Advanced Cell Therapies

Objectives and Challenges

Our research aims to overcome the current limitations of cellular immunotherapies (CAR-T, TILs)—particularly their lack of persistence and their sensitivity to immunosuppressive environments—in order to develop more effective therapies for solid and pediatric cancers.

Research Areas / Key Projects

• Fundamental understanding and screening: identification of the molecular mechanisms that limit T-cell function and survival in various hostile environments (tumor microenvironment, allogeneic response).

• Advanced cell engineering: design of multifunctional, inhibition-resistant T cells, and development of strategies to reprogram the immune response directly within the body.

• In vivo immunomodulation and reprogramming: approaches for the functional and specific reprogramming of the endogenous T-cell response

Major Findings, Prospects, and Impacts

Our work has led to the discovery and validation of new therapeutic targets to increase the persistence and activity of immune cells. These discoveries, protected by several patents, pave the way for clinical trials in cancers with poor prognoses.

Impacts: 

• Scientific: establishment of new concepts for cellular immunotherapy and development of state-of-the-art genetic screening tools. 

• Clinical: Development of more robust and durable cell therapies, as well as combination therapy approaches. 

• Societal: Contribution to innovative treatments, improving patients’ access to effective immunotherapies against hard-to-treat cancers.