Cellular Therapy
Research themes
- Immunology of leukemias and lymphomas: translational research.
- Autologous and allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation.
- Treatment of hematopoietic cell grafts: selective elimination of alloreactive T lymphocytes to prevent and treat graft-versus-host disease.
- Specific targeting of malignant cells using photodynamic and immunological therapies; study of the mechanisms of action and optimization of monoclonal antibodies and immunoconjugates.
- Growth factors and expansion of hematopoietic stem cells and blood progenitors.
Research
Our research goal is to use cellular and immunological approaches to fight hematological cancers such as leukemia and lymphoma. Our team therefore studies different monoclonal antibodies and immunoconjugates as well as a photodynamic approach to destroy cancer cells and alloreactive cells.
We have developed particular expertise in translational research to transfer fundamental discoveries to patients. Through this research, we have identified new hematological and immunological strategies and applied them in early clinical studies (Phase 1 and 2). Our unit serves as the principal investigator for two multicentre studies (Canada and United States) to evaluate a new photodynamic therapy.
We are also working on the expansion of hematopoietic stem cells and blood cell progenitors to enable and accelerate hematological and immunological reconstitution post-transplantation.