Advancing CAR-Based Adoptive Cancer Immunotherapies

Host

Adriana Sánchez Danés, PhD, Cancer and Stem Cell Biology Lab

Venue

Seminar room

Abstract

In this seminar, I will present recent advances developed in our laboratory in CAR-based adoptive T-cell immunotherapy, with a particular focuss on leukemia. The talk will highlight γδ T cells as allogeneic effector platforms and explore emerging dual-targeting and armored CAR strategies.

Bio

Pablo Menéndez is an ICREA Research Professor and Research Director at the Josep Carreras Leukemia Research Institute–Clinic-UB in Barcelona, Spain. He is a leading figure in childhood leukemia research and a world pioneer in the development of next-generation CAR-T cell therapies. His work has been supported by prestigious competitive funding, including an ERC Consolidator Grant, ERC Proof of Concept grants, and multiple La Caixa Foundation grants.

Pablo’s laboratory has made major contributions to elucidating the cell of origin, etiology, and pathogenic mechanisms driving leukemogenesis—both initiation and progression—in pediatric B-cell acute lymphoblastic leukemia (B-ALL). In addition, the Menéndez lab has identified key cell-intrinsic and tumor-microenvironment-mediated mechanisms that underlie resistance to therapy, including chemotherapy, immunotherapy, and glucocorticoids, in acute leukemias and pediatric sarcomas. These discoveries have
yielded novel therapeutic strategies to overcome treatment refractoriness and immune escape.

Pablo Menéndez’s group has also established a robust preclinical and clinical research platform for the development of innovative CAR-T cell approaches for the treatment of acute leukemias, including B-ALL, T-cell acute lymphoblastic leukemia (T-ALL), and acute myeloid leukemia (AML). The lab is actively investigating new targets, advanced CAR constructs, and HLA-independent allogeneic effector cells to improve outcomes in relapsed and refractory leukemia patients, both pediatric and adult. Three of these
assets (CD1a, CD22, and CCR9) have been patented and licensed to the clinical-stage company OneChain ImmunoTx.
 

Register here.

About CR Colloquia Series

Champalimaud Research (CR) Colloquia Series is a seminar programme organised by the Champalimaud Centre for the Unknown to promote the discussion about the most interesting and significant questions in neuroscience and physiology & cancer with appointed speakers by the CR Community.