The University of Mainz (UM) has more than 20 years of expertise in glioma research, particularly in cell biology and neuro-immuno-oncology. UM also brings to GlioLighT their own 3D co-culture model, a valuable approach to studying biological processes in an environment that mimics human brain/tumour tissue, but which is much more versatile and ethically responsible than animal testing.
Meet our Researchers
Anne Régnier-Vigouroux is a trained immunologist and cell biologist with more than 20 years of experience in cancer research, specifically on glioblastoma. She leads an experimental research group that studies the potential of tumour-associated microglia/macrophages as targets for anti-glioblastoma therapies. This potential lies in the functional flexibility of these cells that is reflected in the swift transitions occurring in their inflammatory and metabolic status. Anne's work focusses on characterising the mechanisms that regulate these transitions.
In GlioLighT, Anne leads not only the UM team in their work towards pre-clinical evidence for DLT, but also coordinates the project overall. This ensures a rigorous, science-driven approach underpins and oversees the progression of DLT from lab to future studies.
In GlioLighT, Anne leads not only the UM team in their work towards pre-clinical evidence for DLT, but also coordinates the project overall. This ensures a rigorous, science-driven approach underpins and oversees the progression of DLT from lab to future studies.
Sophie Gieß is a PhD student in the research group led by Dr. Anne Régnier-Vigouroux. She completed her Bachelor’s degree in Biosciences, followed by a Master’s in Molecular Medicine at the Albert Ludwig University of Freiburg.
Her research is focused on understanding the underlying molecular processes driving diseases, with a particular emphasis on cancer. By utilizing 2D and 3D cell culture models, Sophie explores the intracellular mechanisms of action triggered by therapeutic interventions, as well as the interactions between tumour and immune cells, aiming to unravel the molecular mechanisms that regulate this interplay.
Her research is focused on understanding the underlying molecular processes driving diseases, with a particular emphasis on cancer. By utilizing 2D and 3D cell culture models, Sophie explores the intracellular mechanisms of action triggered by therapeutic interventions, as well as the interactions between tumour and immune cells, aiming to unravel the molecular mechanisms that regulate this interplay.
Carsten Geiß works in the research group led by Dr. Anne Régnier-Vigouroux as a post-doctoral fellow. After successfully defending his thesis, Carsten continued to work in the field of cancer therapy and is primarily interested in the regulation of macrophage immune profiles and their interaction with glioblastoma cells. He has strong expertise in working with primary cells as well as 2D and 3D cell culture models, and is using and improving these models to investigate the interplay between tumour and immune cells and validate possible therapeutic applications.
