Glioblastoma remains one of the most aggressive and treatment-resistant brain tumors, with very few effective therapeutic options. A major obstacle is the blood-brain barrier, which not only protects the brain but also prevents immunotherapies and tumor vaccines from reaching their target. This project uses focused ultrasound to transiently open the blood-brain barrier in a mouse model, enabling the systematic evaluation of different immunotherapies and vaccine strategies in combination with this approach. This doctoral thesis builds on our previously established FUS platform. The goal is to identify the most promising combinations and lay the groundwork for future clinical translation.
🧠 Project Title
Focused Ultrasound to Unlock the Brain for Immunotherapy
🧪 Methods
Fluorescence microscopy, Spatial Transcriptomics and FACS – combined with focused ultrasound (FUS) for in vivo analysis of various vaccination strategies and immunotherapies in a glioblastoma mice model.
📍 Location
University Medical Center Mannheim (UMM) & German Cancer Research Center (DKFZ)
📅 Requirements
2 semesters off from coursework (full-time project)
🚀 Start
At latest April 2027
Bei Interesse gerne einmal mit CV an Dr. Tom Kuhn, tom.kuhn@umm.de