Antigen-Based Immunotherapy
Around a common theme of antigen-based immunotherapy we identify immunotherapeutic targets, develop predictive biomarkers for effective assignment of immunotherapeutic to patients, and evaluate innovative immune therapeutic strategies. This mostly (but not exclusively) in a setting of chronic Hepatitis B infection and liver cancer. Central to our work are immunopeptidomics, ex vivo cultures of patient immune cells & tissue fragments and detailed immune phenotyping & monitoring.
Our research is highly translational stretching from mechanistic insight to clinical application and back again. Not only the development and testing of new therapeutics has our attention but also the development of biomarkers to bring those therapeutics to those patient who really benefit and prevent overtreatment of those who do not.
To facilitate the transition from lab to clinic we work closely with clinicians, biochemist, tumor immunologist and private partners.
Funding Partners
STRIPE
S̲limme T̲umor-targeting met R̲eceptor I̲mmunotherapie via P̲eptide-antibody E̲ngineering
Erasmus MC department of Gastroenterology and Hepatology participates in the STRIPE project, which aims to advance the preclinical development of safer, more effective and affordable cancer immunotherapies. STRIPE focuses on the identification of tumour-specific signal peptides, which are uniquely present on tumour cells that have developed resistance to existing immunotherapies. Together with Imuno Therapeutics and Vitroscan, Erasmus MC contributes to the discovery, prioritization and validation of novel targets for highly specific antibody-based therapies and T-cell engager (TCE) immunotherapies, including applications in lung and pancreatic cancer.
A key objective is the development of a patient-specific tumour testing platform using human tumour tissue. This platform enables direct assessment of target expression and therapeutic responses in clinically relevant models, supporting more predictive preclinical evaluation and reducing reliance on animal studies.
Expected project results include the identification and validation of novel tumour-specific immunotherapy targets, the development of candidate antibody and T-cell engager (TCE) therapies, and the establishment of innovative platforms for peptide analysis and patient-specific tumour testing. By targeting signalling peptides that are selectively expressed on therapy-resistant tumour cells, STRIPE aims to enable more precise immunotherapies with reduced impact on healthy tissue. The project is expected to accelerate and reduce the costs of preclinical immunotherapy development, strengthen the research and innovation ecosystem in South Holland, and facilitate the translation of promising discoveries towards industrial development and future clinical application. Ultimately, STRIPE seeks to contribute to more accessible and affordable cancer immunotherapies for patients.
Erasmus MC is grateful for the support of the Kansen voor West programme and the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF), which enable innovation through research, technology development and collaboration.
Project period: November 2024 to October 2027
Project reference: KVW3-00356
STRIPE is co-funded by the European Union through the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF) within the Kansen voor West III programme.
HEB-PEP and MAX-HEB-PEP
HEB-PEP (EMCLSH21007) and MAX-HEB-PEP (EMCLSH23013) are closely connected public-private research projects funded by Health Holland investigating ISA104, a therapeutic synthetic long-peptide vaccine for chronic hepatitis B.
The HEB-PEP clinical trial evaluates the vaccine’s safety and its capacity to induce HBV-specific immune responses (Study Details | NCT05841095 | Evaluation of the Novel Therapeutic Hepatitis B Virus Synthetic Long Peptide Vaccination ISA104 | ClinicalTrials.gov), while MAX-HEB-PEP applies advanced immune-monitoring and predictive approaches to maximize the scientific knowledge generated by the clinical trial and support the further clinical development of ISA104.
Following the premature closure of the original HEB-PEP partnership, Erasmus MC is completing the remaining clinical and research activities. MAX-HEB-PEP continues as a collaboration between Erasmus MC and ISAbella Pharma B.V., the company continuing the development of ISA104 (IB102).
Project period MAX-HEB-PEP: July 2023 to June 2027
Project references: EMCLSH21007 and EMCLSH23013
The collaboration project EMCLSH21007 is co-funded by PPP Subsidy awarded by Health Holland.
The collaboration project EMCLSH23013 is co-funded by PPP Subsidy awarded by Health Holland.
People
- 'S.I. (Sonja) Buschow, PhD' has role 'Principal investigator' on research line 'Antigen-based Immunotherapy'
- 'R.J. (Robbie) Luijten' has role 'Research technician' on research line 'Antigen-based Immunotherapy'
- 'P.P.C (Patrick) Boor, PhD' has role 'Research technician' on research line 'Antigen-based Immunotherapy'
- 'H.F.S.A (Hamdy) Warda' has role 'PhD student' on research line 'Antigen-based Immunotherapy'
- 'L. (Luc) Magré' has role 'PhD student' on research line 'Antigen-based Immunotherapy'
- 'R.F.A. (Roel) Pieterman' has role 'PhD student' on research line 'Antigen-based Immunotherapy'