Archives

Action of mismatch repair and WRN proteins on cruciform DNA

Cancers arise due to a broad spectrum of mutations and hence have very different genetic makeups. Efforts to develop more targeted or personalized therapies rely on potential vulnerabilities of cancer cells. In this context, it was demonstrated that cancers exhibiting microsatellite instability (MSI), are sensitive to the inhibition of the WRN helicase. These cancers include […]

IRB community pays tribute to one of its founding members: Prof. Marcus Thelen

On Nov. 30, 2022 in the building of the Bellinzona Institutes of Science (Bios+), the IRB community paid tribute to Prof. Marcus Thelen, who after 22 years at the Institute for Research in Biomedicine (IRB) went to the benefit of retirement. Prof. Thelen, an internationally recognized biochemist, was one of the founding members back in […]

Clonal composition and persistence of antigen-specific T follicular helper cells

The Sallusto group (ETH IMBB and IRB Bellinzona) published a paper in the European Journal of Immunology providing insights on the relationship of human T follicular helper cells in blood (cTfh cells) with other circulating T helper subsets and on the heterogeneity and persistence of antigen-specific cTfh cells. Follicular helper T cells (Tfh) play a […]

DNA protection: new IRB Study

The BRCA2 gene is mutated in many familial and sporadic breast and ovarian cancers, making it an important cancer suppressor. BRCA2 has been long known to function together with RAD51 in DNA break repair by homologous recombination, but more recent evidence additionally implicated BRCA2-RAD51 in the protection of newly replicated DNA against unscheduled degradation. The […]

Doctor Honoris Causa title conferred on Prof. Federica Sallusto

Bellinzona, Nov. 17, 2022 – During the Dies Academicus, the University of Fribourg conferred to Prof. Federica Sallusto the title Doctor honoris causa (Dr. h. c.) for her excellence in scientific and professional work. The University of Fribourg has awarded Federica Sallusto, group leader at the Institute for Research in Biomedicine (IRB) and professor at […]

Vitamin A delivery to the intestinal immune system

Prof. Lora Hooper Professor of Immunology, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center (US)   Date: 06.12.2022 1:00 pm Online Conference   Join Zoom Meeting https://eu01web.zoom.us/j/69915307559?pwd=blZGdThqVHcySWJ1blVPNXp4QlM1dz09 Meeting ID: 699 1530 7559 Passcode: 282480   Contact: Prof. Fabio Grassi

Discovery of tumor-associated self-antigens in checkpoint inhibitor-treated patients

Prof. Dr. Lukas Flatz Head, Section of Dermato-Oncology, Department of Dermatology, University of Tübingen (D) Principal Investigator, Institute of Immunobiology, Kantonsspital St.Gallen (CH)   Date: 15.12.2022 12:00 pm Hybrid Conference   Join Zoom Meeting https://eu01web.zoom.us/j/61377770018?pwd=emI5TlhGbUk2L2dXeU9Udm5qbm1BQT09 Meeting ID: 613 7777 0018 Passcode: 542258   Contact: Dr. Silvia Monticelli

Melanoma metastasis: new IRB study

Melanoma is the most lethal skin cancer, and its incidence, though low, has steadily increased over the last few years. During melanoma progression, tumor cells spread across the body via the lymphatic system, a network of vessels and organs, called lymph nodes, which are part of the immune system. Melanoma cells migrate from the skin […]

The role of proinflammatory B cells in the pathogenesis of multiple sclerosis

Prof. Roland Martin  Institute for Experimental Immunology, University of Zurich (CH) and Center for Molecular Medicine, Therapeutic Immune Design Unit, Department of Clinical Neuroscience, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm (SE)   Date: 10.11.2022 12:00 pm Hybrid Conference   Join Zoom Meeting https://eu01web.zoom.us/j/66002287948?pwd=TksyanlnZk1jY0VJcDUvT29MbzNjQT09 Meeting ID: 660 0228 7948 Passcode: 286274   Contact: Prof. Roger Geiger