The Arens lab is part of the Immunology department at the LUMC. The research is focused on T cells, which play a central role in the fight against cancer and infection. T cells are known to express different activating and inhibiting receptors on their surface. But how these immune receptors can be best stimulated is still the big question.
Making T cells more active
The research concentrates on identifying the antibodies that work best together to activate T cells and what the underlying mechanism are. The researchers are using Genmab's HexaBody technology. By means of effective stimulation of activating receptors, these unique antibodies can make the T cells work active. In addition, antibodies are used to block inhibitory receptors. In this way, T cells are better able to attack tumor cells and virus-infected cells.