We are pleased to announce that Vannini Lab has been awarded funding by the Swiss National Science Foundation (SNSF) for its research project titled «Mitochondrial reprogramming to restore age-driven metabolic dysfunction and boost Immunotherapy»
Cancer immunotherapy has revolutionized cancer treatment in recent years, offering new hope to patients. However, its effectiveness varies, especially in older adults. This project seeks to address a key challenge: how aging affects the immune system’s ability to respond to immunotherapy. The research focuses on two major aspects:
Metabolic health of immune cells: As we age, the metabolic performance of T cells, essential fighters in our immune system, declines. This decrease in mitochondrial fitness hinders their ability to combat tumors, reducing the success of immunotherapy. The team aims to explore the mechanisms behind this loss and develop strategies to "rejuvenate" these immune cells, restoring their effectiveness in older patients.
Aging and the tumor microenvironment: An aged tumor microenvironment may create additional barriers to immunotherapy by further suppressing immune responses. They are investigating how these age-related changes contribute to increased resistance to treatment, with the goal of identifying ways to overcome these obstacles.
Supported by this "Encouragement de projets" SNSF grant for the next 4 years, the team aims to uncover new strategies to boost the immune response in older adults, making cancer immunotherapy more effective for one of the most vulnerable populations—older patients.
Dr Vannini is Group Leader of the Immunosenescence and stem cell metabolim group at the Departement of Oncologie UNIL-CHUV. His work seeks to develop innovative strategies to rejuvenate immune responses in older cancer patients, enhancing the efficacy of immunotherapy.