Research lines

• 1. CAR-T and CAR-NK therapy for the treatment of hematological malignancies

  Preclinical development of CARs for the treatment of malignant diseases. Specifically, we have developed a CAR against BCMA, which can be used for the treatment of mature B cell malignancies. Moreover, we study tumor cell mechanisms that impact in the CART cell activity, such as loss of the expression of the target antigen and secreted factors that can increase CART cell activity.

• 2. CAR-T cell therapies for solid tumours

  We are developing novel CAR-T cell therapies for the treatment of solid tumours, with a primary focus on breast and ovarian cancers. Studies are underway to understand the obstacles that lead to CAR-T cell treatment failure in solid tumors (including T cell exhaustion and tumour escape due to loss of antigen expression) and developing novel strategies to overcome these hurdles.

• 3. Mechanisms of antitumor cytotoxicity of immune cells (NK and T lymphocytes)

  We use both NK cells and CAR-NK cells to increase the activity of CART cells avoiding CART cell exhaustion and increasing the antileukemic activity of CARTs. Moreover, we study tumor cell death mechanisms activated by CART and NK cells in order to increase their antitumor activity while avoiding associated problems to this therapy, such as the high inflammatory response which occurs after CART cell administration.

• 4. Allogeneic stem cell transplantation: graft versus host disease (GVHD) and Infectious complications

  GVHD and Infectious complications are the main problems occurring after allogeneic stem cell transplantation, being responsible for a mortality rate associated to this procedure. We study clinical and genetic variables associated to these complications and develop clinical procedures in order to avoid them.