PROFILE
Cancer is a group of deadly diseases characterized by the uncontrolled growth of abnormal cells in the body. Conventional oncological treatments have severe adverse side effects and are not curative in advanced stages of the disease. We investigate how the immune system, mainly through cytotoxic T cells, can recognize and attack cancer cells. In particular, we study long-lived “memory” cytotoxic T cells, which can provide long-lasting immunity against solid tumors as well as disseminated cancers. We also seek to harness this knowledge to improve cancer immunotherapy, a novel approach that aims to activate the patients’ own cytotoxic T cells to eliminate cancer cells. Our research focuses on how to stimulate memory cytotoxic T cells by either using vaccines or manipulating these cells in the laboratory and re-injecting them back into patients, so-called adoptive T cell therapy.
LAB MEMBERS
Research Head: Álvaro Lladser
Research Associates: Vincenzo Borgna, MD, PhD.
Doctoral Students: Sofía Hidalgo • Diego Figueroa • Vincenzo Benedetti
Magister Students: Francisca Hofmann
Undergraduate Students: Brian Sirguiado • Pablo Contreras
Research Assistants: Eduardo Roa • Macarena Smith
COLLABORATIONS
National Collaborations:
• Dr. Rodrigo Pacheco (Fundación Ciencia & Vida).
• Dr. Manuel Varas (Universidad San Sebastián).
• Dr. Flavio Salazar (Universidad de Chile).
• Dr. Daniela Sauma (Universidad de Chile).
• Dr. Fabiola Osorio (Universidad de Chile).
International Collaborations:
• Dr. Eliane Piaggio (Curie Institute, France).
• Dr. Sergio Quezada (University College London, UK).
• Dr. Rolf Kiessling (Karolinska Institute, Sweden).
• Dr. Andreas Lundqvist (Karolinska Institute, Sweden).
FORMER LAB MEMBERS
Pablo Cáceres (Magister student, graduated in 2019), currently research assistant at Universidad Mayor, Chile.
Evelyn Menares (PhD student, graduated in 2019), currently postdoctoral fellow at Universidad of Chile, Chile.
Juan Saavedra (Undergraduate student, graduated in 2019), currently PhD student at Universidad de Chile, Chile.
Javiera Gómez (Undergraduate student, graduated in 2019).
Felipe Gálvez (Undergraduate student and PhD student, graduated in 2018), currently postdoctoral fellow at University College London, UK.
Ernesto López (Undergraduate student and Magister student, graduated in 2018), currently PhD student at University College London, UK.
Ornella Chovar (Magister student, graduated in 2018), currently research assistant at Fundación Ciencia & Vida, Chile.
Sebastián Cruz (Undergraduate student and Magister student, graduated in 2017), currently PhD student at University of Melbourne, Australia.
Nicole Rojas (PhD student, graduated in 2016), currently project executive at FONDEF, ANID, Chile.
Eduardo Durán (Magister student, graduated in 2016), currently PhD student at Universidad del Desarrollo, Chile.
Camila Flores (Undergraduate student, graduated in 2016), currently research assistant at Autolus Therapeutics, London, UK.
Nicole Araya (Undergraduate student, graduated in 2016), currently research assistant at Merken Biotech, Chile.
Paola Murgas (Postdoctoral fellow 2012-2016), currently group leader at Universidad Mayor, Chile.
César Oyarce (PhD student, graduated in 2015), currently postdoctoral fellow at University Medical Center Groningen, Netherlands.
Maarten Ligtenberg (PhD student, graduated in 2015), currently postdoctoral fellow at Netherlands Cancer Institute, Netherlands.
Nicolás Bustamante (Magister student, graduated in 2014)
Andrés Herrada (Postdoctoral fellow 2011-2012), currently group leader at Universidad Autónoma, Chile.
Jonathan Roco (Undergraduate student, graduated in 2012), currently postdoctoral fellow at John Curtin School for Medical Research, Australia.
Paula González (Undergraduate student, graduated in 2012), currently postdoctoral fellow at John Curtin School for Medical Research, Australia.