Marcus Järås, a former student of the Lund Stem Cell Center, is no stranger to groundbreaking research. During his Ph.D. studies, his fascination with hematopoietic (blood) stem cells and their relationship with cancer began. As a postdoctoral researcher in Lund, his early work on chronic myeloid leukemia led to a pivotal discovery—the identification of the cell surface protein IL1RAP as overexpressed in leukemia stem cells. This breakthrough formed the basis for Cantargia, a company dedicated to developing a monoclonal antibody therapy that targets this receptor. Currently, Cantargia is conducting phase II clinical trials to evaluate the drug's effectiveness against different cancer types.
"Fourteen years ago, we transformed our research findings into a startup. I faced a decision between staying in academia or joining the company, and I opted for the freedom and creativity that academia provides," reflected Marcus Järås. "Afterward, my wife and I, both postdoctoral researchers at the time, relocated to Boston in 2010, where I joined Benjamin Eberts Research Group. My focus there was studying leukemia stem cells, utilizing genetic screens to identify new therapeutic targets—which is still the aim of my research today.”
Following this second postdoctoral fellowship at Harvard Medical School, Marcus returned to Lund and resumed his research journey, forming his own research group within the division of clinical genetics. Over the years, his team has grown, and their research methodologies have evolved, incorporating cutting-edge techniques such as CRISPR-based technologies and leading sequencing methodologies to identify new therapeutic targets for acute myeloid leukemia. This disease is the most common form of acute leukemia among adults and is associated with low survival due to limited treatment options.
“Our continued collaboration with Cantargia has had a lasting impact on my research. In science, it’s very exciting to learn and explore, but the true motivation lies in developing new therapies. It's been incredibly rewarding to see patients positively respond to the therapies we’ve developed– far more rewarding than any published paper,” emphasized Marcus Järås.
More recently, Marcus has once again bridged the gap between academia and industry, as evident from his involvement in co-founding a second biotech company called Lead Biologics, also dedicated to antibody therapies for cancer, alongside several collaborators.
"It's thrilling to witness your ideas and research have a tangible impact on a larger scale. However, this also highlights the challenge of achieving such goals solely within academia and with limited academic funding, considering the costly development process," described Marcus Järås. "Starting a company provides a pathway to secure investments for drug development, as well as opportunities to engage with new individuals and experts that one wouldn't typically encounter as an academic researcher."
Within the Lund Stem Cell Center community, Marcus aspires to foster collaboration and knowledge exchange. "I hope to facilitate a strong interface between academia and industry, driving advancements in the field of advanced therapy medicinal products (ATMPs). Moreover, joining Lund Stem Cell Center will offer exciting networking opportunities for my group members, exposing them to world-class science and facilitating their growth as researchers," he highlighted.
When not immersed in scientific pursuits, Marcus enjoys an active lifestyle, engaging in activities such as skiing and cross-country mountain biking. He also cherishes quality time with his family, frequently taking them on adventures aboard their boat in Lomma.
Lund Stem Cell Center warmly welcomes the Targeted Therapies in Leukemia Research Group and eagerly anticipates their invaluable contributions in advancing stem cell research and developing new treatments for cancer. With Marcus Järås leading the way, the group's expertise, and commitment to bridging the gap between academia and industry promise to make a significant impact within our scientific community.