Department of Radioimmunology

The work of the Department of Radioimmunology is focused on the development of novel immunotheranostic strategies for the therapy and diagnosis of tumors. Our technologies include antibody (Ab)-based and cellular immunotherapies which are based on chimeric antigen receptors (CARs). On the one hand, we develop recombinant bispecific humanized Abs and Ab-derivatives for the redirection of immune T lymphocytes to target and kill tumor cells. On the other hand, we develop switchable adapter CAR platforms, namely the UniCAR and RevCAR system. Thereby, adapter CAR-expressing immune cells (T cells, NK cells) can be steered by adapter molecules (namely target modules, TMs) allowing an effective and safe personalized immunotherapy. In order to further improve immunotherapies, we try to understand and modulate the immunosuppressive tumor microenvironment (TME) via targeting regulatory T cells or checkpoint molecules. Additionally, we investigate the combination of these immunotherapies with other anti-tumor therapeutic approaches, especially external or internal radiotherapy. In fact, our TMs can be radiolabeled and used for tumor targeting and/or imaging depending on the selected radionuclide. Due to its modular character our platform technology is broadly applicable also for infectious or autoimmune diseases and transplantation rejection reactions (e.g. graft versus host diseases). 

---

Research Topics

• Antibody-based immunotheranostics for tumor therapy and diagnosis

• Adapter CAR-based immunotheranostics for personalized immunotherapy and diagnosis

• Modulation of tumor microenvironment

• Development of immuno- and radiotherapy

• Personalized immunotheranostics for acute myeloid leukemia

Projects & Support

• Third-funding project: „KI‐basierte Entwicklung tumorspezifischer CAR‐T‐Zell‐Immuntherapie beim malignen Melanom (KI-CARs)"

  (Sächsische Aufbaubank) https://www.hzdr.de/db/Cms?pOid=72231&pNid=3438 

• HORIZON-EIC-2022-PATHFINDERCHALLENGES-01: "B-cell related gene and protein markers with prognostic and therapeutic value for CVD (B-specific)", https://www.bspecific.eu  

 

• Helmholtz Biomedical Engineering: https://www.helmholtz-bioengineering.de/ 

• HORIZON- Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions (MSCA)-Doctoral Networks: “An integrated approach to restore tolerance in autoimmune disease (TOLERATE)”, 
  https://www.tolerate-horizon.eu/

  

• HORIZON- Marie Sklodowska-Curie Actions (MSCA)-Doctoral Networks: “Protease-guided tumor targeting tools to revolutionize cancer diagnosis and treatment (OncoProTools)”, https://www.uantwerpen.be/en/projects/protease-guided-tumor-targeting-tools/        

 

• Helmholtz Association: Initiative “Immunology & Inflammation”
  https://www.helmholtz-hzi.de/en/news-events/news/view/article/complete/joining-forces-for-immune-research/

 

• Helmholtz International Lab: “Monash-Helmholtz Laboratory for Radio-Immuno-Theranostics (MHELTHERA)”,
  https://www.hzdr.de/db/Cms?pNid=1202
  

 

• Else-Kröner-Fresenius-Stiftung (EKFS)-Ausschreibung “Projekte zur Verhinderung von Infektionen durch Tröpfchen oder Aerosole“: “Neuartige Inhalationstherapeutika zum Schutz vor viralen Infekten bedingt durch Tröpfcheninfektionen (Viroprotect)“

 

• Free State of Saxony, SAB Project: “Immuntheranostik zur Therapie, Bildgebung und Schnelldiagnostik von Viruserkrankungen: COVID-19“

 

• BMBF Clusters 4 Future “SaxoCell”: “Development of theranostic target molecules for diagnosis and therapy (TheraSTAR)“,
  http://www.saxocell.de/
  

 

• Mildred-Scheel-Nachwuchszentrum (MSNZ): “Engineered T-cells for personalized cancer therapy”,
  https://tu-dresden.de/med/mf/msnz/kollegiaten/claudia-arndt-frederick-fasslrinner

 

News & Events

2024:

• We are excited to announce the forthcoming Annual Meeting of the Study Group Tumor Immunology (DGfI-German Society for Immunology), which has been organized by our group leader, Claudia Arndt, in collaboration with Jörg Wischhusen of the University Hospital Würzburg. The event promises to be an enriching experience for all participants, featuring a diverse range of topics and expert speakers in the field of basic and translational tumour immunology research.

Date: 07. / 08. October 2024

Location: Center for Regenerative Therapies Dresden (CRTD)

Further information and the detailed program can be found on the Society's website: https://dgfi.org/arbeitskreise/ak-tumorimmunologie/meeting/ 

 

• Haidy Amr Abdelfatah Saleh Hassan successfully graduated her PhD thesis: "“Immunotherapeutic Targeting of Glioblastoma Using Switchable Adaptor RevCAR T- and NK-92-Cell Platforms“ (September 2024)

     

• We are glad to announce that two of our Master of Science (M. Sc.) students, Manasa & Lamice graduated successfully at the Center for Molecular and Cellular Bioengineering (CMCB), Center for Regenerative Therapies TU Dresden (September 2024)
  
  - Manasa Venkateswaran (Master’s program Molecular Bioengineering): “Therapeutic approach to tackle difficult-to-treat cancers using adapter CAR platforms.“
  
  - Lamice Mouin Shurafa (Master’s program Regenerative Biology and Medicine): “Adapter CAR Platform for T Cell Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia (T-ALL) Therapy.” She graduated at Dr. Claudia Arndt´s group ("Engineered T-cells for personalized cancer therapy").

