Ji-Yoon Sohn
Doctoral fellow - Lab of Nico Callewaert, Center for Medical Biotechnology – VIB-UGent (Faculty of Science)
Principal investigators: prof. Nico Callewaert (PhD) & dr. Nele Festjens (PhD)
Research focus
Chimeric Antigen Receptor T cell (CAR-T cell) therapy is a type of cancer immunotherapy in which a patient's T cells are genetically modified (CAR expression) to better target and kill cancer cells. CAR-T therapy has shown remarkable success in treating hematological cancers such as B-cell lymphoma. However, its effectiveness in solid tumors is limited by challenges such as the immunosuppressive tumor microenvironment (TME) and reduced T-cell persistence and longevity. Additionally, the current process of manufacturing CAR-T cells is time-consuming and highly personalized for each patient, making it costly.
Our project aims to improve the therapeutic potency of CAR-T cells by enhancing their ability to proliferate, persist, and specifically target cancer cells *in vivo*. To do this, we use genome engineering techniques optimized in-house to genetically engineer the CAR-T cells, such as CRISPR/Cas9. We also study possibilities to optimize the development of allogeneic CAR-T cells.
Biography
- Master of Science (MSc) in Biochemistry and Biotechnology at UGent
Contact & links
- Lab address: VIB Medical Biotechnology Center, Technologiepark-Zwijnaarde 75, 9052 Gent, Belgium
- Callewaert lab
- Center for Medical Biotechnology – VIB-UGent
- ORCID
- Ji-Yoon Sohn is interested to receive invitations for talks or presentations