The German-Israeli research team led by Professor Johannes Huppa (Charité – Universitätsmedizin) and Johnathan Arnon (Hadassah-Hebrew University Medical Center) is developing new approaches to improve T-cell-based therapies against cancer in their project, A Novel Preclinical Platform for Selecting T-cell Receptors (TCR) in Adoptive TCR-T-cell Cancer Therapy. These therapies are based on the adoptive transfer of genetically engineered cytotoxic T cells (TCR-T-cells) which carry a tumor antigen-specific TCR to recognize and destroy solid cancers. In clinical practice, however, tumors may evade detection, T cells may be weakened by previous therapies, and autoimmunity may arise. In addition, standard lab models fail to accurately evaluate the interactions between tumor and T-cells or inform clinical outcomes. This project investigates the cellular and molecular mechanisms of TCR T-cell tumor recognition, focusing on the NY-ESO-1 antigen. It aims to develop a preclinical platform to realistically evaluate patient-derived T cells and diverse NY-ESO-1 – targeting TCRs, ultimately enabling safer and more effective therapies.
Funding Period: 07/2026 to 09/2029
Contact:
Prof. Dr. Johannes Huppa
Institute of Cancer Immunology, Charité Center am MDC Berlin
Building 31-2
Robert-Rössle-Straße 10
13125 Berlin
Applicant: Charité - Universitätsmedizin
Partner: Hebrew University of Jerusalem