With her research paper “Modular pooled discovery of synthetic knockin sequences to program durable cell therapies” published in the renowned journal Cell, Blaeschke has developed an innovative screening platform that offers new possibilities for the optimization of CAR-T cells. Her technologically groundbreaking approach makes it possible to test thousands of genetic modifications in parallel using high-throughput CRISPR screens. She was able to show that the targeted integration of certain transcription factors (TFAP4 and BATF) significantly improves the functionality of CAR-T cells. This could significantly advance the treatment of solid tumors in particular, for which CAR-T cells have had little success to date.
Established in 2014, the Erna Brunner Prize honors scientists who use innovative research to improve the treatment options and chances of recovery for children with cancer. It is named after five-year-old Erna Brunner, who died of cancer due to a lack of funding for life-saving antibodies. The prize arose from a moving fundraising campaign that Erna's parents initiated together with the foundation to support cancer research. This year marks the eleventh time it has been awarded. The award ceremony will take place on May 9 in Tübingen.
Source: Stiftung des Fördervereins für krebskranke Kinder Tübingen
