My project
During the MyeCellTherapy project I will be exploring a novel immunotherapeutic strategy to treat tumors which do not benefit from currently existing immunotherapies, such as glioblastoma multiforme (GBM). Contrary to cancers that respond well to immunotherapy, GBM tumors have a low frequency of T-cells and are highly infiltrated with immunosuppressive myeloid cells. Intriguingly, these immunosuppressive cells form a novel target for future therapeutic strategies. Combining my knowledge of myeloid cells in the central nervous system and the effects of cancer on the brain, the aim is to replace the immunosuppressive cells within the tumor with modified counterparts derived from induced Pluripotent Stem Cells (iPSCs). The iPSCs are derived from skin or blood cells that have been reprogrammed into a pluripotent stem cell state, which enables the generation of an unlimited source of patient-specific cells required for therapeutic purposes. By enhancing the iPSC-derived cells in such a way that they promote anti-tumor immunity, the MyeCellTherapy projects aims to overcome therapeutic resistance in low immunogenic tumor types. The project thus aims to lay the foundations for a new personalized myeloid cell-based immunotherapy approach for non-immunogenic cancers.
My publications
2022 De Vlaminck K, Van Hove H, Kancheva D, Scheyltjens I, Pombo Antunes AR, Bastos J, Vara Perez M, Ali L, Mampay M, Deneyer L, Fabiani Miranda J, Cai R, Bouwens L, De Bundel D, Caljon G, Stijlemans B, Massie A, Van Ginderachter JA, Vandenbroucke RE, Movahedi K. Pathogen invasion reveals the differential plasticity and fate of resident and recruited brain macrophages during the onset and resolution of disease. Immunity – Accepted Aug 2022
2022 Thaker P, FlintM , Giamas G, Falcinelli M, Alhity G, Mampay M, Allen M, Cilibrasi C, Samuels M. Pharmacologic inhibition of beta-adrenergic receptors decreases PD-L1 mediated immunosuppression and improves anti-tumor immune signature in ovarian cancer. Gynecol. Oncol. 2022
My events and conferences
- Brain Tumor Meeting 2022 – Berlin (DE) – Poster Presentation
- fTales Hasselt – Neuroimmune crosstalk 2022 – Hasselt (BE)
My videos
Stem cells in the fight against brain tumors
My scientific awards
- Fonds Suzanne Duchesne – Koning Boudewijnstichting – 2022 – Vrije Universiteit Brussel – € 25.000
- Fonds Wetenschappelijke Onderzoek FWO Postdoctoral Fellowship – 2022 – Vrije Universiteit Brussel
- Marie Skłodowska-Curie actions – Seal of Excellence FWO (MSCA SoE FWO) – 2022 – Declined
- MSCA-COFUND imπACT Postdoctoral Fellowship – 2022 – Vrije Universiteit Brussel – 2-year grant
(start 01.04.2022-suspended 01.11.2022)
My social media activity
Website: Myrthe Mampay
LinkedIn: myrthe-mampay
Twitter: @MampayMrth