University Medical Centre Utrecht

The goal of the research of Suzan Rooijakkers is to unravel the molecular mechanisms underlying bacterial killing by the human immune system. In particular, she investigates the molecular functioning of the complement system, a large protein network in plasma that plays an essential role in the immune response against all invading bacteria. Other projects in the lab involve unravelling processes underlying complement-mediated phagocytosis.

The Laboratory of Translational Immunology within the tumor immunology group at UMCU are focused on unraveling the mechanisms of how the human immune system protects us from developing cancer, understanding innate immune cells and their receptors and virally infected cells. The research group are also focused on developing novel therapies, genetic transplant engineering, and the generation of remedies for patients suffering from malignancies.

The Research group focuses on the molecular mechanisms of innate T cell and tumour cell interactions. As part of  Tumorimmunology the group also specilaises in understanding the mechanisms of how the human immune system protects us from developing cancer, understanding innate immune cells and their receptors and virally infected cells. The research group are also focused on developing novel therapies, genetic transplant engineering, and the generation of remedies for patients suffering from malignancies.

As Head of the Center of Translational Immunology, Jeanette Leusen's research group studies the working mechanisms of therapeutic antibodies and the biology of Fc receptors. As a therapy for cancer, monoclonal antibodies are used that specifically target tumor cells.

Dani Heesterbeek is the new postdoc employed to work on the development of Therapeutic antibodies against Klebsiella pneumoniae, under the direction of prof.dr. Suzan Rooijakers.

Dani's showcase project will focus on the development of therapeutic antibodies that potently activate the complement system for the treatment of drug-resistant bacterial infections. Structural approaches and functional studies will help to elucidate mechanisms of potent antibodies, which can then be further optimized through engineering technology.

The project is is a collaborative effort with the group of prof. dr. Friedrich Förster (techniques include: EM, structural biology, computational modelling) and prof. dr.Piet Gros ( X-ray crystallography, EM, Biophysical characterisation).