Marit Goossen
Research
Oncolytic viruses (OVs) have a specific preference to infect and kill cancer cells. However, the Hoeben lab also found that OVs can target the cancer-associated fibroblasts (CAFs) present in tumour stroma. Therefore, exploring the use of OVs in stroma rich tumours like pancreatic cancer is a worthwhile potential therapy to pursue further. I will be researching if a panel of different OVs preferentially infect specific subsets of CAFs and how they modulate these cells. By gathering this knowledge, further experiments can explore if oncolytic virotherapy can be optimized by OV modification or combination treatment.
Curriculum vitae
After concluding both my Bachelors’ and Masters’ degree in Biomedical Sciences in the LUMC, I have started as a PhD candidate in Virus and Stem Cell Biology group of prof. Hoeben. With an interest based in virology, it is nice to see how viruses with a natural or modified preference for cancer cells and CAFs can potentially work for advancement of cancer treatment.
