Million-Euro Funding to Advance Lymphoma Therapy - ERC Starting Grant for Prof. Dr. Dr. Philipp Schommers

In the project “Mapping Immune Escape in Lymphoma and Overcoming It with Novel Optimized Multispecific Antibodies” (OPTIMsAB), the researchers aim to significantly improve the treatment of lymphoma. Led by Else Kröner Clinician Scientist and CMMC researcherProfessor Dr. Dr. Philipp Schommers from the Department I of Internal Medicine at University Hospital Cologne, the team will explore innovative immunotherapeutic approaches designed to enhance the effectiveness of antibody-based therapies.

Bispecific antibodies (BiAbs) are engineered proteins capable of binding to two different targets simultaneously. They have already transformed the treatment of lymphoma, but many patients eventually develop resistance. The OPTIMsAB project seeks to uncover the mechanisms underlying this resistance and to develop novel multispecific antibodies (msAbs) that can target several molecules simultaneously while activating additional immune cells.

By combining molecular analyses with innovative experimental approaches, the researchers will map the surface characteristics of lymphoma cells and use these insights to develop multispecific antibodies specifically designed to overcome treatment resistance.

“This funding will enable us to improve lymphoma therapy by developing new, highly effective and safe antibodies,” says Prof. Dr. Dr. Philipp Schommers.

The project is expected not only to provide a foundation for new therapeutic options but also to advance the fundamental understanding of immune resistance in lymphoma.

This message has been modified by the CMMC (K. Heber & D. Grosskopf-Kroiher) and is based on the text by the press and communications team of the University Hospital Cologne (original German version here).