Our group aims to discover the sensitivity and resistance mechanisms of blood cancer cells to immune effector cells and how the efficacy of immune therapies can be improved in individualized manner. In addition, we aim to understand how acquired somatic mutations impact the function of immune cells and whether they are related to aberrant immune responses both in auto- and alloimmune diseases and in cancer. In the TRIMM program, we provide know-how in genetics, tumor immunology, hematology, and bioinformatics.
Our laboratory and office spaces are located in Biomedicum Helsinki, a center for medical research and training established in 2001 in Helsinki, Finland. We have a strong international collaborative network, which includes both basic scientists and clinical researchers in the fields of hematology, immunology and molecular genetics from all over the world (US, Japan, several European countries), thus offering excellent surroundings for translational projects.
We are also part of iCAN digital precision cancer medicine, which is a national flagship program providing solutions to cancer challenges. The iCAN Flagship Project is a globally unique pan-cancer biobank study that combines cancer genetics, translational and clinical cancer research, biobanks, information technology and artificial intelligence. iCAN grant us with valuable resources and access to a great network of talented scientists.
HRUH builds on a strong basic science and clinical backbone, and the study questions evolve directly from patient care. However, we also aim to bring the results back from bench to bedside and believe that the clinical patient care will be more individualized in the near future-thus providing excellent settings for translational research projects and close collaborations with clinicians and basic scientists.