Cell Therapy New

Cell Therapy New

To fully leverage the comprehensive proteogenomic data that we are able to acquire from large patient cohorts, we collaborate closely with the lab of DKTK professor Florian Buettner (https://mlo-lab.github.io/author/florian-buettner). Together, we pursue the development and application of novel tools and algorithms for machine-learning and artificial intelligence based multi-omics data integration. We ensure that these tools are inherently interpretable, trustworthy, and are accompanied with user-friendly implementations in order to ensure broad applicability across diverse tumor entities.

The proximity ligation assay is a well-established imaging methodology which allows us to evaluate the location and interaction of two specific protein targets in situ. In short, we are able to detect whether two proteins are within a certain proximity to each other (<40nm) and through quantification of fluorescent puncta upon confocal visualization, we can evaluate and quantify interaction differences upon specific treatments or genetic modifications.

Our laboratory integrates single-cell technologies to understand cellular behavior with unprecedented precision. Using single-cell RNA sequencing (scRNA-seq) and chromatin accessibility profiling (scATAC-seq), we examine immune cell populations and tissue architecture at the individual cell level. This allows us to elucidate the clonal architecture of healthy and diseased tissues.
Working closely with our bioinformatics and functional genomics teams, we combine single-cell transcriptomics with targeted gene editing in high-throughput formats. This approach allows us to systematically study how genetic changes affect cellular function, advancing our understanding of disease mechanisms.

We have established a broad range of quantitative MS assays for the unbiased analysis of protein-protein interactions and their temporal dynamics. Our BioID/ Turbo-ID assays rely on the fusion of a protein of interest (bait) with a promiscuous biotin ligase enzyme, known as BirA*. Upon expression in living cells, this fusion protein biotinylates proximal proteins within a radius of 10-20 nanometers, covalently attaching biotin molecules to lysine residues. Subsequently, biotinylated proteins are isolated using streptavidin affinity purification, followed by elution and identification via mass spectrometry. By capturing proteins that come into close proximity with the bait protein, the BioID assay provides a comprehensive snapshot of the protein interactome within the cellular context.

A well-established portfolio of proteomic workflows enables the purification of proteins from a variety of biological materials. Proteins can be isolated from cell culture models and freshly isolated tumor cells as well as from fresh frozen and FFPE tissues. Recently, plasma proteomics was implemented in the lab using the fully automated pipeline for plasma protein enrichment with the Proteograph^™ SP100 from Seer (https://seer.bio). Seer’s nanoparticle technology uses engineered nanoparticles to capture proteins across the entire dynamic range, providing an unbiased sampling of the plasma proteome.

The research laboratory of Dr. Thomas Oellerich, embedded within the German Cancer Consortium (DKTK) and the Frankfurt Cancer Institute (FCI), is dedicated to unraveling the intricate mechanisms underlying lymphoma and leukemia biology, along with the vision to translate our research findings into clinical advancement. Our focus is the identification of drug targets and predictive biomarkers, the elucidation of therapy resistance mechanisms, and the development of innovative therapeutic approaches, including molecular and cellular therapies. Therefore, we combine deep mechanistic research with cutting-edge technologies such as mass-spectrometry-based proteomics, functional genomics and high-resolution imaging to study innovative tumor models and patient-derived tumors.

Our research is closely integrated into national (e.g. DKTK/NCT, Max-Planck) and international networks (e.g. NIH), emphasizing our interest in collaborative and international research. With a strong commitment to translational research and our proven track-record in translating lab research into the clinic, our ultimate goal is to improve patient outcome and quality of life.

Cancer Cell 2024

Selective autophagy impacts therapy response in DLBCL

Cancer Discovery 2023

Glycosylation controls oncogenic B-cell receptor signaling

Cancer Cell 2022

The proteogenomic subtypes of acute myeloid leukemia

Blood 2022

Metabolic survival programs in Burkitt lymphoma

Nature 2018

Targeting oncogenic signaling in lymphoma

Cancer Cell 2017

Targeting Hoxa9 and Meis1 by Syk inhibition in AML

We are constantly seeking skilled and motivated individuals to become part of our international team. If you’re interested in applying for one of the roles listed below or independently send your CV along with a brief motivational letter to us at Diese E-Mail-Adresse ist vor Spambots geschützt! Zur Anzeige muss JavaScript eingeschaltet sein.. 

Student Research Assistant (HiWi) - 10 hrs / week

Master thesis (6 - 12 month)

Master Thesis (6 - 12 month)