Decipher immunogenic cell death-mediated

Francisco Sánchez Madrid

Universidad Autónoma de Madrid, Spain

Viruses, bacteria and cancer cells and other such threats to our health release a series of molecules that alert the immune system and trigger a response. These molecules are sometimes encapsulated in extracellular vesicles, which are small spheres containing proteins, lipids and genetic material. Dendritic cells, a type of immune cell, are specialised in detecting and generating a response to these foreign components. This process, whereby a dying cancer cell secretes signals that provoke an immune response, is called immunogenic cell death. It has only recently been described and is not yet well understood.

This project aims to use state-of-the-art high-resolution imaging technologies to study changes in the structure and functioning of cancer cells as they secrete these extracellular vesicles, as well as in immune cells as they become activated upon detecting these vesicles. The ultimate goal is to use the knowledge generated to develop new drugs that can boost the immune response and thus improve the treatment of various diseases, including cancer.

• José María Valpuesta Moralejo, National Centre for Biotechnology - Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas (CNB-CSIC), Madrid, Spain

• Noa B. Martín-Cófreces, Fundación Investigación Biomédica del Hospital Universitario de La Princesa, Madrid, Spain

Advanced MIcroscopy for the study of Dynamic innate immunity activation by immunoGENIC cell death

€696,852.50