Lasse Vleminckx

Neuroblastoma is the most frequent extra-cranial solid tumor type in children with more than 1500 new cases in Europe each year. The tumor arises from immature sympathoblast progenitors of the peripheral sympathetic nervous system. Despite intensive multi-modal treatment, survival rates in high-risk neuroblastoma remain below 50%, underscoring the need for more effective and less toxic treatments. High-risk neuroblastomas display low immunogenicity and are considered immunologically “cold” tumors, characterized by limited lymphocyte infiltration. Both pre-clinical animal and correlative human studies indicate that tumor-associated macrophages (TAMs) play a key role in the development of this immunosuppressive environment in high-risk neuroblastoma, fostering tumor growth. These findings have sparked our interest in targeting TAMs as a possible therapeutic strategy in neuroblastoma. With my research I aim to map the different TAM subpopulations in human and murine neuroblastoma using a combination of single-cell and spatial multi-omics. Once characterized, the immunomodulatory nature of these TAM populations will be functionally interrogated using multiple transgenic knock-out and depletion mouse models. Finally, I will evaluate therapeutic approaches to deplete or reprogram these immunosuppressive TAMs, thereby sensitizing these tumors  to immune checkpoint blockade and anti-GD2 mAb immunotherapies. In parallel, I am developing and characterizing several genetically engineered mouse models (GEMMs) of neuroblastoma to serve as platforms for investigating TAM functionality and metastatic progression.
 

In 2023 I obtained my Master of Science in Bioscience Engineering with a major in Cell and Gene Biotechnology at Gent University.
 

• Lab address: UZ Gent, Corneel Heymanslaan 10, 9000 Ghent, Belgium
• Pediatric Precision Oncology Lab Ghent  
• Department of Biomolecular Medicine 
• Charlotte Scott lab 
• Lasse Vleminckx is interested to receive invitations for presentations or talks