How do you control the immune system?

In his inaugural lecture “Hitting the right buttons” on 2 December, Professor Ferry Ossendorp will speak about his research into how the immune system works against cancer.

Vaccines against cancer

Tumour immunologist Ossendorp researches vaccines that make it possible for the immune system to react effectively against cancer. He has a position in the Faculties of both Medicine and Science.

Close co-operation

The Professor of Molecularly defined vaccine biology is enthusiastic about the close teamwork between the research areas of organic chemistry, immunology and pharmacy. This makes it possible to develop well-defined synthetic vaccines. Such vaccines are made up of a tumour-specific antigen and a so-called targeting molecule that stimulates the immune system to a specific rejection response.

The right buttons

Ossendorp: “Our present molecular knowledge of the receptors of the immune system allows us to use tiny bioactive molecules that guide the immune response in the right direction. In this way the precise synthetic development of the vaccine makes it possible to hit the right molecular buttons, so that a controlled rejection of the cancer cells is the result.”

Inaugural lecture

Prof. F.A. Ossendorp
Molecularly Defined Vaccine Biology
Friday 2 December 2011
Academy Building
Rapenburg 73
2311 GJ Leiden