Oncology
Team EIT
New Strategies to Enhance the Immunogenicity of Tumors
Cells with hypermutation phenotypes harbor an initial growth advantage to form primary tumors. However, this group of tumors produces more tumor-specific antigens that evoke immune responses. Contrarily, tumors that exhibit a low mutator phenotype avoid de novo mutations that would be deleterious to cellular fitness and, most importantly, evade immune surveillance. As a result, these patients harbor weaker immunogenic phenotypes with immune cell-poor tumor microenvironments, limiting the response rate to immunotherapies.
This team’s main objective is to identify how DNA damage response (DDR) shapes the tumor microenvironment. Using colorectal cancer as a model, this team will investigate the molecular pathways altered in immunogenic and non-immunogenic tumor clusters. The main aim of the project will be to identify canonical and non-canonical roles of DDR molecules involved in tumor immunity. Our final goal is to design new therapeutic targets that promote a favorable tumor microenvironment for immunotherapies.
Mentors
- Dr. Weixiao Sha (Industry mentor)
Scientific Director, Tumor Immunology Research at Merck KGaA, Darmstadt, Germany - Dr. Balca Mardin (Industry mentor)
Director, Head of Target Discovery and Research at Merck KGaA, Darmstadt, Germany - Prof. Dr. Nelson Ongondo Gekara (Academic mentor)
Full Professor of Microbiology and Molecular Infection Immunology Institute for Medical Microbiology and Hygiene, Medical Center, University of Freiburg, Germany
Team Location BioMed X Institute Heidelberg
Dr. Semih Akincilar
Group Leader
Short Bio
- 2020 – 2024: Senior Scientist investigating the deregulation of inflammatory pathways in chronic inflammatory disorders at the Agency for Science, Technology, and Research (A*STAR), Singapore
- 2017 – 2020: Postdoctoral Research Fellow in targeting replicative immortality in cancer cells at A*STAR, Singapore
- 2013 – 2017: PhD in Biochemistry, National University of Singapore, investigated the transcriptional reactivation of telomerase gene in cancer
Dr. Rayene Berkane
Postdoctoral researcher
Short Bio
2020 – 2024: PhD/research assistant, Dr. Alexandra Stolz Lab, supervised by Prof. Ivan Dikic, Uniklinik Frankfurt, Goethe university, Frankfurt am Main, Germany
2020: MSc Thesis, Dr. Alexandra Stolz Lab, supervised by Prof. Ivan Dikic, Uniklinik Frankfurt, Goethe university, Frankfurt am Main, Germany
2019 – 2020: MSc in Cancer Biology, University of Montpellier, France
2014 – 2016: MSc in Human Genetics, University of Brothers Mentouri, Constantine, Algeria
2011 – 2014: BSc in Clinical Biology, University of Brothers Mentouri, Constantine, Algeria
Dr. Yasmin Dabiri
Postdoctoral Researcher
Manisha Manojkumar Singh
PhD Student
Cenk Daglioglu
Short Bio
- 2021 – 2025: Senior Scientist, Department of Medical Biochemistry, Cerrahpaşa Medical School, Istanbul University, Istanbul, Turkey
- 2010 – 2021: Research Scientist, Department of Molecular Biology and Genetics, Faculty of Science, Izmir Institute of Technology, Izmir, Turkey
- 2010 – 2015: PhD in Biochemistry, Department of Biochemistry, Faculty of Science, Ege University, Izmir, Turkey
Team EIT Alumni
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