Researcher Database
Prof. Dr. Julia Hauer
Kölner Platz 1
80804 München
Program
Molecular Diagnostics, Early Detection, and Biomarker Development (MDEB)
Summary
The pediatric oncology research group focuses on the following two topics of (1) genetic predisposition in childhood cancer and prevention of acute leukemias and (2) translational cellular immunotherapy and oncolytic virotherapy against pediatric sarcoma.
(1) Acute leukemias: Not long ago, genetic predisposition to childhood cancer was purely believed to be attributed to “chance” or “bad-luck”. Now it has been proven that de-novo or inherited cancer predispositions can cause up to 15% of all pediatric tumors. Nevertheless, the overall impact of genetic predispositions is believed to be much higher, with most yet to be discovered. In this regard, we aim to identify and characterize novel disease-causing germline mutations in children with cancer. We further investigate the interplay of genetic predisposition and environmental challenges, including infection and early immune training, in transgenic murine models. By understanding the underlying genetic basis of cancer in combination with training of the innate and adaptive immune system we subsequently aim for early preventive strategies against childhood leukemia.
(2) Pediatric Sarcoma: Pediatric patients with advanced sarcoma carry a poor prognosis, which is why innovative therapy options for these patients are urgently needed. The success of immunotherapy in the treatment of patients with solid tumours is predominantly restricted to entities showing high numbers of tumour infiltrating T cells e.g. directed against somatic mutation derived neo-antigens such as in malignant melanoma. However, unlike melanoma, pediatric cancers such as Ewing’s sarcoma (EwS) are predominantly less immunogenic, probably due to low somatic mutation rates. As therapeutic options for these patients have reached a plateau, innovative new treatment options are warranted. In this regard, our research goal is the introduction of innovative therapy designs such as T cell based immunotherapeutic approaches to improve survival of children and adolecents with high-risk pediatric sarcoma.
DKTK Junior Group Leader for Cancer Systems Biology
Single-cell approaches have not only revealed a wide variety of cell states, characterized by cells exhibiting striking differences in their transcriptional profile, but have also illuminated the mechanisms underlying state transitions in health and disease. Cellular plasticity and adaptive state changes have recently emerged as a basis for therapeutic resistance in cancer, and a better understanding of how cell state transitions are regulated is critical to develop therapeutic approaches that can overcome therapy resistance.
Our research focuses on understanding the mechanisms driving non-genetic cellular heterogeneity and therapy resistance in malignancy. Using novel single-cell sequencing approaches, we seek to develop new experimental and computational strategies to define altered cell states in both, cancer and immune cells. Our aim is to leverage a data driven strategy combined with single cell genomics and systems biology to address the challenges posed by heterogeneity in cancer, and to develop new strategies to overcome it, with the aim of translating laboratory-based findings into the clinic.