Järås' Research Group

With a basis in stem cell biology, genetics, immunology and cancer research, our mission is to develop innovative immunotherapies that effectively target leukemia and other malignancies. To achieve this goal, we work on the following projects:

•    Unravel immune evasion mechanisms in cancer. 
•    Development of therapeutic antibodies directed to novel targets.
•    Development of CAR-macrophages for cancer treatment.

Successful completion of these projects will identify new therapeutic targets in acute myleoid leukemia (AML) and deepen our understanding how cancer cells evade the immune system, findings that may translate into new therapeutic opportunities.
 

Selected publications

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H2-K1 protects murine MLL-AF9 leukemia stem cells from natural killer cell-mediated immune surveillance. Somadri Ghosh, Maria Rodriguez-Zabala, Gladys Telliam Dushime, Katrin Reinbach, Ramprasad Ramakrishnan, Ewa Sitnicka and Marcus Järås.  Haematologica. 2025 Jan 23. doi: 10.3324/haematol.2024.286468 (Epub ahead of print).

Blocking IL1RAP on cancer associated fibroblasts in pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma suppresses IL-1 induced neutrophil recruitment. Nils Hansen, Pablo Peña-Martínez, Petter Skoog, Katrin Reinbach, Finja C. Hansen, Susanne Larsson Faria, Caitríona Grönberg, Kawther Abdilleh, Susanne Magnusson, Karin von Wachenfeldt, Camilla Rydberg Millrud, David Liberg and Marcus Järås. Journal for Immunotherapy of Cancer. 2024 Dec 18;12(12):e009523. 

Combined GLUT1 and OXPHOS inhibition eliminates acute myeloid leukemia cells by restraining their metabolic activity. Maria Rodriguez Zabala, Ramprasad Ramakrishnan, Katrin Reinbach, Somadri Ghosh, Leal Oburoglu, Ton Falqués, Kishan Bellamkonda, Mats Ehinger, Pablo Peña-Martínez, Noelia Puente-Moncada, Henrik Liljebjörn, Jörg Cammenga, Cornelius Jan Pronk, Vladimir Lazarevic, Thoas Fioretos, Anna Hagström-Andersson, Niels-Bjarne Woods, Marcus Järås. Blood Advances. 2023. 7 (18): 5382-5359. 

IL4 promotes phagocytosis of murine leukemia cells counteracted by CD47 upregulation.Pablo Peña-Martínez, Ramprasad Ramakrishnan, Carl Högberg, Caroline Jansson, David Gisselsson Nord, and Marcus Järås. Haematologica. 2022 Apr 1;107(4):816-824

In vivo CRISPR screening identifies an essential role for CXCR4 in MLL-AF9 driven acute myeloid leukemia independently of CXCL12.Ramprasad Ramakrishnan, Pablo Peña-Martínez, Puneet Agarwal, Carl Högberg, Marion Chapellier, Mansi Shah, Björn Nilsson, Benjamin L Ebert, Ravi Bhatia and Marcus Järås. Cell Reports, 2020 May 26;31(8):107684.

Arrayed molecular barcoding identifies TNFSF13 as a positive regulator of acute myeloid leukemia-initiating cells. Marion Chapellier, Pablo Peña-Martínez, Ramprasad Ramakrishnan, Mia Eriksson, Merhrnaz Safaee Talkhoncheh, Christina Orsmark-Pietras, Henrik Liljebjörn, Carl Högberg, Thoas Fioretos, Jonas Larsson, and Marcus Järås. Haematologica, 2019 Oct;104(10):2006-2016.

Interleukin 4 induces apoptosis of acute myeloid leukemia cells in a Stat6-dependent manner. Pablo Peña Martínez, Mia Eriksson, Ramprasad Ramakrishnan, Marion Chapellier, Carl Högberg, Christina Orsmark-Pietras, Johan Richter, Anna Andersson, Thoas Fioretos, and Marcus Järås. Leukemia, 2018 Mar;32(3):588-596.

Full publication list

Innovation

Two spin-out companies have been established based on our research.

Cantargia AB

Lead Biologics AB

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