In recent years, progress in biomedical research and technology has provided unprecedented opportunities to explore new therapies that — when used on their own or in combination with other types of treatment — might prevent or slow the progression of tumors by harnessing the inherent antitumor activities of a patient’s immune system.
The Ludwig Center for Cancer Immunotherapy promotes and facilitates the integration of laboratory and clinical investigation of such immunotherapies through a number of activities, for example by:
- Developing experimental immunotherapy strategies in preclinical models
- Translating such therapies from preclinical investigation to clinical application
- Monitoring immune responses in cancer patients as a means to improve the understanding of basic mechanisms by which cells of the immune system respond to tumors
- Analyzing clinical data to inform basic and translational research
- Developing and optimizing probes for targeted diagnostics and radioimmunotherapy
