In STIG we focus on developing novel immunotherapeutic combination strategies to treat solid tumors and on unraveling the tumor immune microenvironment to gain deeper insights in tumor escape mechanisms. For novel cancer immunotherapy strategies, STIG has got a special interest in combining immune stimulation with inhibition of immune suppression and in activating the innate immune system as the first line of defense against tumors.Key words of our research are cancer immunotherapy, combination therapy, innate immunity, immune checkpoints, immunostimulatory molecules, stroma, hypoxia and cold atmospheric plasma.
To learn more, you can have a look at this elevator pitch or presentation on immunotherapy for cancer.
Team Leader
Prof. Dr. Evelien Smits
Associated promotors (alphabetically)
Prof. Dr. Annemie Bogaerts
Prof. Dr. Christophe Deben
Prof. Dr. Filip Lardon
Prof. Dr. Kris Laukens
Prof. Dr. Eva Lion
Prof. em. Dr. Patrick Pauwels
Prof. Dr. Marc Peeters
Prof. Dr. Geert Roeyen
Prof. em. Dr. Jan Van Meerbeeck
Prof. Dr. An Wouters
+ postdoctoral researchers (see below)
Postdoctoral researchers
Dr. Jorrit De Waele
Dr. Elly Marcq
Dr. Vasiliki Siozopoulou
Dr. Jonas Van Audenaerde
PhD students
Mauranne Bauwens
Laura Gehrcken
Jöran Melis
Delphine Quatannens
Sophie Rovers
Astrid Van den Eynde
Sanne van der Heijden
Liesbeth Vanheeswijck
Tias Verhezen
Hanne Verswyvel
Brian Weidensee
Lab technicians
Louize Brants
Christophe Hermans
Hilde Lambrechts
Ho Wa Lau
Dana Liu
Céline Merlin
PLASMANT/Plasma onco researchers
Jana Baroen
Dr. Abraham Lin
Dr. Angela Privat-Maldonado
Lisa Van der heyden
Ruben Verloy
Alumni
Dr. Eline Biscop, PhD-student, 2018-2023
Dr. Tal Flieswasser, PhD student, 2017-2022
Dr. Laurie Freire Boullosa, PhD-student, 2017-2023
Dr. Julie Jacobs, PhD student and postdoc, 2013-2022
Dr. Maxime Sahun, postdoc, 2020-2022
Dr. Priyanka Shaw, PhD student, 2018-2022
Dr. Jinthe Van Loenhout, PhD-student, 2016-2021