Martin J. Cannon

Federal Grant PI High Impact

Professor

UAMS primary UA Little Rock

Also affiliated: University College Dublin (2018); Gynecologic Oncology Group (2004); Scripps Health (1988–1990); Oregon State University (2008); Royal Veterinary College (1983–1988); University of Michigan (1998); University of Arkansas Medical Center (2011); University of Saskatchewan (2006); National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (1987–1988); Lubbock Christian University (2011); Northwick Park Institute for Medical Research (1989); Bipar (2004–2014); Winthrop Rockefeller Foundation (2022–2025); Scripps Clinic (1988–1990); Arkansas Department of Agriculture (2010–2019); National Institute for Medical Research (1986–1989); University of Brescia (1999–2000); Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of Canada (1983–1988)

Faculty Researcher

44 h-index 158 pubs 5,943 cited

Research Areas

Biomedical Subjects

Links

ORCID Lab Website Research Group UAMS TRI Profile

OverviewAI-generated summary

Martin J. Cannon's research focuses on developing and evaluating novel immunotherapies for cancer. He has investigated the potential of engineered dendritic cell vaccines to stimulate CD4 T cell-dependent antitumor immunity in ovarian cancer, aiming to overcome resistance to immune checkpoint blockade. His work also explores the repurposing of existing vaccines, such as the live attenuated trivalent MMR vaccine, as a cost-effective cancer immunotherapy.

Cannon's laboratory has characterized different viruses as potential oncolytic virotherapy platforms. This includes research on Myxoma virus, examining its ability to stimulate type 1 interferon responses and induce unique transcriptomic changes in human monocytes and macrophages. Additionally, he has studied Morreton virus for its potential in treating liver cancers and Jurona virus in combination with immune checkpoint blockade for hepatocellular carcinoma. His group also investigates strategies to enhance the effectiveness of virotherapy in pancreatic cancer by targeting the tumor stroma to improve resectability.

With a career marked by significant scholarly output, Cannon has published 158 papers, accumulating over 5,900 citations and an h-index of 44. He has secured federal funding from the NIH/National Cancer Institute for his work on Th17-DC immunotherapy for ovarian cancer and from the NIH/NIH Office of the Director as a Co-PI on research concerning platelets in radiation-induced immune dysregulation. He is recognized as a high-impact researcher and maintains active collaborations with researchers at the University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences.

Metrics

h-index: 44
Publications: 158
Citations: 5,943

Selected Publications

Abstract 4378: Live attenuated MMR vaccines modulate tumor immune cell infiltration and synergize with standard of care to prolong survival in preclinical HCC models (2026)

Cancer Research DOI OpenAlex
Pancreatic tumor microenvironment reprogramming via alloantigen-expressing virotherapy elicits tumor rejection and improves immunotherapy response (2026)

Journal for ImmunoTherapy of Cancer DOI OpenAlex
Multimodal reprogramming of the tumor microenvironment by MMR and dual checkpoint blockade in hepatocellular carcinoma models (2025)

Frontiers in Immunology 1 citation DOI OpenAlex
Abstract B022: Reprogramming Apoptotic Resistance in PDAC Through Synthetic Oncolytic Immunotherapy (2025)

Cancer Research DOI OpenAlex
A Replication-Defective Myxoma Virus Inducing Pro-Inflammatory Responses as Monotherapy and an Adjuvant to Chemo- and DC Immuno-Therapy for Ovarian Cancer (2025)

Viruses 1 citation DOI OpenAlex
Abstract 945: Live attenuated MMR vaccines modulate tumor immune cell infiltration and synergize with standard of care to prolong survival in preclinical HCC models (2025)

Cancer Research DOI OpenAlex
Abstract 947: Engineering a synthetic oncolytic virus to overcome apoptotic resistance and induce immunogenic cell death in pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (2025)

Cancer Research DOI OpenAlex
Enhancing Neoadjuvant Virotherapy’s Effectiveness by Targeting Stroma to Improve Resectability in Pancreatic Cancer (2024)

Biomedicines 5 citations DOI OpenAlex
Abstract 5004: Oncolytic Jurona-driven systemic and intratumoral immunotherapy combined with immune checkpoint blockade boost immune response and survival in hepatocellular carcinoma models (2024)

