Our task is the understanding and targeted manipulation of the immune system to be applied in the cure of
human diseases. Our approach is to genetically program blood cells with designed viral vectors, such that
they can be used in the treatment of diseases like cancer and chronic infections, where the immune responses
have been severely abrogated. We utilize lentiviral vectors derived from HIV-1 that deliver ectopic
expression of cytokines and antigens into hematopoietic precursors, which are then capable to self-differentiate
into dendritic cells, which are powerful antigen presenting cells. This concept is currently being developed for
immunotherapy of melanoma, leukemia and AIDS.
Research Aims:
To program hematopoietic precursors / stem cells with designed lentiviral vectors to yield highly viable, potent and safe dendritic cells.
To utilize programmed DCs for in vitro priming and expansion of T cells reactive against specific tumor and viral antigens.
To evaluate the engraftment, viability, migratory potential and potency of ex vivo generated dendritic cells and T cells in preclinical animal models.
To translate this know-how into active (dendritic cells) and adoptive immunotherapy (T cells) approaches for cancer and infectious diseases.
To undestand the effects of oncogenes and viral proteins in the development of functional dendritic cells.
Research 
Our task is the understanding and targeted manipulation of the immune system to be applied in the cure of
human diseases. Our approach is to genetically program blood cells with designed viral vectors, such that
they can be used in the treatment of diseases like cancer and chronic infections, where the immune responses
have been severely abrogated. We utilize lentiviral vectors derived from HIV-1 that deliver ectopic
expression of cytokines and antigens into hematopoietic precursors, which are then capable to self-differentiate
into dendritic cells, which are powerful antigen presenting cells. This concept is currently being developed for
immunotherapy of melanoma, leukemia and AIDS.
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