Tell us about your role.
I am Co-Chair of the Medical Oncology Department at University Hospital Basel and a Professor of Translational Oncology at the University of Basel. I studied medicine in Munich before moving to Switzerland to do postdoctoral research at the Ludwig Institute in Lausanne. I specialised in medical oncology at University Hospital Zurich, where I also set up my first research group. Later, I moved to Basel with the support of a Swiss National Science Foundation Professorship. My research group is based at the Department of Biomedicine, which is a collaboration between the University of Basel and University Hospital Basel. Basel is an exciting place for cancer research, especially in the area of immuno-oncology, because of its strong history in immunology and its thriving life sciences community.
Tell us a little about your research.
My research has focused on understanding how the immune system fights cancer. As both a clinician and a scientist, I am particularly interested in how new cancer immunotherapies can enhance the body's ability to target tumours, and in identifying the immune-related obstacles that prevent these therapies from working effectively. Our goal is to gather the knowledge needed to overcome major clinical challenges, such as why some treatments stop working and how we can create better treatment combinations. A key aspect of our work involves combining basic research with studies using tumours from patients and animal models. This approach helps us test new ideas in a way that closely connects to real patient care, making our findings more relevant and impactful for developing new treatments.
Why have you chosen to do a Sabbatical in Oxford?
Oxford is renowned for its cutting-edge research in immuno-oncology, providing access to world-class experts, innovative technologies, and the latest scientific developments in the field. OCION fosters a highly collaborative environment, encouraging the exchange of ideas and interdisciplinary approaches, which can lead to novel insights, breakthroughs and clinical applications. This close integration between research and clinical practice aligns perfectly with my own focus on translational research, offering the opportunity to directly apply new knowledge and innovations to patient care. Finally, the experience and collaborations gained at Oxford could be highly beneficial when transferring and implementing these cutting-edge advancements in Basel, ultimately enhancing our research and treatment approaches back home.
What are the potential implications of this work for patients?
I lead a center of excellence for immunotherapy in oncology which is a collaborative, interdisciplinary effort across multiple departments aimed at advancing cancer immunotherapy and accelerating translational research. We have established standard operating procedures and immune tumour boards to streamline this process. Recently, as part of an interdisciplinary team, we created a Cell Therapy Cluster, enabling us to conduct our own early-phase academic trials in adoptive cell therapies, such as TIL treatments for patients with melanoma and lung cancer.
What do you think should be the priorities for cancer research in the next 10 years?
Immuno-oncology research should focus on overcoming therapy resistance, personalising treatments, and targeting the tumor microenvironment to augment favourable immune responses. New and improved biomarkers will be critical to predict individual responses and more tailored treatments based on patients' tumour characteristics. Additionally, identifying the most effective combination therapies—pairing immunotherapies with traditional cancer treatments like chemotherapy or radiotherapy—could improve outcomes and reduce resistance. Enhancing the durability of immune responses, especially in preventing cancer relapse, is also critical. Long-lasting immune memory could be achieved through novel strategies like vaccines and enhancing T-cell function. Finally, reducing the side effects of immunotherapies and improving accessibility and affordability for patients worldwide should be major considerations, ensuring that advances in cancer treatment are both effective and equitable.