The Philadelphia Citizen recently named Perelman School of Medicine professor Carl June a Citizen of the Year for his decades of work that have shaped cancer treatment.
The Feb. 4 award honors June, a professor of immunology and the Director of the Center for Cellular Immunotherapies, for co-founding biotech company Dispatch Biotherapeutics. June was named “Disruptor of the Year” for his Philadelphia-based company that aims to create a universal cancer tumor treatment.
In an interview with The Daily Pennsylvanian, June explained that Dispatch Biotherapeutics is “specifically focused on hard-to-treat solid cancers.”
He has “started about four or five companies at Penn,” and explained that Philadelphia has become an “ecosystem” for innovative work.
“What we’ve done here at the Perelman School of Medicine with cancer therapies has really changed the whole Philadelphia area and to be in the leaders of cell and gene therapy,” June said. “We call it Cellicon Valley.”
Students that graduate from Penn are “already trained” in the field, bringing investment to the city, according to June.
“It’s been a great thing — estimated billions of dollars have come into Philadelphia because of this,” June said.
June came to Penn in 1999 and began working on treating different cancers — leading to the invention of CAR-T cells. In 2017, June got his CAR-T cells FDA approved and has since treated over 50,000 patients with the innovative approach. He continues to push the boundaries of immunology and immunotherapy through his Penn lab and Dispatch Biotherapeutics.
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June credited the team of over 200 people at his institute, including those who have worked with him for 30 years, with the development of CAR-T cells and every day treatment of patients.
“It’s really great for morale to see that the research we do can actually make a difference in people’s lives,” he added.
June is highly awarded in the field of oncology, having received recognition such as the Breakthrough Prize and having a documentary called “Of Medicine and Miracles” on both Amazon Prime and AppleTV.
When giving advice to students, June said that young researchers must “have persistence, and the ability to fail and then go back and try it again.”
“You strike out, experiments don’t work, but when they do work, it’s a huge adrenaline rush,” he added.
2025 Medical School graduate Amanda Finck, who worked at June’s lab both as a graduate student and postdoctoral researcher, told the DP that June is “a patient-centric scientist” and a “visionary” who is “talking 20 years” ahead.
Finck, who recently stepped into a new role as Associate Director of Translational Research at Penn, explained that she would not “have been ready” for the role she is in if she had not worked for June.
“I don’t think that’s an overstatement,” she added.
The winners of the 2026 Citizen of the Year awards will be celebrated at an April 26 dinner at the Fitler Club Ballroom.
“It’s thanks to the team, for everything they’ve done — this isn’t just me,” June said. “It’s the team since 1999 who made it happen … it’s really a great thing to be able to celebrate.”
