Cells built to cure

We develop innovative therapies for the treatment of cancer, autoimmunity, and chronic inflammation. By reprogramming immune cells through synthetic and pharmacologic intervention, we build cells that save lives.

Research

Our scientific activities are structured into three Research Areas: Discovery, Translation, and Clinical Application. All three work in synergy with one another. Our work starts with basic research into the areas of immune regulation, immune metabolism, cancer, and tissue homeostasis. It carries on with a focus on therapy development—spanning the creation of new formats of genetic and pharmacologic cell manipulation and drug-compliant manufacturing processes. Finally, we seek to apply our discoveries in early clinical trials on patients themselves.

Discovery

This branch of research investigates the highly complex interactions of different immune cells—with each other and with the organism’s cells—to understand how the immune system maintains the health of the organism.

Translation

This area focuses specifically on the preclinical development of immune-cell therapeutics. This includes the identification, differentiation, expansion, and preclinical testing of therapeutically relevant immune cell populations.

Clinical Application

At the LIT, our core focus is on the clinical translation of scientific findings: We therefore place significant emphasis on the development and roll out of clinical trials and focus on the clinical implementation of the results.

Principal Investigators

Together we stand to find new solutions for the treatment of diseases with unmet need.

View All PIs

Prof. Philipp Beckhove

Scientific Director LIT & Head of Research Division | Interventional Immunology

Prof. Simone Thomas

Head of Research Group | T-Cell Therapy

Prof. Hinrich Abken

Head of Research Division | Genetic Immunotherapy

Prof. Michael Rehli

Head of NGS Core

Prof. Matthias Edinger

Director and Qualified Person of JCC & Head of Research Group | Immunoregulation

Prof. Markus Feuerer

Deputy Scientific Director LIT & Head of Research Division | Immunology

Prof. Luca Gattinoni

Head of Research Division | Functional Immune Cell Modulation

Prof. Birte Kehr

Head of Research Group | Algorithmic Bioinformatics

Assoc. Prof. Petra Hoffmann

Head of Research Group | Immunoregulation & Head of FACS Core

Dr. Christian Schmidl

Head of Research Group | Epigenetic Immuno-oncology

Prof. Thomas Hehlgans

Immunology Division | Molecular Immunology

Featured Projects

AIR – Biosensors for inflammation

Scientists from the Division of Immunology have developed new types of synthetic biosensors known as artificial immune receptors (AIRs), which can be used to reprogram Tregs. These AIR receptors equip Tregs with a novel inflammation-sensoring mechanism and translate this environmental information into a dependent TCR-activation program. Learn More

TRUCKs – CAR T cells engineered to act as 'living factories'

The Leibniz Institute aims to use CAR T cells not simply as ‘living drugs’ in themselves, but also as ‘living factories’ producing a transgenic protein which delivers a therapeutically active agent to the organ of interest. The T cells are engineered with a CAR and an inducible expression cassette to produce a therapeutic protein which is triggered by CAR signaling. Learn More

Boosting T cell memory by mitochondrial transfer

Immunological memory describes the immune system’s ability to remember a pathogen, and respond rapidly and more vigorously to it upon subsequent encounters. This essential immune system function is delivered by B and T cells. Mesenchymal stromal cells (MSCs) in the bone marrow and peripheral lymphoid organs are known to promote T-cell memory by organizing pro-survival niches—but the precise mechanisms by which they support T-cell longevity are still not clearly understood. Learn More