CRIG 'young investigator proof-of-concept projects’: laureates 10th call
CRIG
CRIG provides research grants for young (postdoctoral) cancer researchers at CRIG to initiate potentially high-risk and innovative cancer research projects. In this 10th call, following postdocs were awarded, and have started their project this month:
- dr. Renate De Smedt – ‘Targeting IL4 signaling as a novel therapeutic strategy in the treatment of T-cell acute lymphoblastic leukemia’ (promotor of the grant: prof. Pieter Van Vlierberghe) - T-cell acute lymphoblastic leukemia (T-ALL) is an aggressive hematological cancer that originates from transformed T-cell progenitors. The disease can be classified into different genetic subgroups, which are associated with specific stages of normal T-cell differentiation. In one of these subtypes, the team of prof. Van Vlierberghe found enriched expression of IL4 and its receptor IL4R. In her project, dr. Renate De Smedt wants to unravel the effect of IL4 signaling on T-ALL initiation and progression and assess the therapeutic potential of targeting IL4 signaling in a specific subset of human T-ALLs with poor prognosis.
- dr. Srinath Govindarajan – ‘Identification and characterization of endogenous NKT ligands induced by endoplasmic reticulum stress in cancer immunotherapy’ (promotor of the grant: prof. Dirk Elewaut) - Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is one of the leading causes of cancer-related deaths worldwide, often associated with endoplasmic reticulum stress (& unfolded protein response (UPR)) and changes in lipid metabolism. The team of prof. Elewaut hypothesizes that UPR in HCC induces a lipid biosynthetic program generating distinct classes of lipids that are able to modulate NKT responses. In his proof-of-concept grant, dr. Srinath Govindarajan will try to identify and synthesize immunogenic lipids generated in HCC derived immune cells undergoing UPR, and evaluate their immunomodulatory potential.
- dr. Gaëlle Vanbutsele – ‘Development of a holistic and integrated evidenced-based psychosocial care program for related stem cell donation’ (promotor of the grant: prof. Tessa Kerre) - Stem cell transplantation is established as a successful treatment for aggressive haematological malignancies, and about 50% of all allogeneic (non-self) transplants are related donor transplants. While recognition of the associated psychosocial issues for transplant recipients and related donors has emerged, research on the topic is scarce. The aim of the study of dr. Vanbutsele is therefore to develop a holistic and integrated psychosocial care program, complementary to standard medical care that aims to improve quality of life, emotional and social wellbeing of recipients of related stem cell donation, and their related donors.
- dr. Sophie Van Welden – ‘Prolyl hydroxylase 1, the missing target enabling immunotherapy in microsatellite stable colorectal cancer?’ (promotor of the grant: prof. Lindsey Devisscher) - Immunotherapy in colorectal cancer (CRC) has proven its efficacy in a subset of patients with mismatch-repair-deficient mutations or microsatellite instable tumors. However, 85% to 90% of CRC patients have microsatellite stable (MSS) tumors in which immune checkpoint inhibitors fail. Therefore, there is an unmet need for new treatments or combinational approaches with immunotherapy to enhance treatment efficacy and disease outcome in these patients. In her project, dr. Sophie Van Welden will investigate whether an antisense oligonucleotide against prolyl hydroxylase 1 can sensitize microsatellite stable intestinal tumors to immunotherapy.
We wish the laureates all the best with their interesting projects! The next call for these YIPOC projects will be launched beginning of next year.