Engineering CAR-T cells to optimize the treatment of cerebral malignancies (B02)

• Subject Area: Immunology
• Term: since 2021
• Project identifier: Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (DFG) - Project number 452881907

In the treatment of brain malignancies, T cells expressing chimeric-antigen-receptors (CARTs) have failed to induce lasting tumor control. This has been attributed to insufficient infiltration, activation and persistence of CARTs within the heterogeneous and immunosuppressive tumor stroma. In this project, we therefore aim to explore and optimize the migratory and tumoricidal properties of CARTs in the treatment of brain malignancies by combining (I) long-term in vivo imaging (II) positional in situ labelling and single-cell-RNA-sequencing as well as (III) combinatorial engineering of migration-modulating-receptors. Thereby, we strive to improve the efficacy of CARTs in fighting cerebral malignancies.

• DFG Programme: CRC/Transregios
• Subproject of: TRR 338: LETSIMMUN - Lymphocyte Engineering for Therapeutic Synthetic Immunity
• Applicant Institution: Technische Universität München (TUM)
• Project Heads: Professorin Dr. Louisa von Baumgarten; Privatdozent Dr. Veit Buchholz