NextGenNK
NextGenNK is a Competence Center for the development of next generation NK cell-based cancer immunotherapies. The Center is coordinated by Karolinska Institutet and collaborates with the Karolinska University Hospital and prominent national and international industrial partners. The Center was launched in 2020, and is jointly funded by Vinnova, KI, and the Industrial partners.
News
Immunotherapy in a new way
Karl-Johan Malmberg receives SEK 19 million to investigate how a subset of NK cells so called “adaptive NK cells”, can be targeted against difficult-to-treat cancer.
This year, The Swedish Cancer Society is making an extra investment in clinical studies and has therefore granted 120 million to 10 research projects. One of the scientists receiving funding is cancer-researcher Karl-Johan Malmberg at Karolinska Institutet, part of the steering group of the NextGenNK competence center.
NextGenNK participation in the Advanced Therapies Week Conference, Miami, FL
Evren Alici, co-director of NextGenNK Competence Center was one of the invited speakers at the Advanced Therapies Week, January 16th-19th, Miami, Florida, USA. At the meeting he discussed “Designing optimal clinical trials and clinical operations for advanced therapies”.
Alligator Bioscience Announces Two Presentations on Mitazalimab and ATOR-4066 at the AACR Annual Meeting 2024
1st Presentation supports dosing regimen for mitazalimab in combination with FOLFORINOX and improvement of antitumor response.
2nd Presentation highlights potential of ATOR-4066 to induce tumor localized immune cell activation and strongly support further development of the candidate in clinical trials.
For more information: Alligator Bioscience Announces Two Presentations on Mitazalimab and ATOR-4066 at the AACR Annual Meeting 2024
NextGenNK interacts with Innovate UK delegation
Innovate UK is the United Kingdom's innovation agency, which provides money and support to organisations to make new products and services. It is a non-departmental public body operating at arm's length from the Government as part of the United Kingdom Research and Innovation organisation.
On January 22nd 2024 Hans-Gustaf Ljunggren, Evren Alici, and parts of the NextGenNK faculty, met a delegation Innovate UK to discuss prospects for collaborations in the intersection between KI and British Biotech Industry.
Awards and recognitions
NextGenNK at Innate Killer Summit 2023
co-leader Evren Alici was selected as one of the world-class speakers at Innate Killer Summit 2023.
Arnika Wagner - KID funding
Arnika Wagner, assistant professor at Karolinska Institutet, was granted KID funding for a new PhD student.
Anna Pumpe wins Best Poster Prize
NextGenNK congratulates Anna Pumpe (PhD student in Arnika Wagner’s team) who won “Best Poster Prize” at the KI-HERM retreat on 6 March 2024.
Selected Publications
Generation of NK cells with chimeric-switch receptors to overcome PD1-mediated inhibition in cancer immunotherapy
Susek KH et al, Cancer Immunology Immunotherapy, 2023
Genetic ablation of adhesion ligands averts rejection of allogeneic immune cells
Hammer Q et al, 2023.
Affibody-based hBCMA x CD16 dual engagers for NK cell-mediated killing of multiple myeloma cells
Giang KA et al, New Biotechnology, 2023