dr. João P Portela Catani (PhD)

The amazing ability of the immune system to recognize and modulate atypical micro-environments (tumor, inflammation) makes it the perfect weapon to fight cancer. However the high complexity of molecular pathways and cell populations involved in mounting the anti-tumor response makes the immunotherapies ineffective in a high percentage of patients. Expanding its benefits possibly goes through the development of combined therapies 
Supported by CRIG young investigator grant,  I started to work with an immune stimulatory mRNA able to simultaneously overexpress exogenous proteins and downregulate endogenous proteins. Such strategy would enable inhibition of immunosuppressive pathways at the same time that cancer associated antigens or co-stimulatory molecules are expressed. 
Currently, my research is focused on influenza immunity. Influenza is annually responsible for about 500.000 deaths worldwide. The current Flu vaccines need to be updated every season and its effectiveness ranges from 19-60%. Defining better the breadth and immunogenicity of influenza A and B envelop proteins can offer a rational for the development of an improved supra-seasonal vaccine.
 

• Influenza neuraminidase as adjuvanted protein or mRNA vaccine protects mice against influenza A and B virus challenge. npj Vaccines    (2026)
• Immunization with N2 neuraminidase can protect mice against a heterologous influenza A virus challenge even in the absence of cross-NA inhibiting antibodies. Msphere, e00300-26    (2026)  
• Internal gene segments from a mouse-adapted influenza B virus confer increased pathogenicity to mice. Plos one 21 (3), e0335324    (2026)  
• Immunogenicity and protection of octavalent influenza vaccine candidates using adjuvanted proteins or mRNA-LNPs in naïve mice. npj Vaccines 11 (1), 57    (2026)    
• Impact of pre-existing anti-replicase immunity on the efficacy of self-amplifying mRNA vaccines. Nature Communications 17 (1), 278    (2025)    
• Single-domain antibodies directed against hemagglutinin and neuraminidase protect against influenza B viruses. Nature Communications 16 (1), 5831    (2025)    
   

• VIB-UGent Center for Medical Biotechnology

• Address: VIB-UGent Center for Medical Biotechnology, Technologiepark-Zwijnaarde 71, 9052 Gent-Zwijnaarde, Belgium