NL
DE
Inflammatory disorders, including autoimmune disease, chronic infections and cancer are characterized by over-activation of the immune system. One of the key pathways involved in inflammation is interleukin-6 receptor (IL-6R) signalling which is a therapeutic target in sepsis, rheumatoid arthritis, haematological cancers and COVID-19. Still many patients do not respond to anti-IL-6(R) treatment, and one of the problems is our limited understanding of the IL-6R multimeric protein complex. We previously discovered that the IL-6R complex is inhibited by tetraspanin CD37 in the membrane of tumor cells.
Annemiek van Spriel (Dept. of Tumor Immunology, theme cancer development and immune defense) together with Piet Gros (Dept. of Chemistry, Utrecht University) obtained a ZonMw Open Competition Grant (750K Euro) to investigate IL-6 receptor structure and signalling in tumor cells in order to develop proof-of-concept therapy of targeting tetraspanin-cytokine receptor complexes in cancer. This ZonMw project aims to deliver 1) conceptual new molecular insight into cytokine receptor complexes in cancer cells, and 2) new prospective to target tetraspanin building blocks to inhibit cancer growth and inflammation.
Related news items
Dutch Society of Clinical Chemistry Science & Innovation Award for the team of Hans Jacobs
14 June 2022 The team of Hans Jacobs pioneers on the development of personalized diagnostics to measure minimal residual disease in patients with multiple myeloma. read more
Michiel Vermeulen and Klaas Mulder receive funding from ZonMw for a collaborative project using stem cell-based models
15 July 2021 Michiel Vermeulen and Klaas Mulder, theme Cancer development and immune defense, receive funding from ZonMw for a collaborative project to develop a stem cell based model to study early human embryogenesis. read more
HFSP Grant for Johannes Textor
30 March 2020 Johannes Textor, theme Cancer development and immune defense, has been awarded a program grant of 1 million US dollars by The Human Frontier Science Program (HFSP) to investigate how T cells navigate extremely dense environments using experiments, modeling and methods from pedestrian dynamics. read more
NWO open call GROOT grant for Michiel Vermeulen
24 February 2020 Michiel Vermeulen, theme Cancer development and immune defense, received a 300,000 EUR grant within the NWO-GROOT consortium. He will use mass spectrometry-based proteomics and interaction proteomics applications to study proteome and gene expression dynamics during early C. Elegans development. read more
Three VIDI grants for RIMLS researchers
24 May 2019 Matthijs Jore, Daniele Tauriello and Johannes Textor are each to receive up to 800,000 euros to develop an innovative research theme and to build up their own research group. NWO is awarding the Vidi grant as part of the Innovational Research Incentives Scheme. read more
