The Cluster's Executive Board consists of three spokespersons, the Managing Director and the Equal Opportunities and Career Development Officer.
Executive Board
General information
Prof. Dr. Lars Zender
Medical Director of the Clinic for Medical Oncology and Pulmonology
iFIT Cluster of Excellence Spokesperson
CV
Publications
- Wolter, K., Zender, L. Therapy-induced senescence — an induced synthetic lethality in liver cancer?. Nat Rev Gastroenterol Hepatol 17, 135–136 (2020). https://doi.org/10.1038/s41575-020-0262-3
- Li, X., Ramadori, P., Pfister, D. et al. The immunological and metabolic landscape in primary and metastatic liver cancer. Nat Rev Cancer 21, 541–557 (2021). https://doi.org/10.1038/s41568-021-00383-9
- Pfister, D., Núñez, N.G., Pinyol, R. et al. NASH limits anti-tumour surveillance in immunotherapy-treated HCC. Nature 592, 450–456 (2021). https://doi.org/10.1038/s41586-021-03362-0
- Reautschnig, P., Wahn, N., Wettengel, J. et al. CLUSTER guide RNAs enable precise and efficient RNA editing with endogenous ADAR enzymes in vivo. Nat Biotechnol 40, 759–768 (2022). https://doi.org/10.1038/s41587-021-01105-0
- Schwabe, R., Affo, S., Nair, A. et al. Promotion of cholangiocarcinoma growth by diverse cancer-associated fibroblast subpopulations. Cancer Cell 39, 866-882 (2021). https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ccell.2021.03.012
- Bresnahan E, Ramadori P, Heikenwalder M, Zender L, Lujambio A. Novel patient-derived preclinical models of liver cancer. J Hepatol. 2020 Feb;72(2):239-249. 10.1016/j.jhep.2019.09.028.
- Zender, L., Artista, L., Moschopoulou, A. et al. MYC determines lineage commitment in kras driven primary liver cancer development. J Hepatol. 2023 Mar 9;S0168-8278(23). 10.1016/j.jhep.2023.02.039
- Rudalska, R., Harbig, J., Snaebjornsson, M.T. et al. LXRα activation and Raf inhibition trigger lethal lipotoxicity in liver cancer. Nat Cancer 2, 201–217 (2021). https://doi.org/10.1038/s43018-020-00168-3
- Brenner, E., Schörg, B.F., Ahmetlić, F. et al. Cancer immune control needs senescence induction by interferon-dependent cell cycle regulator pathways in tumours. Nat Commun 11, 1335 (2020). https://doi.org/10.1038/s41467-020-14987-6
- Hinterleitner, C., Strähle, J., Malenke, E. et al. Platelet PD-L1 reflects collective intratumoral PD-L1 expression and predicts immunotherapy response in non-small cell lung cancer. Nat Commun 12, 7005 (2021). https://doi.org/10.1038/s41467-021-27303-7
Awards
- 2011Johann Georg Zimmermann Prize
- 2013Württemberg Cancer Prize
- 2013German Cancer Award
- 2014Gottfried Wilhelm Leibniz Prize
General information
Prof. Dr. Bernd Pichler
Director of the Department of Preclinical Imaging and Radiopharmacy
iFIT Cluster of Excellence Spokesperson
CV
Publications
Selection of iFIT-related publications with the highest impact factor.
- Feil S, Stowbur D, Schörg BF, Ehrlichmann W, Reischl G, Kneilling M, Pichler BJ, Feil R. Noninvasive Detection of Smooth Muscle Cell-Derived Hot Spots to Study Atherosclerosis by PET/MRI in Mice. Circ Res. 2023 Mar 17;132(6):747-750. 10.1161/CIRCRESAHA.122.322296.
- Rudalska, R., Harbig, J., Snaebjornsson, M.T. et al. LXRα activation and Raf inhibition trigger lethal lipotoxicity in liver cancer. Nat Cancer 2, 201–217 (2021). https://doi.org/10.1038/s43018-020-00168-3.
