The Team in Marburg
Daniel Paul
Dr. rer. nat. Student
My curiosity about life science research made me complete my bachelor's and master's degrees in biotechnology in India. Knowing that immunology holds great promise for several aggressive diseases like cancer, I wanted to pursue my research in this field. I previously worked in cancer biology, focusing on the action of bioactive compounds and epigenetics. I was highly interested in the research group of Dr. Johannes Mayer, focused on dendritic cells, and am now a doctoral candidate in the DC biology lab.
In my project I aim to identify the molecular mechanisms of dendritic cell suppression leading to T-cell dysfunctionality in human ovarian and murine pancreatic cancer models. I will also analyse the tumor microenvirnoment to understand how this DC supression or unresponsiveness is mediated.
Dr. Barbara Berg
Postdoctoral Researcher
I’ve always been fascinated with immunology. This is why I did my bachelor's degree in Biology with a focus on human immunology in Brazil, while working in the FioCruz Foundation in the Immunology and Molecular Biology Lab. I did my master's degree and doctoral thesis in the same city at the Immuno-Pharmacology Institute of the Federal University of Minas Gerais, studying the interplay of cannabinoids, cannabinoid receptors, and T lymphocytes in inflammatory diseases.
I am very excited to now work on dendritic cells, which drive T cell priming and study their development and function within healthy and diseased skin and being involved in a multicenter phase II trial.
Benedikt Stegemann
Dr. med. Student
After my Abitur, I worked as a volunteer in a hospital for one year. Here I came into close contact with patients for the first time and was able to get to know people affected by different kinds of cancer. During my studies of Medicine at the University of Marburg, I therefore took an advanced course on oncology and am very happy to write my medical doctoral thesis on the interactions between tumors, their environment and dendritic cells and be part of the DC Biology Lab.
I will investigate if dendritic cells are negatively affected by interactions within the tumor microenvironment of ductal adenocarcinoma of the pancreas. Especially focusing on soluble mediators that might inhibit the ability of Dendritic cells to prime effective anti-tumor immunity temporarily or permanently. Interactions with additional cell types, such as stromal cells or myeloid derived suppressor cells (MDSC), that enhance this effect will also be studied.
Fabian Bleise
Dr. med. Student
Iˋve always been interested in science, especially biology and physics. During my academic career I became interested in not only learning about these subjects but also applying them. This is what led me to study medicine in Marburg. Here, I became aware of the work of Dr. Mayer pertaining to dendritic cells (DC) and the work of Dr. Kolahian about Myeloid Derived Suppressor Cells (MDSC).
I am excited to work on my medical doctoral thesis with both of them, focusing on the interactions between MDSC and DC. In particular, the project is aiming to answer the questions if MDSC can express MHC molecules, present antigens themselves and, through those mechanisms, drive T cell responses.