More than just CAR T Cells
The multiple perspectives of our CAR-T research
More than just CAR T Cells
The multiple perspectives of our CAR-T research
Our key topics
A glimpse at our main
research topics
Our research focuses on different aspects of CAR Technology, discover them here
Control of CAR T cells and management
of side effects
CAR T cells are “living drugs” that require technologies to enable physicians (and patients) to maintain control over the infused cell product. Therefore, the Hudecek Lab develops several strategies to gain direct control over CAR T cells after injection. The Tyrosine kinase inhibitor Dasatinib has been shown to be highly effective in regulating CAR T cell acitivity in a dose dependent manner in vitro and in vivo and is being incorporated as a safety switch into several clinical trials. Additionally, the Hudecek lab evaluates the regulation of CAR T cells a) at different steps of receptor signalling, and b) the use of conventional and innovative lymphodepletion strategies for improved management of CAR T related toxicities.
New targets for CAR T cell therapy
Generating safe CAR T cells against new targets is a major focus of the Hudecek Lab. This includes the preclinical development of a CAR, starting with receptor design, the functional characterization in vitro and in vivo, and the clinical evaluation of promising candidates. Recently, the Hudecek lab has developed CARs targeting different targets for solid and hematological cancers.
Improving CAR T manufacturing
The production of CAR T cells requires several carefully performed steps that are complex, expensive and the entire process until delivery of the targeted CAR-T product can take too long time compared to the needs of the patients. Therefore, the Hudecek lab is striving to optimize and shorten the production of CAR T cells. Hereby, we focus on virus free genome editing techniques and targeted gene delivery to make CAR T cell production, more efficient, safe and reliable. In cooperation with industry partners, we are evaluating the potential of fully automated manufacturing platforms to produce clinical grade CAR T cells.
Improving CAR T cell function
CAR T cell therapy has been highly promising when targeting hematologic malignancies, however, there are settings in which CAR T cell function can be optimized. Therefore, the Hudecek Lab is aiming to improve CAR T cell functions, e.g. by evaluating and targeting resistance mechanism that CAR T cells face in the immunosuppressive microenvironment of solid cancer. Thereby, we will hopefully be able to protect CAR T cells from said environment and drive forward the targeting of solid malignancies. Additionally, we focus on the fine-tuning of CAR sensitivity and signalling to achieve a highly balanced CAR T cell function.
New technologies
By exploring new technologies, we aim to widen the limits for CAR T cell therapy. For many decades, CAR T cells were produced in a very similar way – virus-based approaches that evaluate one design at a time. We think it is time to think outside of the box! Therefore, the Hudecek Lab has established and is further developing Virus-free gene transfer systems that can also be used to approach new designs by screening complex CAR-libraries. For the same amount of time, the detection limit of target antigen on the tumor surface that can be recognized by a CAR has been unknown. By using high resolution microscopy, we define new borders of antigen expression that enable the treatment of patients that have been previously characterized as non-expressors and thus have been doomed unsuitable for CAR Therapy.
Our key topics
A glimpse at our main
research topics
Our research focuses on different aspects of CAR Technology, discover them here
Control of CAR T cells and management
of side effects
CAR T cells are “living drugs” that require technologies to enable physicians (and patients) to maintain control over the infused cell product. Therefore, the Hudecek Lab develops several strategies to gain direct control over CAR T cells after injection. The Tyrosine kinase inhibitor Dasatinib has been shown to be highly effective in regulating CAR T cell acitivity in a dose dependent manner in vitro and in vivo and is being incorporated as a safety switch into several clinical trials. Additionally, the Hudecek lab evaluates the regulation of CAR T cells a) at different steps of receptor signalling, and b) the use of conventional and innovative lymphodepletion strategies for improved management of CAR T related toxicities.
New targets for CAR T cell therapy
Generating safe CAR T cells against new targets is a major focus of the Hudecek Lab. This includes the preclinical development of a CAR, starting with receptor design, the functional characterization in vitro and in vivo, and the clinical evaluation of promising candidates. Recently, the Hudecek lab has developed CARs targeting different targets for solid and hematological cancers.
Improving CAR T manufacturing
The production of CAR T cells requires several carefully performed steps that are complex, expensive and the entire process until delivery of the targeted CAR-T product can take too long time compared to the needs of the patients. Therefore, the Hudecek lab is striving to optimize and shorten the production of CAR T cells. Hereby, we focus on virus free genome editing techniques and targeted gene delivery to make CAR T cell production, more efficient, safe and reliable. In cooperation with industry partners, we are evaluating the potential of fully automated manufacturing platforms to produce clinical grade CAR T cells.
Improving CAR T cell function
CAR T cell therapy has been highly promising when targeting hematologic malignancies, however, there are settings in which CAR T cell function can be optimized. Therefore, the Hudecek Lab is aiming to improve CAR T cell functions, e.g. by evaluating and targeting resistance mechanism that CAR T cells face in the immunosuppressive microenvironment of solid cancer. Thereby, we will hopefully be able to protect CAR T cells from said environment and drive forward the targeting of solid malignancies. Additionally, we focus on the fine-tuning of CAR sensitivity and signalling to achieve a highly balanced CAR T cell function.
New technologies
By exploring new technologies, we aim to widen the limits for CAR T cell therapy. For many decades, CAR T cells were produced in a very similar way – virus-based approaches that evaluate one design at a time. We think it is time to think outside of the box! Therefore, the Hudecek Lab has established and is further developing Virus-free gene transfer systems that can also be used to approach new designs by screening complex CAR-libraries. For the same amount of time, the detection limit of target antigen on the tumor surface that can be recognized by a CAR has been unknown. By using high resolution microscopy, we define new borders of antigen expression that enable the treatment of patients that have been previously characterized as non-expressors and thus have been doomed unsuitable for CAR Therapy.
