Targeted Therapies in Leukemia

Our Research

Acute myeloid leukemia (AML) is a fatal disorder of the blood-forming bone marrow cells. The cellular origin of AML is thought to be a normal hematopoietic stem cell that through a series of genetic lesions gives rise to cells with leukemia-initiating capacity, also termed leukemia stem cells (LSCs), which propagate into frank AML. The major goals of our research is to identify therapeutic targets essential for LSCs and expand our knowledge regarding how cancer cells evade the immune system. To this end, we use ex vivo and in vivo CRISPR-screens.

Aims

• To identify therapeutic targets on leukemia stem cells that suppress natural killer cells.
• To identify therapeutic targets on leukemia stem cells that suppress macrophages.

Impact

We have a translational focus and our research has resulted into two spin-off companies (Cantargia and Lead Biologics). If successful, our research may translate into new treatments for patients with AML and other cancers.

Team

(name linked to profile in Lund University research portal)

Marcus Järås

Group Leader, marcus [dot] jaras [at] med [dot] lu [dot] se (marcus[dot]jaras[at]med[dot]lu[dot]se)

Ramprasad Ramakrishnan

Postdoctoral fellow, ramprasad [dot] ramakrishnan [at] med [dot] lu [dot] se (ramprasad[dot]ramakrishnan[at]med[dot]lu[dot]se)

Somadri Ghosh

Postdoctoral fellow, somadri [dot] ghosh [at] med [dot] lu [dot] se (somadri[dot]ghosh[at]med[dot]lu[dot]se)

Katrin Reinbach

Biomedical analyst, katrin [dot] reinbach [at] med [dot] lu [dot] se (katrin[dot]reinbach[at]med[dot]lu[dot]se)

Josephine Ohrt Jensen

Research Engineer, josephine [dot] ohrt_jensen [at] med [dot] lu [dot] se (josephine[dot]ohrt_jensen[at]med[dot]lu[dot]se)