- Brenner, E., Schörg, B.F., Ahmetlić, F. et al. Cancer immune control needs senescence induction by interferon-dependent cell cycle regulator pathways in tumours. Nat Commun 11, 1335 (2020). https://doi.org/10.1038/s41467-020-14987-6
- Nording, H., Baron, L., Haberthür, D. et al. The C5a/C5a receptor 1 axis controls tissue neovascularization through CXCL4 release from platelets. Nat Commun 12, 3352 (2021). https://doi.org/10.1038/s41467-021-23499-w
- Zekri, L., Vogt, F., Jung, G. et al. An IgG-based bispecific antibody for improved dual targeting in PSMA-positive cancer. EMBO Mol Med. 2021, Feb 5;13(2):e11902. 10.15252/emmm.201911902.
- Montes-Mojarro, IA., Steinhilber, J., Griessinger, C.M. et al. CD147 a direct target of miR-146a supports energy metabolism and promotes tumor growth in ALK+ ALCL. Leukemia 36, 2050–2063 (2022). https://doi.org/10.1038/s41375-022-01617-x
- Marciano S, Ionescu TM, Saw RS, Cheong RY, Kirik D, Maurer A, Pichler BJ, Herfert K. Combining CRISPR-Cas9 and brain imaging to study the link from genes to molecules to networks. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A. 2022 Oct 4;119(40):e2122552119. 10.1073/pnas.2122552119.
- Rammensee, HG., Wiesmüller, KH., Chandran, P.A. et al. A new synthetic toll-like receptor 1/2 ligand is an efficient adjuvant for peptide vaccination in a human volunteer. j. immunotherapy cancer 7, 307 (2019). https://doi.org/10.1186/s40425-019-0796-5.
- Hoffmann, S., Reck, D., Griessinger, C. et al. Visualization and quantification of in vivo homing kinetics of myeloid-derived suppressor cells in primary and metastatic cancer. Theranostics. 2019 Aug 12;9(20): 5869-5885. 10.7150/thno.33275.
- Schwenk, J., Schörg, B., Kneilling, M. et al. Cancer immunotherapy is accompanied by distinct metabolic patterns in primary and secondary lymphoid organs observed by non-invasive in vivo (18)F-FDG-PET. Theranostics. 2020 Jan 1;10(2):925-937. 10.7150/thno.35989
Awards
- 2017Admission to the Leopoldina Academy of Sciences
- 2021Georg von Hevesy Medal of the German Society for Nuclear Medicine
- 2023WMIS Medal in Gold
- 2023Honorary member of the European Society for Molecular Imaging
General information
Prof. Dr. Juliane Walz
Medical Director Clinical Collaboration Unit Translational Immunology
iFIT Cluster of Excellence Spokesperson
CV
Publications
Selection of iFIT-related publications with the highest impact factor.
- ·Nelde, A., Bilich, T., Heitmann, J.S. et al. SARS-CoV-2-derived peptides define heterologous and COVID-19-induced T cell recognition. Nat Immunol 22, 74–85 (2021). https://doi.org/10.1038/s41590-020-00808-x
- Bilich T, Roerden M, Maringer Y et al. Preexisting and Post-COVID-19 Immune Responses to SARS-CoV-2 in Patients with Cancer. Cancer Discov. 2021 Aug;11(8):1982-1995. (2021). 10.1158/2159-8290.CD-21-0191
- Heitmann, J.S., Bilich, T., Tandler, C. et al. A COVID-19 peptide vaccine for the induction of SARS-CoV-2 T cell immunity. Nature 601, 617–622 (2022). https://doi.org/10.1038/s41586-021-04232-5
- Bauer, J., Köhler, N., Maringer, Y. et al. The oncogenic fusion protein DNAJB1-PRKACA can be specifically targeted by peptide-based immunotherapy in fibrolamellar hepatocellular carcinoma. Nat Commun 13, 6401 (2022). https://doi.org/10.1038/s41467-022-33746-3
- Maringer Y, Nelde A, Schroeder SM. et al. Durable spike-specific T-cell responses after different COVID-19 vaccination regimens are not further enhanced by booster vaccination. Science Immunol. 2022 Nov 1:eadd3899 (2022). 10.1126/sciimmunol.add3899
- Naghavian R, Faigle W, Oldrati P. et al. Microbial peptides activate tumour-infiltrating lymphocytes in glioblastoma. Nature. 2023 May 17 (2023). doi: 10.1038/s41586-023-06081-w
- Heitmann JS, Tandler C, Marconato M et al. Phase I/II trial of a peptide-based COVID-19 T-cell activator in patients with B-cell deficiency. Nat Commun. 2023 Aug 18;14(1):5032 (2023). doi: 10.1038/s41467-023-40758-0
- Goyal A, Bauer J, Hey J, Papageorgiou DN et al. DNMT and HDAC inhibition induces immunogenic neoantigens from human endogenous retroviral element-derived transcripts. Nat Commun. 2023 Oct 23;14(1):6731 (2023). doi: 10.1038/s41467-023-42417-w.