Cancer Research DOI OpenAlex
Th17-inducing dendritic cell vaccines stimulate effective CD4 T cell-dependent antitumor immunity in ovarian cancer that overcomes resistance to immune checkpoint blockade (2023)

Journal for ImmunoTherapy of Cancer 25 citations DOI OpenAlex
Supplemental Figures 1-9 and Table S1 from Gastrointestinal Tract Dysbiosis Enhances Distal Tumor Progression through Suppression of Leukocyte Trafficking (2023)

DOI OpenAlex
Supplemental Figures 1-9 and Table S1 from Gastrointestinal Tract Dysbiosis Enhances Distal Tumor Progression through Suppression of Leukocyte Trafficking (2023)

DOI OpenAlex
Repurposing live attenuated trivalent MMR vaccine as cost-effective cancer immunotherapy (2022)

Frontiers in Oncology 7 citations DOI OpenAlex
Myxoma virus lacking the host range determinant M062 stimulates cGAS-dependent type 1 interferon response and unique transcriptomic changes in human monocytes/macrophages (2022)

PLoS Pathogens 15 citations DOI OpenAlex
Characterization of Morreton virus as an oncolytic virotherapy platform for liver cancers (2022)

Hepatology 14 citations DOI OpenAlex

View all publications on OpenAlex →

Federal Grants 2 $815,076 total

NIH Contact PI Mar 2024 - Feb 2027

Mechanisms of Th17-DC immunotherapy for ovarian cancer

National Cancer Institute $178,819 R21

NIH Co-PI Jul 2022 - May 2027

Platelets in radiation-induced immune dysregulation

NIH Office of the Director $636,257 U01

Grants & Funding

As listed on this researcher's institutional profile. Federal awards with verified records are shown above.

Enhancement of Th17-Inducing DC Vaccination for Ovarian Cancer Through PARPi-Mediated Activation of Innate Immunity in the Tumor Microenvironment Congressionally Directed Medical Research Programs
Improvement of cellular immunotherapy during dysbiosis NIH/Nat. Cancer Institute
Dendritic cell activation of therapeutic Th17 responses against ovarian cancer The Mary Kay Foundation
Identification of Druggable Targets to Complement Melanoma Therapy NIH
Th17-inducing vaccine strategies for preventing progression of ovarian cancer NIH/Nat. Cancer Institute via Mayo Clinic
Dendritic cell vaccination and immune regulation in ovarian cancer US Department of the Army
Mechanisms of Combinatorial Therapy to Enhance Anti-PD-1 Immune Checkpoint Inhibition for Ovarian Cancer US Department of Defense
CD 8+ Cytotoxic T Cell Responses to Novel Ovarian Cancer Antigens (immunotherapy, ovarian cancer, gynecologic oncology, cytotoxic T lymphocytes, dendr US Department of the Army

Understanding and targeting myeloid populations in ovarian cancer for enhancing therapeutic effects Ovarian Cancer Research Fund Alliance
Dendritic cell immunotherapy for ovarian cancer NIH
CD206-targeted alleviation of immune suppression by ovarian tumor-associated macrophages US Department of Defense
Epigenetic regulation of metabolic stress pathways in melanoma infiltrating lymphocytes- Resubmission NIH
Proteogenomic analysis of responders versus nonresponders in a Phase I clinical trial of Th17-inducing dendritic cell vaccination for advanced stage ovarian cancer US Department of Defense
Novel target antigens for ovarian cancer immunotherapy NIH
MAPK pathway modulation in thyroid tumorigenesis NIH
NanoPhotothermolysis of Breast Tumors: Feasibility with Photothermal Imaging Cubist Pharmaceuticals, Inc.
Mayo Clinic Ovarian Cancer SPORE - Pilot Project NIH/Nat. Cancer Institute via Mayo Clinic
Improvement of cellular immunotherapy during dysbiosis- Resubmission NIH
T-CELL IMMUNOTHERAPY OF EBV ASSOCIATED LYMPHOMA NIH
Preventing immune system dysregulation during deep-space missions by Tocofexol, a modified isomer of vitamin E - AA request National Aeronautics & Space Administration via Arkansas Space Grant Consortium