Research group Birgitta Sander & Birger Christensson

Our research

The project aims to increase the knowledge on pathogenetic mechanisms in lymphoproliferative disorders and lymphoma. Special focus is on 1) the functional role of the cannabinoid receptors and their physiological agonists - arachidonic acid derivatives produced by cells in the lymphoma microenvironment. 2) the functional role of the SOXC transcription factors in lymphoma. 3) genetic alterations associated with tumor progression and relapse in mantle cell lymphoma. Functional studies are done in well-characterized cell lines and in primary lymphoma cells. NGS and other methods are used for characterizing genetic and epigenetic changes, analyze gene and protein expression. This project will lead to increased knowledge on mechanisms underlying lymphoma pathogenesis and may open up for more individualized therapy. It will lead to better understanding of disease progression and to find markers and mutations that can guide the choice of therapy already at the time of diagnosis.

We participate in the education of medical doctors, dentists, nurses and biomedical personnel.

• Molecular biology including gene expression profiling
• Quantitative PCR, siRNA
• Cellular techniques including isolation and culture of primary cells and cell lines
• Various methods for analyzing cell proliferation survival and cell death
• 8 color flow cytometry and cell sorting
• Analysis of cell signalling
• Microscopy methods including robotized immunohistochemistry, confocal microscopy and electron microscopy