Katrine Schou Sandgaard
Exploring Immune Recovery in Pediatric ALL to Predict Immunological Vulnerability post Chemotherapy
Katrine Schou Sandgaard, Department of Pediatrics and Adolescents Medicine, Aarhus University Hospital, has been awarded an Early-Career Clinician Scientist research grant of DKK 2.399.638 from the Lundbeck Foundation.
With this project, Katrine aims to identify and help children with acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) who have vulnerable immune systems, with the ultimate goal of offering a more tailored and effective treatment strategy. Given the significant variation in children's responses to chemotherapy and its associated side effects, it is crucial to understand the underlying factors that govern their immune response. The project focuses on identifying and predicting which children are most immunologically vulnerable and at risk of infections, organ damage, and relapse after chemotherapy. This is particularly relevant for children with high-risk B ALL disease receiving immunotherapy, as only half of these children respond positively to the treatment. By employing advanced technologies, introduced by Katrine in Denmark, such as sequencing of T- and B-cell receptor repertoires, the project will analyze the complex interactions between the immune system, ALL, and the effects of chemotherapy.
