After an intense preparation phase for the extension of the CRC 1530, we are pleased to resume our CRC1530 Seminar Series. To celebrate the new cycle, we will be hosting an exciting double feature—prior to Alan Ramsay's talk, there will be a tech seminar on cell death and lymphoma. A compelling pairing for lymphoma researchers and those aspiring to be so!
CRC 1530 Seminar Series
We are pleased to announce Alan Ramsay Ph.D., School of Cancer and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Faculty of Life Sciences & Medicine, King’s College London, UK, who will speak about
Studying stroma-immune crosstalk in B cell malignancies to improve immunotherapy
Abstract:
Lymph nodes (LNs) are critical hubs for coordinating adaptive immune responses, structured by specialised fibroblastic reticular cells (FRCs) that regulate immune cell positioning, survival, and activation. In lymphoma, this architecture is profoundly disrupted. Here, we demonstrate that malignant B cells reprogramme FRCs into lymph node cancer-associated fibroblasts (LN_CAFs), fundamentally altering stromal–immune crosstalk.
Using integrated approaches—including single-cell transcriptomics, spatial imaging, and functional assays across human samples and murine models—we show that LN_CAFs adopt an inflammatory, immunoregulatory phenotype. This is characterised by loss of homeostatic chemokines (e.g. CCL19/21), increased antigen presentation pathways, and altered extracellular matrix and adhesion programs. Functionally, LN_CAFs impair T-cell recruitment, motility, and cytotoxicity, partly via checkpoint ligand expression, contributing to immune evasion and reduced immunotherapy efficacy.
Spatial analyses identify distinct tumour fibroblast ecosystems linked to clinical outcomes, highlighting context-dependent LN_CAF–T cell interactions. Importantly, we provide proof-of-concept that targeting LN_CAFs—e.g. via FAP-directed immunostimulatory strategies—can restore T-cell function and enhance bispecific antibody activity.
Collectively, our findings redefine LN fibroblasts as dynamic regulators of anti-tumour immunity and position LN_CAFs as actionable therapeutic targets to improve immunotherapy responses in lymphoma.
When: Thursday, 16 April 2026, 2:00 pm
Where: CECAD, lecture hall (building 69, Joseph-Stelzmann-Straße 26, 50931 Cologne, UKKöln Navi)
Host: Michael Hallek, Dept. I of Internal Medicine, University of Cologne
This is a hybrid seminar. If you are unable to attend in person, please register for the online meeting on Zoom.
Lymphoma TechBits —Tackling cell death in lymphoma
In this tech meeting Alessandro Annibaldi and Kristie Bariboloka (project A05) will introduce the most commonly known forms of cell death (e.g. apoptosis and necroptosis) and address how to study them in lymphoma, both in vitro and in vivo.
When: Thursday, 16 April 26, 11:00 am – 12:30 pm
Where: TRIO, building 66, seminar rooms 3+4, ground floor, UoCMaps
Please register here: https://forms.gle/v8VXbzxxeVzFna6c8
We look forward to to seeing you at the seminars!
