an undergraduate student, he joined the laboratory of Dr. Stephen Ekunwe and began studying prostate cancer. He then went to complete his Ph.D. in Cell and Molecular Biology at Michigan State University in the laboratory of Dr. Cindy Miranti, where he investigated cell signaling mechanisms that promote prostate cancer cell survival and invasion. Through these research experiences, he became passionate about finding better treatments for prostate tumors and helping people diagnosed with this disease. 

Now, Dr. Zarif is examining how macrophages within the tumor microenvironment promote immune evasion and prostate cancer progression. He is also preclinically testing treatment approaches that inhibit tumor-associated macrophages to improve anti-tumor immunity and enhance the effectiveness of standard therapies in metastatic, treatment-resistant prostate cancer. 

In addition to his prostate cancer biology studies, Dr. Zarif also helps trainees in his laboratory. He tells them, “Experiments don't always have to be complicated. You really need three things: a great control, a known, and an unknown. Keep your experiments simple. And the experiments that don't turn out the way that you thought are the ones that really teach you something new.” 

Outside the laboratory, Dr. Zarif also mentors teenagers with his fraternity, Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Inc. (the oldest intercollegiate fraternity established by and for African Americans). He is specifically involved in the Beautillion Program Scholars Program that helps minority high school students prepare for college.  

When describing this work, Dr. Zarif said, “Young people need to see examples. The first great thing you can give a young person is a good example.” He further explained how the program involves helping students through weekly training and volunteer activities, college fairs, assistance with college-related applications, and more. “We try to be their village, the people they can lean on when they need to,” he remarked. 

Dr. Zarif tries to be a good mentor, applying lessons that he learned from role models throughout his cancer research career, to help students and trainees along their academic journeys.