  Manasa Lamice
  
  

• Congratulations to our PhD graduates Anja Hoffmann (left) & Tabea (right)
  
  Anja Hoffmann, Dr. rer. nat.: „Etablierung und Charakterisierung der modularen RevCAR Plattform sowie Entwicklung einer gated Targetingstrategie zur RevCAR T-Zell-basierten Immuntherapie des Prostatakarzinoms." (12th of June)
  
  Tabea Bartsch, Dr. rer. medic.: "Characterization of monoclonal antibodies against the La protein and development of a novel adaptor CAR
  system." (7th of August)

       

• Poster prize for Eugenia Crespo with the title:  "From Suppression to T-cell Activation: Targeting Immune Checkpoints with the RevCAR System" (SaxoCell Retreat, Chemnitz, 4th of June)

 

• We are glad to announce that two of our PhD students, Justyna & Karla graduated successfully (Dresden, April & May 2024)

Justyna Jureczek: "Preclinical evaluation of novel target modules for adoptive UniCAR T cell therapy targeting solid tumors"
(defense: 2nd April 2024)
Karla Elizabeth González Soto: "Combinatorial targeting of hematological and solid tumor malignancies using adaptor
RevCAR T cells following an AND-gate adaptor logic" (defense: 13th May 2024)

 

• PhD researchers, Hugo Boutier and Rutuja Gupte collaborated their MSCA doctoral networks OncoProTools and TOLERATE respectively, at the Science is Wonderful fair 2024, in Brussels on 25-26 April 2024.
  They educated young minds about the risks of cancer and autoimmunity via interactive games and demonstrations on immunology and CAR-T cells.
  
  
  
  
• We are happy to anounce that both, Eugenia & Haidy, got prizes at the Tumor Immunology Meets Oncology (TIMO) conference in Brandenburg (April, 19th).
  2nd best poster award: "From Suppression to T-cell Activation: Targeting Immune Checkpoints with the RevCAR System." (Eugenia)
  3rd best talk: "Immunotherapeutic targeting of glioblastoma using Fn14-redirected RevCAR effector cells." (Haidy)
  
  

2023:

• 2nd Poster Price Award at HZDR DocSeminar 2023 (October 19th)  - Congrats to Cansu Daglar with her presented poster: "Development of ACE2 molecules for protection against SARS-CoV-2 or visualization of infected cells"

• Congratulations to Haidy and Lydia at the Workshop & Symposium „Tumor Immunology meets Oncology XVI“ in Halle (April 20 - 22):        

Lydia (left) got the 2nd prize for Best Talk: "Therapeutic targeting and diagnostic imaging of Fibroblast Activation Protein-expressing cancers unsing the UniCAR system"                          
                                                                                
Haidy (right): 2nd Prize for Best Poster: "Specific targeting of Fn14-expressing glioblastoma using  RevCAR NK-92 cell system

2022

• Congratulations! Haidy Amr Abdelfatah Saleh Hassan for Best Presentation Award at HZDR DocSeminar 2022 (October, 21)

• Congratulations to Liliana Loureiro for Best Flash Presentation Award presented at Australian Society of Molecular Imaging (ASMI) Annual Conference 2022 (October 6 - 7) in Melbourne, Australia
  Claudia Arndt: CAR Technology Meets Theranostics – A New Era of Immunotheranostics for Hematological and Solid Tumors (Plenary Lecture Invited)
  and
  Liliana Loureiro: Immunotheranostic target modules suitable for imaging and navigation of UniCAR T-cells to strike FAP-expressing solid tumours and their microenvironment (Flash talk presentation)
  
  
• Congratulations! Irene García de Andres, for excellent Master Thesis defence entitled “Developing adaptor molecules for targeting prostate cancer using RevCAR T cell system“ (September 19)

  

• 5th GyMIC Molecular Imaging Symposium co-organized by colleagues from HZDR site Leipzig took place in Leipzig (September 15 – 16)
  Christin Neuber: FAP directed target modules are suitable for imaging and targeted radionuclide therapy of FAP-expressing solid tumours and their microenvironment (selected talk)

• Antibody Technologies and Therapeutics Conference at Monash University Prato Center, Italy (September 11 – 14)
  Anja Feldmann: Theranostic Antibody- and CAR-based Platform Technology for Therapy and Imaging (invited talk) and
  Liliana Loureiro: Driving UniCARs to successful immunotherapy of solid tumors expressing fibroblast activation protein (FAP) (invited talk)
  

• Project start for the winners of this year's DZG (German Centers for Health Research) in Dresden (July 19)
  Anja Feldmann (HZDR, DKTK), Anne Eugster (CRTD, PLID, DZD) and Anke Fuchs (CRTD, DKTK) were pleased to receive
  start-up funding of 10,000 EUR for their project "CAR brakes - Equipping Treg cells with chimeric antigen receptors to halt aberrant immunity“.

• Workshop & Symposium „Tumor Immunology meets Oncology XVI“ in Halle, Germany (July 7 - 9)

  

  Karla Gonzalez Soto: Comparison of two structurally different RevTMs for the RevCAR system
  to specifically target CEA expressing cells (second poster presentation award),
  
  Tabea Bartsch: Adapter CARs: Estimation of the affinity between adapter and CAR domain required for function
  (selected talk)