Cancer research made in Tuebingen
iFIT Cluster of Excellence
Zentrale Fragestellung
Approach
The Molecular and Functional Multiparametric Imaging research area deals with the question of how multiparametric and multiscale imaging can be further developed in order to achieve quantifiable visualization of functional, molecular and immunological mechanisms of tumours. The team led by Prof. Dr. Bernd Pichler, Director of Preclinical Imaging and Radiopharmacy and co-spokesperson of the cluster, is playing a pioneering role in the field of imaging techniques. With the development of the world's first fully integrated PET/MRI device for animal experiments, the researchers have succeeded in investigating complementary signals from tumors in living organisms with high resolution. The overarching goal is to develop novel targeted tracers and MR biomarkers to map cellular stress and associated metabolic changes in tumor cells during tumor development and after therapy. The MFMI research area is subdivided into three research modules:
- MFMI-1: Tracer Development and Multiparametric Imaging of Cancer Cell Stress Responses
- MFMI-2: Imaging the Cellular and Humoral Immunity
- MFMI-3: Machine Learning for Advanced Analysis of Multiparametric Imaging Data
MFMI-1
The development of novel therapeutic approaches targeting stress responses of tumor cells requires a pipeline of PET (positron emission tomography) tracers that can non-invasively visualize and quantify stress responses for novel cancer treatments. To meet the high iFIT requirements for the synthesis of novel radiotracers, MFMI-1 scientists will further develop a platform for the late radiofluorination of drugs and compounds. MFMI-1 will be embedded in the Imaging Science Center (ISC) and will work closely with the Principal Investigators of the two other iFIT research focus areas as well as with international partners.
MFMI-2
The MFMI-2 research module aims to translate scientific findings, immune imaging workflows and cell labeling methods into early clinical trials. MFMI-2 aims to achieve a better understanding of the mechanisms of immune resistance. For example, the optimization of immunotherapies requires the visualization of T cell trafficking, antibody distribution and in vivo imaging of CAR T cells or other components of the immune microenvironment at different spatial and temporal scales. PET/MR devices (positron emission tomography combined with magnetic resonance imaging) and high-resolution intravital microscopic imaging are the methods of choice.
MFMI-3
Since the complexity of imaging data from different sources overwhelms conventional analysis methods, new machine learning approaches will be used in iFIT to integrate and analyze complementary multiparametric imaging data. Precise molecular and functional characterization of the spatial and temporal heterogeneity of tumors is a prerequisite for identifying potential therapeutic vulnerabilities and will help to monitor response to therapy. MFMI-3 aims to identify and validate surrogate imaging markers for tumor stress responses. Machine learning methods will further support the comprehensive analysis and evaluation of data from different sources, such as imaging, histology, in vitro screening or sequencing.
Principal & Associated Investigators
Principal Investigators & Associated Investigators
Prof. Dr. Christian la Fougère
Ärztlicher Direktor Nuklearmedizin und Klinische Molekulare Bildgebung
Phone number: +49 7071 26 86553
Fax number: 07071 29 4601
E-mail address: christian.lafougere@med.uni-tuebingen.de
Person profile: Mehr zur Person
Prof. Dr. Christian Schürch
W3-Professur für Advanced Tissue Imaging und Digitale Pathologie
Phone number: +49 7071 29-80201
Fax number: 07071 29-2991
E-mail address: christian.schuerch@med.uni-tuebingen.de
Person profile: Mehr zur Person
Prof. Dr. Konstantin Nikolaou
Ärztlicher Direktor, Abteilung für Diagnostische und Interventionelle Radiologie
Phone number: +49 7071 29 82087
Fax number: 07071 29 5845
E-mail address: konstantin.nikolaou@med.uni-tuebingen.de
Person profile: Mehr zur Person
Prof. Dr. Bernd Pichler
Direktor Präklinische Bildgebung und Radiopharmazie
Phone number: +49 7071 29-83427
E-mail address: bernd.pichler@med.uni-tuebingen.de
Person profile: Mehr zur Person
Prof. Dr. Bernhard Schölkopf
Leiter der Empirischen Inferenz
Max-Planck-Institut für Intelligente Systeme
Phone number: +49 7071 601 551
E-mail address: sekretariat-schoelkopf@tuebingen.mpg.de
Person profile: Mehr zur Person
Prof. Dr. Katja Schenke-Layland
Leiterin des Naturwissenschaftlichen und Medizinischen Instituts
Universität Tübingen
Phone number: +49 7071 29 85205
E-mail address: katja.schenke-layland@med.uni-tuebingen.de
Person profile: Mehr zur Person
Prof. Dr. Bettina Weigelin
Professor für Preclinical Imaging of the Immune System
Phone number: +49 7071 29-87414
E-mail address: Bettina.Weigelin@med.uni-tuebingen.de
Person profile: Mehr zur Person
Prof. Dr. André Martins
Professor für Advanced Preclinical Metabolic Imaging and Cell Engineering
Phone number: +49 7071 29-87487
E-mail address: andre.martins@med.uni-tuebingen.de
Person profile: Mehr zur Person
Prof. Dr. Anna Junker
Professor für Advanced Preclinical Metabolic Imaging and Cell Engineering
Phone number: +49 7071 29-87487
E-mail address: andre.martins@med.uni-tuebingen.de
Person profile: Mehr zur Person
PD Dr. med. Manfred Kneilling
Forschungsgruppenleiter
Phone number: +49 7071 29-87443
E-mail address: manfred.kneilling@med.uni-tuebingen.de
Person profile: Mehr zur Person
Dr. Laimdota Zizmare
Forschungsgruppenleiterin
Phone number: +49 7071 29-85035
E-mail address: Laimdota.Zizmare@med.uni-tuebingen.de
Person profile: Mehr zur Person
Dr. Dominik Sonanini
Forschungsgruppenleiter
Phone number: +49 7071 29-82711
E-mail address: dominik.sonanini@med.uni-tuebingen.de
Person profile: Mehr zur Person
Dr. Johannes Schwenck
Forschungsgruppenleiter
Phone number: +49 7071 29-82164
E-mail address: johannes.schwenck@med.uni-tuebingen.de
Person profile: Mehr zur Person
