The primary research focus of our lab is to identify novel therapeutic targets and evaluate novel therapeutic strategies to combat aggressive subtypes of cancer.

In this project, we will use available patient derived xenograft models, to demonstrate the therapeutic targetability of novel identified dependency factors in an in vivo context. Currently, T-ALL is being treated with high doses of chemotherapy. Even though prognosis for T-ALL has improved with introduction of intensified therapeutic protocols, still 10-15% of patient are primary refractory or relapse of resistant disease. In addition, the intensification of protocol coincides with severe adverse side effects. Therefore, we aimed to identify key drivers of the disease to develop more efficient and less toxic targeted therapies. As the lack of specific inhibitors is a recurrent issue in multiple projects in our lab, we would like to circumvent this problem by targeting our genes of interest in patient derived samples through teh optimization of a drug(doxycycline)-inducible CRISPR-Cas9 mediated genetic deletion of the therapeutic target.