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.