- Nelde A, Schuster H, Heitmann JS et al. Immune surveillance of acute myeloid leukemia is mediated by HLA-presented antigens on leukemia progenitor cells. . Blood Cancer Dis. 2023 Nov 1;4(6):468-489. doi: 10.1158/2643-3230.BCD-23-0020.
- Hoenisch Gravel N, Nelde A, Bauer J et al. TOFIMS mass spectrometry-based immunopeptidomics refines tumor antigen identification. Nat Commun. 2023 Nov 17;14(1):7472. doi: 10.1038/s41467-023-42692-7.
Awards
- 2015Württemberg Cancer Prize
- 2021Best Abstract Award from the German Society for Hematology and Oncology
- 2022International Immunocompromised Host Society Takeda Virology Award
- 2022Best Abstract Award from the German Society for Hematology and Oncology
General information
Dr. Ellen Brenner
iFIT Cluster of Excellence Managing Director
07071 29-86219
CV
General information
Prof. Dr.Bettina Weigelin
Professor for Preclinical Imaging of the Immune System
iFIT Officer for Equal Opportunities and Career Development
CV
Publications
Selection of iFIT-related publications with the highest impact factor.
- Weigelin, B., den Boer, A., Wagena, E. et al. Cytotoxic T cells are able to efficiently eliminate cancer cells by additive cytotoxicity. Nat Comm. Sep 1;12(1):5217 (2021). https://doi.org/10.1038/s41467-021-25282-3
- Hinterleitner, C., Strähle, J., Malenke, E. et al. Platelet PD-L1 reflects collective intratumoral PD-L1 expression and predicts immunotherapy response in non-small cell lung cancer. Nat Commun 12, 7005 (2021). https://doi.org/10.1038/s41467-021-27303-7
- Slaats, J., Dieterin, C., Wagena, E. et al. Metabolic Screening of Cytotoxic T-cell Effector Function Reveals the Role of CRAC Channels in Regulating Lethal Hit Delivery. Cancer Immunol Res. Aug;9(8):926-938. (2021). 10.1158/2326-6066.CIR-20-0741
- Slaats, J., Wagena, E., Smits, D. et al. Adenosine A2a Receptor Antagonism Restores Additive Cytotoxicity by Cytotoxic T Cells in Metabolically Perturbed Tumors. Cancer Immunol Res. Dec 2;10(12):1462-1474. (2022). 10.1158/2326-6066.CIR-22-0113
- Köhler, D., Leiss, V., Beichert, L. et al. Targeting Gαi2 in neutrophils protects from myocardial ischemia reperfusion injury. Basic Res Cardiol. May 30. (2024). 10.1007/s00395-024-01057-x
- Bowden, G., Stotz, S., Dunkel, G. et al. [18F] p FBC, a Covalent CLIP-Tag Radiotracer for Detection of Viral Reporter Gene Transfer in the Murine Brain. Bioconjug Chem. Feb 21;35(2):254-264. (2024). 10.1021/acs.bioconjchem.3c00551
- Scheurer, J., Sauer, B., Focken, J. et al. Histological and functional characterization of 3D human skin models mimicking the inflammatory skin diseases psoriasis and atopic dermatitis (2024). 10.1242/dmm.050541
Awards
- 2017NITA, Young Investigator Award, Society for Thermal Medicine
- 2017Best Talk Young Investigator Workshop, MD Anderson Cancer Center
- 2017Nomination ‘VIVA 400’, Women in Science
- 2020Best Talk, Imaging the Tumor Microenvironment, EMIM