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Improving cellular cancer immunotherapy using chemotactic metabolite receptors

Project description

Recruiting chimeric antigen receptor T-cells into solid tumours

Immunotherapy has gone from promise to reality, now a key part of cancer treatment. Chimeric antigen receptor T-cell (CAR T) therapy is one type that has been very successful in fighting haematological cancers but much less so with solid tumours, largely due to ineffective migration into them. CAR T therapy uses the patient’s T cells, white blood cells that are part of the adaptive immune system and destroy harmful pathogens. With the support of the Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions programme, the MetaboTract project aims to leverage receptors of chemotactic tumour metabolites – proteins secreted by tumours that stimulate the migration of white blood cells – to ‘recruit’ CAR Ts and natural killer cells into the tumour.

Objective

Chimeric antigen receptor T cell (CAR T) cellular immunotherapy has revolutionized treatment for patients with hematological cancers, but largely failed to provide benefits for patients with solid tumors. Ineffective CAR T migration into solid tumors caused by the lack of recruitment signals, including chemokines, is a key gap for current cellular immunotherapies. The very common accumulation of metabolites in tumors provides a yet unrecognized opportunity to guide immune cells into tumors. Therefore, my overall research objective for this project is to generate and use novel chemotactic metabolite receptors (MetaboTract) to enhance the efficacy of CAR T and natural killer (NK) in solid tumors. This innovative approach is expected to impact the therapeutic options for cancer patients with poorly infiltrated tumors and enhance the EUs competitiveness in the rapidly expanding market of cellular immunotherapies. Applying the gained knowledge on CAR NK cells could additionally reduce treatment costs and accelerate deployment of cellular therapies to patients. During the MSCA fellowship, I will learn vital new skills including cell migration assays, in vivo models for immunotherapies, project management, exploitation, and leadership in the renowned laboratory of Prof. Sebastian Kobold at the Ludwig-Maximilians-University (LMU) in Munich. The expertise of Prof. Kobolds lab with chemokine receptor CAR T cells and in vivo models together with my complementary skills in cellular immunology, NK cells, imaging, and bioinformatics gives the project a high likelihood of success. The publication of the results, the gained knowledge and skills, and the demonstrated mobility will strengthen my scientific independence and help me achieve my career goal of becoming a research group leader in cellular cancer immunotherapy.

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HORIZON-TMA-MSCA-PF-EF - HORIZON TMA MSCA Postdoctoral Fellowships - European Fellowships

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Call for proposal

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(opens in new window) HORIZON-MSCA-2022-PF-01

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Coordinator

LUDWIG-MAXIMILIANS-UNIVERSITAET MUENCHEN
Net EU contribution

Net EU financial contribution. The sum of money that the participant receives, deducted by the EU contribution to its linked third party. It considers the distribution of the EU financial contribution between direct beneficiaries of the project and other types of participants, like third-party participants.

€ 189 687,36
Address
GESCHWISTER SCHOLL PLATZ 1
80539 MUNCHEN
Germany

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Region
Bayern Oberbayern München, Kreisfreie Stadt
Activity type
Higher or Secondary Education Establishments
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Total cost

The total costs incurred by this organisation to participate in the project, including direct and indirect costs. This amount is a subset of the overall project budget.

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