Research in our lab focuses on the age-related phenomenon and pre-malignant state clonal hematopoiesis of indeterminate potential (CHIP) as pro-inflammatory condition with particular interest in the impact of CHIP on human aging, novel immunotherapies such as CAR-T cells as well as hematologic and non-malignant disease development and maintenance. Further, our research group is interested in extracellular vesicles (EVs) in the mentioned disease states and their function as intercellular communication devices within the diseased bone marrow microenvironment, specifically in the context of novel immunotherapies. Further, we validate EV release inhibition as novel therapeutic strategy in several hematologic diseases such as AML. Methodologically, we are using latest standard technologies for the characterization of EVs and CHIP from human bone marrow cells and the analysis of their functional properties in in vitro culture, co-culture assays and preclinical mouse models. Our central aim is to forward the gained new functional insights to a direct clinical application and to translate novel therapies into early-phase clinical trials for cancer patients.
- Hecker JS, ... Bassermann F. The Technical University of Munich Cancer Center - elevating cancer treatment through science. Molecular Cancer. 2024 Sep 28;23(1):212. doi: 10.1186/s12943-024-02127-3.
- Hecker JS, ... Götze KS. CHIP & HIPs: Clonal Hematopoiesis is Common in Hip Arthroplasty Patients and Associates with Autoimmune Disease. Blood. Nov 2021; doi: 10.1182/blood.2020010163.
- Hartmann L*, Hecker JS*, ... Metzeler KH*. Compartment-specific mutational landscape of clonal hematopoiesis. Leukemia. 2022; doi: 10.1038/s41375-022- 01700-3.
- Weickert MT*, Hecker JS*, ... Götze KS. Bone marrow stromal cells from MDS and AML patients show increased adipogenic potential with reduced Delta-like-1 expression. Sci Rep. 2021; doi: 10.1038/s41598-021-85122-8.
(*: equal contribution)
Visit full publication list.
| Name | Position | Phone | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Enghofer, Katharina | M.Sc. Candidate | +49 89 4140 8066 | katharina.enghofer@tum.de |
| Huang, Haowen | M.Sc. Candidate | +49 89 4140 8066 | haowen.huang@tum.de |
| Mätzner, Annalena | M.Sc. Candidate | +49 89 4140 8066 | annalena.maetzner@tum.de |
| Leitz, Lisa-Christin | FWJ | +49 89 4140 8133 | lisa-christin.leitz@tum.de |
To apply for a PhD, medical doctorate or postdoc position, email your curriculum vitae and bibliography, along with a cover letter describing your background and career objectives to judith.hecker@mri.tum.de
- Else Kröner Fresenius Stiftung: Else Kröner Exzellenzstipendiat
- Deutsche José-Carreras-Leukämie-Stiftung
- Fritz Thyssen Stiftung
- BZKF