Dr Anne Rios, IMAGINE! PI located at the Princess Maxima Center was one of the 43 scientists to be awarded the NWO Vici grant (funding round 2024). Congratulations!
Below the abstract of her submission (retrieved from the original post on the NWO website).
Directing engineered T cell behavior towards enhanced performance against diffuse midline glioma
Dr. A.C. Rios (f), Princess Maxima Center for pediatric oncology
T cells, fighter cells of the immune system, can be engineered to recognize and destroy tumor cells. Their dynamic nature is crucial yet unexploited in enhancing their therapeutic potential. This project will leverage cutting-edge imaging technologies to study the behavior of these T cells in patient-representative models of a deadly brain tumor in children. By observing their actions under the microscope and identifying new targets that govern T cell behavior, researchers aim to discover the most potent therapies and sharpen their cancer-targeting abilities. The ultimate goal is to develop a powerful T cell therapy to combat this life-threatening brain cancer.