Eva Pascal
Doctoral fellow, department of Diagnostic Sciences (Faculty of Medicine and Health)
Principal investigator: prof. Bart Vandekerckhove (MD, PhD)
Research focus
Chimeric antigen receptor (CAR)-T cells are genetically engineered T cells from the patient that have shown remarkable efficacy as a treatment for hematological malignancies. However, CAR-T treatment for solid tumors has so far been unsuccessful. Solid tumors differ from hematological malignancies, as they present physical barriers against infiltration, contain a highly immune-suppressive environment, and harbor an unfavorable metabolic milieu. Therefore, new approaches are required to tackle these hurdles.
The lab of prof. Bart Vandekerckhove was the first to identify an unconventional CD8 T cell (uT) population in humans, similar to the murine unconventional intraepithelial T cells. These cells are naturally tissue-homing and seem to perform an immune surveillance function. Therefore, CAR-T cells will be generated using these uTs (CAR-uTs), aiming to enable CAR-uT cells as a treatment for solid tumors as well.
Contact & links
- Lab address: campus UZ Gent, MRB2 (entrance 38), Corneel Heymanslaan 10, 9000 Ghent