Josef Leibold receives ERC Starting Grant

Immunotherapies have revolutionized the treatment of cancer. CAR-T cell therapy in particular is a real game changer in the fight against leukemia. In this therapy, blood is first taken from the patient. The body's own T cells of the immune system are then genetically modified in the laboratory so that they are able to recognize certain surface molecules on the tumour cells by means of chimeric antigen receptors (CAR). After injection, these CAR-T cells are then able to dock onto the tumor cells according to the key-lock principle and fight them. Unfortunately, this has not been nearly as successful with other solid tumors.

This is where Josef Leibold's research project comes into play! He has been awarded a Starting Grant from the European Research Council (ERC) for his project proposal "EXPLOITsen". As a clinician scientist, he not only works as a research group leader in our cluster, but also as a doctor in Internal Medicine VIII. The funding of 1.5 million euros is for five years. In his "EXPLOITsen" project, he and his team want to make use of a combination therapy. First, the tumor cells are to be put into senescence, a kind of hibernation in which the cells can no longer divide. Then the CAR immune cells are to be trained on the immunophobic micromileu of the solid tumors.

Check out the video to learn how the combinational therapy is supposed to work: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wht_QUwQunM