PHD Erik Abels
Research:
My research is focused on anthracyclines penetrate tissue from one cell layer to the next and into cell specifically. With the use of multicellular cultures, imaging technique and the inherent autofluorescence of anthracyclines the research is aimed to understand how specific chemical modification on anthracyclines can enhance their penetration capacity. In addition, a part of my research is focused on the treatment of glioma together with prof. dr. Marike Broekman. Here I study the effect of focus ultrasound, as a new treatment modality in glioma, on the tumor microenvironment.
Curriculum Vitae:
I did my Bachelor’s (Biomedical Sciences) and Master’s (Oncology) at the VU Amsterdam whereafter I pursued a PhD. I completed my PhD at Leiden University as an external PhD student performing my studies at the Massachusetts General Hospital in Boston in the lab of prof. dr. Xandra Breakefield. The focus of the research was on extracellular vesicles and their role in the intercellular communication between innate immune cells and tumor cells in a brain tumor model. In detail, I studied the interaction between tumor cells and microglia with the focus on extracellular transport of miRNAs. In addition, I worked to investigate the role of a single miRNA in tumor progression in a preclinical model.
Publications
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CRISPR-Cas knockout of miR21 reduces glioma growth.
Nieland L, van Solinge TS, Cheah PS, Morsett LM, El Khoury J, Rissman JI, Kleinstiver BP, Broekman MLD, Breakefield XO, Abels ER.
Mol Ther Oncolytics. 2022 Apr 6;25:121-136. doi: 10.1016/j.omto.2022.04.001. PMID: 35572197; PMCID: PMC9052041
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Glioblastoma-Associated Microglia Reprogramming Is Mediated by Functional Transfer of Extracellular miR-21.
Abels ER, Maas SLN, Nieland L, Wei Z, Cheah PS, Tai E, Kolsteeg CJ, Dusoswa SA, Ting DT, Hickman S, El Khoury J, Krichevsky AM, Broekman MLD, Breakefield XO.
Cell Rep. 2019 Sep 17;28(12):3105-3119.e7. doi: 10.1016/j.celrep.2019.08.036. PMID: 31533034; PMCID: PMC6817978
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GlioM&M: Web-based tool for studying circulating and infiltrating monocytes and macrophages in glioma.
Abels ER, Maas SLN, Tai E, Ting DT, Broekman MLD, Breakefield XO, El Khoury J.
Sci Rep. 2020 Jun 18;10(1):9898. doi: 10.1038/s41598-020-66728-w. PMID: 32555306; PMCID: PMC7303151.
