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Advancements in CAR-Based Therapeutics for Cancer and Autoimmunity

The Blood Engineering Lab, The University of Hong Kong

Professor Rio SUGIMURA

PhD (Stowers Institute for Medical Research), MD, BS (Osaka U)
Assistant Professor

L3-64, Laboratory Block, 21 Sassoon Road, Hong Kong

Welcome to the Blood Engineering Laboratory (BEL) Fellowship Program

Welcome to the Blood Engineering Laboratory (BEL) at the School of Biomedical Sciences, The University of Hong Kong. I am Dr. Rio Sugimura, and it is my privilege to invite talented and motivated individuals to join our innovative fellowship program. BEL is at the forefront of research in immunology, synthetic biology, and cancer, leveraging cutting-edge tools and techniques to unravel the complexities of immune cell biology and advance the boundaries of biomedical science.

About the Laboratory

Our laboratory is dedicated to developing groundbreaking methodologies to tackle pressing challenges in cancer immunotherapy, autoimmunity, and regenerative medicine. Our team focuses on harnessing the power of synthetic biology and stem cell technology to create immune-based therapies, with applications ranging from CAR-T cell development to tumor modeling. Our research philosophy emphasizes collaboration, creativity, and precision.

Main Areas of Interest

During this fellowship, you will work closely with our team on key research areas, including:

Immunology and immune cell development.
CAR (Chimeric Antigen Receptor) structure design and production.
Synthetic biology applications in cancer treatment.
Mechanisms of autoimmunity and therapeutic interventions.

Specialties

Oncology

Biomedical Engineering

Immunology

Cancer

Techniques You Will Learn

Participants will gain hands-on experience with advanced research techniques, such as:

Immune Cell Generation from Stem Cells: Derivation of functional immune cells using stem cell technologies.
CAR Structure Design and Production: Engineering of CAR constructs for immunotherapy.
Induction of CAR in Immune Cells: Methods to incorporate CARs into immune cells and assess functionality.
CRISPR/Cas9 Gene Editing: Precision editing of genes for functional studies and therapeutic development.
Tumor Organoids: Development of organoid models for studying cancer biology.
Immunological Assays: Advanced methods to assess immune cell function and responses.

Curriculum

The fellowship is designed as an immersive experience over 6–12 weeks, including:

Week 1-2: Orientation and Foundation Training

Introduction to BEL research projects and facilities.
Training in laboratory safety and essential research protocols.
Fundamental workshops on immunological assays and CRISPR/Cas9.

Week 3-6: Project Immersion and Skill Development

Active participation in ongoing projects aligned with the fellowship focus areas.
Supervised execution of techniques such as CAR-T cell design and immune cell generation.
Data collection and analysis under guidance from senior researchers.

Week 7-12 (Optional Extension): Independent Research and Collaboration

Designing and conducting an independent research project.
Opportunities for cross-disciplinary collaboration with BEL researchers.
Presentation of findings to the laboratory team.

Our work has been featured in leading journals, reflecting the impact and quality of our research. Selected publications include:

Here are ten of his notable publications:

"Haematopoietic stem and progenitor cells from human pluripotent stem cells"
Nature, 2017. This groundbreaking study demonstrates the derivation of hematopoietic stem and progenitor cells from human pluripotent stem cells.

Google Scholar

"Noncanonical Wnt signaling maintains hematopoietic stem cells in the niche"
Cell, 2012. This research explores how noncanonical Wnt signaling pathways are crucial for maintaining hematopoietic stem cells within their niche.

Google Scholar

"Maternal imprinting at the H19–Igf2 locus maintains adult haematopoietic stem cell quiescence"
Nature, 2013. The study investigates the role of maternal imprinting at the H19–Igf2 locus in maintaining the quiescence of adult hematopoietic stem cells.

Google Scholar

"Integrating spatial and single-cell transcriptomics data using deep generative models with SpatialScope"
Nature Communications, 2023. This paper introduces SpatialScope, a unified approach for integrating spatial and single-cell transcriptomics data using deep generative models.

Google Scholar

"Recent advances and future prospects in immune checkpoint (ICI)-based combination therapy for advanced HCC"
Cancers, 2021. This review discusses the progress and future directions in immune checkpoint inhibitor-based combination therapies for advanced hepatocellular carcinoma.

Google Scholar

"Bioengineering hematopoietic stem cell niche toward regenerative medicine"
Advanced Drug Delivery Reviews, 2016. The article reviews strategies for bioengineering the hematopoietic stem cell niche to advance regenerative medicine applications.

Google Scholar

"IPSC-derived CAR-NK cells for cancer immunotherapy"
Biomedicine & Pharmacotherapy, 2023. This study explores the potential of induced pluripotent stem cell-derived chimeric antigen receptor natural killer cells in cancer immunotherapy.

Google Scholar

"ZFP281-BRCA2 prevents R-loop accumulation during DNA replication"
Nature Communications, 2022. The research uncovers the role of ZFP281-BRCA2 in preventing R-loop accumulation during DNA replication, contributing to genomic stability.

Google Scholar

"Organoid-based single-cell spatiotemporal gene expression landscape of human embryonic development and hematopoiesis"
Signal Transduction and Targeted Therapy, 2023. This paper presents an organoid-based single-cell analysis of gene expression during human embryonic development and hematopoiesis.

Google Scholar

"Give Them Vasculature and Immune Cells: How to Fill the Gap of Organoids"
Cells Tissues Organs, 2023. The review addresses the challenges and solutions in incorporating vasculature and immune cells into organoid models to enhance their physiological relevance.

Google Scholar

For a comprehensive list of Dr. Sugimura's publications, you can visit his lab's website:

Riosugimura

Accommodation

5000-8000 HKD (500-800 EUR) per month range flats are available

Fees and Program Logistics

This program has the following durations available:

Duration	Fee
2 weeks	$875.00
6 weeks	$1,500.00
12 weeks	$2,750.00

Who Can Apply

Biomedical scientists interested in CAR-T therapy, Stem Cells and Immunotherapy in Cancer

Host Details

Host Name: Ryohichi SUGIMURA

Affiliation: The Blood Engineering Lab, The University of Hong Kong

Address: L3-64, Laboratory Block, 21 Sassoon Road, Hong Kong

Website URL: https://www.riosugimura.com/

Disclaimer:It is mandatory that all applicants carry workplace liability insurance, e.g., https://www.protrip-world-liability.com (Erasmus students use this package and typically costs around 5 € per month - please check) in addition to health insurance when you join any of the onsite Trialect partnered fellowships.

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