The Warde Lab

Understanding how steroid hormones influence cancer immunity

Opening in May 2027

@ The University of Chicago

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Research Focus

Scientific areas we are excited about

Androgens in Women

Androgens are often thought of as male sex hormones, yet women also have significant levels of circulating androgens. Surprisingly little is known about their function and physiological role in the female body and the immune system — and that's exactly what we aim to uncover.

Androgens in Women

Androgens are often thought of as male sex hormones, yet women also have significant levels of circulating androgens. Surprisingly little is known about their function and physiological role in the female body and the immune system — and that's exactly what we aim to uncover.

Androgens in Cancer

While the role of androgen signaling in prostate cancer is well established, its influence in female malignancies — particularly gynaecological cancers — remains poorly understood. We are working to close this gap and better define how androgens drive or shape cancer in women.

Androgens in Cancer

While the role of androgen signaling in prostate cancer is well established, its influence in female malignancies — particularly gynaecological cancers — remains poorly understood. We are working to close this gap and better define how androgens drive or shape cancer in women.

Hormones and Immunotherapy

The rise of immune-based therapies has transformed cancer treatment. We are investigating how steroid hormones interact with the immune system in this context, with the goal of identifying mechanisms that can enhance the effectiveness of immunotherapy.

Hormones and Immunotherapy

The rise of immune-based therapies has transformed cancer treatment. We are investigating how steroid hormones interact with the immune system in this context, with the goal of identifying mechanisms that can enhance the effectiveness of immunotherapy.

Our Approach

Combining molecular
tools, mouse modeling
and clinical data to do bench-to-bedside
cancer research.

Join Us

We are building a team.

The Warde Lab opens at the University of Chicago in 2027.

Dramatic canyon landscape at dusk with glowing pink mist rising between towering dark cliffs and a deep blue sky.

Warde Lab

We will be hiring at all levels.

We will be
hiring at all
levels.

We are actively building the team that will launch the Warde Lab at the University of Chicago in 2027. Positions will be available for technicians, postdoctoral fellows, graduate students, and undergraduate researchers. Watch this space for our upcoming job postings.

People

Kate Warde, Ph.D.

Incoming Assistant Professor, Ben May Department for Cancer Research, University of Chicago (2027)

Originally from Co. Mayo, Ireland, Kate did her undergraduate and doctoral degrees at the University of Galway (formally NUIG). Her Ph.D. work was in the lab of Michael Conall Dennedy M.D. Ph.D., where she studied how chemotherapy affects lipotoxicity in adrenocortical carcinoma (adrenal cancer). Following her Ph.D., she moved to Salt Lake City, Utah, to join the lab of Katie (Kaitlin) Basham at the Huntsman Cancer Institute, University of Utah. Here, she studied how androgens impact the immune response in adrenal cancer. During her postdoc, she was awarded an American Cancer Society Postdoctoral Fellowship and an NCI K99/R00 Pathway to Independence Award.


Kate Warde, Ph.D.

Incoming Assistant Professor, Ben May Department for Cancer Research, University of Chicago (2027)

Originally from Co. Mayo, Ireland, Kate did her undergraduate and doctoral degrees at the University of Galway (formally NUIG). Her Ph.D. work was in the lab of Michael Conall Dennedy M.D. Ph.D., where she studied how chemotherapy affects lipotoxicity in adrenocortical carcinoma (adrenal cancer). Following her Ph.D., she moved to Salt Lake City, Utah, to join the lab of Katie (Kaitlin) Basham at the Huntsman Cancer Institute, University of Utah. Here, she studied how androgens impact the immune response in adrenal cancer. During her postdoc, she was awarded an American Cancer Society Postdoctoral Fellowship and an NCI K99/R00 Pathway to Independence Award.


Publications

View all publications on PubMed →

Senescence-induced immune remodeling facilitates metastatic adrenal cancer in a
sex-dimorphic manner

Warde KM, Smith LJ, Liu L, Stubben CJ, Lohman BK, Willett PW, et al.

Nature Aging, 2023 · doi:10.1038/s43587-023-00420-2 · 🏆 Featured on the cover

Lab Life

Life in the Warde Lab.

Coming May 2027 — photos, events, and a glimpse into our day-to-day research life at the University of Chicago.

The Warde Lab,

Ben May Dept. for Cancer Research,

University of Chicago.

Socials

© 2026 Nouva by Kadir Calik edited by Kate Warde

The Warde Lab,

Ben May Dept. for Cancer Research,

University of Chicago.

Socials

© 2026 Nouva by Kadir Calik edited by Kate Warde

The Warde Lab,

Ben May Dept. for Cancer Research,

University of Chicago.

Socials

© 2026 Nouva by Kadir Calik edited by Kate Warde