Immune Regulation

Immune Regulation

This sub-theme covers immunological and haematological research in three major biomedical fields:

1) Molecular and functional analysis of normal and malignant blood cell development and immune control. The sub-theme includes analysis of dendritic cells, regulatory T-cells and natural killer cells and aims at defining regulatory circuits effective in tolerance and immunity.
2) Immunotherapy of cancer. Development and clinical application of vaccination and imaging strategies for solid and haematopoietic malignancies and their microenvironment.
3) Organ transplantation. Development and clinical application of novel immune monitoring and intervention approaches in kidney transplantation.

Research focuses on fundamental studies on dendritic cells (DC), regulatory T-cells, NK cells and other haematopoietic stem cells to expand existing and define novel regulatory circuits and differentiation routes. Understanding and imaging the microenvironment of hematopoietic and solid malignancies as well as in transplantation is an essential component in developing personalized medical treatments for patients.

In the area of DC-targeted cancer vaccines, studies in mouse tumour models as well as clinical trials will focus on i)in situtumour antigen loading of DC and maturation of DC by pattern recognition receptor ligands and ii) combining vaccination with other immune modulating and targeted therapy approaches, including the elimination of the immune-suppressive effects of myeloid suppressor cells and regulatory T-cells and their molecular pathways. Induction, modulation and assessment of regulatory immune cells will be a major focus in the context of organ transplantation.

Ultimately knowledge gained regarding the immune regulatory roles of DC subsets, regulatory T-cells, and NK cells will contribute to our understanding of tissue microenvironment and the rational design of novel, personalized immune-therapeutic treatment modalities in cancer and transplantation.

Theme leader: Gosse Adema