PROJECTS
Research Projects and Networks
German Cancer Aid – CAR FACTORY
The German Cancer Aid (Deutsche Krebshilfe) has set up a funding priority program to strengthen “preclinical drug development” at universities. The aim is to create a Germany-wide network that brings together expertise from biology, medicine, pharmaceutical chemistry, pharmacology and immunotherapy.
In this context, German Cancer Aid funds the Germany-wide research network “CAR FACTORY” lead by the spokespersons Prof. Michael Hudecek (Würzburg) and Prof. Evelyn Ullrich (Frankfurt); further partner sites involved in the CAR FACTORY are the University of Freiburg, the Paul Ehrlich Institute in Langen and the Fraunhofer Institute for Cell Therapy and Immunology in Leipzig.
SFB/CRC 1292
Within the framework of the CRC 1292 „Targeting convergent mechanisms of inefficient immunity in tumors and chronic infections“, we investigate the development of innovative immunotherapy of solid tumors as well as AML in cooperation projects with Prof. S. Fulda and Prof. Dr. M. Kühn.
DKTK INNOVATION 2022 - “Cancer Immunotherapy, CI”
Within the framework of the DKTK Joint Funding program INNOVATION 2022, we address the translational development of a combination therapy for the treatment of acute myeloid leukemia. Coordinated by Prof. Evelyn Ullrich, Frankfurt, the DKTK sites Freiburg, Tübingen, Heidelberg and Berlin as well as the Paul Ehrlich Institute in Langen are scientific and clinical co-investigators of this program.
The long-term goal of the DKTK Cancer Immunotherapy Program is to fight cancer using the power of the immune system.
German Cancer Aid – Translational Oncology
In an innovative collaborative scientific project led by Prof. Evelyn Ullrich, the translational focus is on the development and production of a CAR-NK cell therapy for the treatment of acute myleoid leukemia. Participating research groups and university hospitals are located in Frankfurt, Heidelberg-Mannheim, Tübingen, Erlangen, Leipzig and at the Fraunhofer Institute for Cell Therapy and Immunology IZI.
Pandemic Network Hesse - Consortium for the Study of the Immune Response to SARS-CoV-2
Within the framework of various studies, the immune response to SARS-CoV-2 after SARS-CoV-2 vaccination in patients with hematological diseases will be investigated in comparison to an age-matched control cohort. The focus of the project is to analyze a large cohort of patients with multiple myeloma as an example of a malignant disease with significant impairment of the immune system. The analyses of the healthy control cohort of elderly patients will be performed in close collaboration with the Medical Clinic II, Virology, Infectiology and the UCT Frankfurt - Marburg. The project is realized by funding of Prof. Ullrich as expert for immunology in the Pandemic Network Hessen by the HMWK and also supported by the Goethe Corona Fonds of Goethe University Frankfurt.Methods
Cellular Immunotherapy
- Viral and non-viral genetic modification of immune and tumor cells using CRISPR/Cas9, Sleeping Beauty and viral vectors (LV/αRV)
- Characterization of T cell, NK cell, and ILC subpopulations and immune cell products
- Molecular biological analyses and protein biochemistry
- Optimization of immune cell expansion and immunomodulation
- Development of innovative CAR immune cell products
- Preparation of GMP manufacturing processes
- Clinical studies in the field of cellular immunotherapy
Optical Imaging Technology
- Confocal Live Cell Imaging
- Flow cytometry and cell sorting (FACS)
- In vivo bioluminescence and fluorescence imaging facility
Immunodiagnostics
- Immune reconstitution after stem cell transplantation
- Functional immune diagnostics
- Transcriptome and proteome analyses on single cell level
- Biomarker and microbiome analyses
Selected Awards
Award by the Gutermuth Foundation 2023
Science award to Prof. Evelyn Ullrich for her successful activities in the field of cell therapy development. Further information
Award by the German Society for Gene Therapy (DG-GT)
The recent work on CRISPR/Cas9-based gene editing of NK cells by the research group of Evelyn Ullrich, Frankfurt, and Toni Cathomen, Freiburg, was awarded “Paper of the Quarter 02/22”. Further information
Gilead-Research Award for CAR-NK cell therapy
This Gilead award supports the promising and innovative research project of the Ullrich team. An independent panel of experts selected the best projects from numerous applications and provided the award winners with a total of 600,000 euros in funding. Further information
Awards at the ASH, DGHO and EBMT Annual Meetings
- “DGHO Best Abstract Award 2023” for Evelyn Ullrich & team
- “EBMT Best Young Oral Abstract Award” 2023 for Julia Campe (PhD-student Ullrich Lab)
- “ASH Abstract Achievement Award” 2022 at the Annual Meeting of the American Society of Hematology for Julius Enßle (Clinician Scientist in the SARS-CoV2 research project).
- “Springer Nature Poster Award” (Best Basic Science Poster Award) 2021 and “Best Young Abstract Award” 2021 at the Annual Meeting of the European Bone Marrow Transplantation Society (EBMT) for Tobias Bexte (Medical Doctoral Student Ullrich Lab).
- “Best Young Abstract Award” 2016 at the Annual Meeting of the European Society for Bone Marrow Transplantation (EBMT) for Sara Tognarelli (Postdoctoral Researcher Ullrich Lab).
Funding
