Seed Funding Programm 2022
ENIGMA
Engineering immunity to malignant gliomas
Coordinators
dkfz.de
Michael Platten
Neurological Clinic, UMM
dkfz.de
Nina Papavasiliou
Immune Diversity, DKFZ
Detailed description
As a result of low mutational load and poor T cell infiltration malignant gliomas resist conventional immunotherapies. This project aims at tackling poor immunity with two complementary genetic engineering approaches: a) by enhancing immunogenicity through RNA-based generation of new neoepitopes and b) by enhancing T cell homing through CRISPRa-based gene editing. The project is based on unique complementary technology platforms, experimental models, early clinical trials and human tumor tissue. The goal is to develop and translate an entirely novel therapeutic approach to this devastating disease through genetic immune engineering at the tumor and T cell level.