Maria Jose Godoy-Calderon, PhD

Maria José Godoy Calderon, PhD, is a translational cancer researcher focusing on understanding and harnessing the immune system to develop better therapies for cancer. With over 10 years of experience in immunology, molecular biology, and preclinical cancer models, she has worked on a broad range of projects in immuno-oncology, including oncolytic viruses, tumor immune profiling, and NK-cell-based therapies. Her current work is centered on developing innovative strategies for HER2-low breast cancer, with a particular emphasis on surface-engineered NK cells as a potentially safer and more accessible immunotherapy. Dr. Godoy-Calderon is passionate about bridging discovery science and translational research, mentoring the next generation of scientists, and advancing therapies that can make a meaningful impact for patients.

https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/?term=godoy+Calderon+Maria

Godoy-Calderon, Maria & Gauchat, Eric & Stewart, John. (2023). Treatment with M51R Vesicular Stomatitis Virus Induces Clonal Antitumor CD8+ T Cell Expansion in Colon Cancer. 10.21203/rs.3.rs-3149824/v1.

Stewart JH 4th, Blazer DG 3rd, Calderon MJG, et al. The Evolving Management of Peritoneal Surface Malignancies. Curr Probl Surg. 2021;58(4):100860. doi:10.1016/j.cpsurg.2020.100860

Doctor of Philosophy (PhD)
Biological Sciences, Molecular Human Genetics
Universidad Simon Bolivar. 2014

Bachelor's Degree
Universidad Central de Venezuela. 2007

ASCP Molecular Biology, American Society for Clinical Pathology (ASCP), Issued July 2015

American Association of Cancer Research (AACR)

Maria Jose Godoy-Calderon, Abhigna Kodali, Manali Patwardhan, Saanvi Sethi, Meredith Russell, Eric Gauchat, Michelle Karan, Zhengjia Chen, Oana Danciu, Kent Hoskins, Abiola Ibraheem, VK Gadi. AACR Annual Meeting 2026. Title: Window of Opportunity Trial of Preoperative Low Dose Azacitidine in High-Risk Early-Stage Breast Cancer.

Maria Jose Godoy-Calderon, Manali Patwardhan, Shruti Rodrigues, Saanvi Sethi, Eric Gauchat, VK Gadi. AACR Annual Meeting 2026. Title: Surface engineered-NK/trastuzumab cells as a novel immunotherapy for HER2-low breast cancer.

Maria Jose Godoy Calderon; Manali Patwardhan; Eric Gauchat; VK Gadi. Society of Immunotherapy for Cancer (SITC) 2025. Title: A Next-Generation Immunotherapy Targeting HER2-Low Breast Cancer Using Surface-Engineered NK/Trastuzumab Cells.

Maria Jose Godoy Calderon; Eric Gauchat; VK Gadi. AACR Annual Meeting 2025. Title: A Novel Approach to Treating HER2-Low Breast Cancer: Surface-Engineered NK/Trastuzumab Cells Targeted Immunotherapy.