Professor in Chemical Immunology & chair of the department of Cell and Chemical Biology
Prof. Dr. J.J.C. Neefjes
Area(s) of expertise:
Oncology, Immunology, Cell Biology, Chemical Biology
Oncology, Immunology, Cell Biology, Chemical Biology
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Introduction
After studying Chemistry at VU, I went to HKI to pursue a PhD with Hidde Ploegh with the question, "How do MHC molecules work?" On November 2, 1990, I graduated cum laude from the Vu with a dissertation called "Cell Biological aspects of MHC class I and II molecules. After a post-doc at the DKFZ in Heidelberg, I started as a group leader at the NKI in Amsterdam. Here I was head and vice director of several departments. Together with Huib Ovaa's group, I moved to LUMC in 2016, where I am now department head of the Department of Cell and Chemical Biology. My oration was delivered on September 16, 2000 under the title 'Over leven of overleven' (About life and survival).
Scientific research
The Neefjes lab has 4 topics:
- The action of MHC molecules and antigen presentation
- The way organelles move through cells
- The way bacteria cause cancer
- The action and detoxification of anthracycline cancer drugs.
These topics fall under the necessary themes and in particular "Academic Pharma," "Cancer" and "Immunity.
My team found a new activity in anthracyclines such as doxorubicin and showed that this new activity is the most important for killing tumor cells. I then developed 2 drugs that have only the novel activity and when used have none of the treatment-limiting side effects. These drugs could be used chronically. We are now in the process of making these compounds available to patients.
- The action of MHC molecules and antigen presentation
- The way organelles move through cells
- The way bacteria cause cancer
- The action and detoxification of anthracycline cancer drugs.
These topics fall under the necessary themes and in particular "Academic Pharma," "Cancer" and "Immunity.
My team found a new activity in anthracyclines such as doxorubicin and showed that this new activity is the most important for killing tumor cells. I then developed 2 drugs that have only the novel activity and when used have none of the treatment-limiting side effects. These drugs could be used chronically. We are now in the process of making these compounds available to patients.
