Over the course of three days, researchers from Chile, Switzerland, Germany, and Colombia shared the latest advances in immunotherapy and adoptive cell therapy with 35 students. The event resulted in new international partnerships for the university.
UIS hosted the advanced course on immuno-oncology and cell therapy. The initiative, led by the Doctorate in Biomedical Sciences offered by the Department of Basic Sciences, took place at the Scientific Complex for Research in Health and Life Sciences.
A Journey Through Cell Therapy, from the Southern Cone to Europe
The program provided a nearly comprehensive overview of how adoptive cell therapy is practiced today. This strategy trains or modifies the patient’s own immune cells so that they recognize and attack the tumor.
The agenda began with the Southern Cone, moved on to developments in Colombia, and concluded with approaches from groups in Switzerland and Germany. The main themes were the tumor microenvironment, immunometabolism, antitumor immunity, and cancer cell therapy and immunotherapy.
Special guests included Dr. Álvaro Lladser, director of the Immuno-Oncology Laboratory at the Ciencia & Vida Foundation and professor at the University of San Sebastián (Chile), and Dr. Michael Bachmann, director of the Institute for Radiopharmaceutical Cancer Research at the Helmholtz-Zentrum Dresden-Rossendorf (Germany). Their group developed UniCAR, a CAR-T cell platform that can be turned on and off to control its activity.
Joining them from Switzerland was Dr. Mathias Wenes, a researcher at the University of Geneva. Alongside them, Colombian scientists presented the work that has positioned the country as a leader in this field today.
35 Participants and New International Partnerships
The course benefited 35 participants, including both in-person and virtual attendees. Undergraduate and graduate students from various universities joined from cities such as Medellín and Bogotá.
Beyond the classroom, the event yielded concrete results. Lines of collaboration were established with Dr. Mathias Wenes of the University of Geneva, and collaboration agreements were reached with Dr. Álvaro Lladser of the Ciencia & Vida Foundation.
These connections may lead to joint projects and new training opportunities for UIS students and researchers at world-class laboratories.
A Team Achievement
The course was made possible thanks to the leadership of the Doctorate in Biomedical Sciences offered by the Department of Basic Sciences. Its goal is to introduce students from all over Colombia to the science that is transforming cancer treatment today.
Dr. Mathias Wenes’ visit from Geneva was the result of a joint effort by the Office of International Relations and the UIS’s Research Group on Organic Cancers of Molecular Interest (CODEIM). This initiative confirms the University’s ability—and that of the graduate program in the Department of Basic Sciences—to bring world-class researchers to Santander.
“Bringing world-renowned experts in cell therapy to Bucaramanga demonstrates that we in this region can conduct cutting-edge science and train the next generation of researchers,” stated Bladimiro Rincón Orozco, Full Professor in the graduate program of the Department of Basic Sciences.
Speakers and Partners
Special guests: Álvaro Lladser, Ph.D. (Chile) and Michael Bachmann, Ph.D. (Germany).
Speakers: Mathias Wenes, Ph.D.; Bladimiro Rincón, Ph.D.; Gustavo Salguero, Ph.D.; Carlos Nieto, Ph.D.; Brian Alfonso, Ph.D. (candidate); and Pablo Prado, Ph.D. (candidate).
Partner Institutions: Laboratory of Molecular Genetics of Infectious Diseases and Cancer, CODEIM Group, University of Geneva, IDCBIS, MPC Therapeutics, Centro Ciencia & Vida, Helmholtz-Zentrum Dresden-Rossendorf (HZDR), and CINTROP.
