Read the newsletter in your browser

Letter from the Director 

Many of us in the NK cell field have recently returned from Oslo, Norway after an exciting full week of NK cell-therapy related meetings. The NextGenNK Competence Center (CC), on Monday September 25th, hosted a partner meeting with several industrial actors in the field. This was followed by the kickoff of the 20th meeting of the Society of Natural Immunity (Tuesday, September 26th to Friday, September 29th) organized by NextGenNK co-Director Karl-Johan Malmberg and his team. During the “clinical day” on Tuesday the 26th, co-sponsored by NextGenNK, many of the world-leaders in the field of NK cell-based immunotherapy, among a more than 450-person audience, presented current progress and future clinical strategies in this intense area of academic and industrial co-development. Throughout the meeting, the participants witnessed many exciting talks and had the opportunity to hear about the very latest insights of the biology and utilization of NK cells in context of malignant diseases.

Picture from NK2023 clinical day.
Photo: Hans-Gustaf Ljunggren

While many of the strategies discussed at the meetings above were aimed at clinical adoption and application, it is a fact that a part of the small and medium enterprise (SME) industrial sector is currently going through a challenging phase due to global economic challenges. This has also impacted companies working with NK cell-based therapies. It goes without saying, market expectations might in some cases have exceeded the challenges involved in developing some of these novel advanced treatments. It is not unlikely that we may see SMEs continuing to face challenges when it comes to capitalization. However, we are optimistic with regards to an exciting future in the upcoming years. There is so much potential in some recently developed NK cell-based products, and their combination with other drugs such as monoclonal antibodies and engagers, they should have a great potential in the treatment of malignant diseases in the years to come.

During the week in Oslo, the NextGenNK also held its annual General Assembly meeting. The General Assembly is the ultimate decision-making body of the Center. At the General Assembly, the current members of the Executive Board were re-elected for a new period of one year. Furthermore, three new partners were elected to the NextGenNK CC, including Lund University, Oncopeptides AB, and Vycellix Sweden AB. These newly elected partners have recently taken on exciting early development pathways with respect to, or of relevance for, the development of new NK cell-based therapeutics. Another accomplishment during last week was a meeting of the NextGenNK Scientific Advisory Board (SAB). The SAB expressed its excitement for the CC’s goals achieved to date and its path forward.

Finally, as we reach the present five-year period of the NextGenNK CC in December 2024, the Swedish Innovation Agency (Vinnova) has made it possible to apply for a prolongation of the Center over a new five-year period (2025-2029). The prolongation is subject to a stringent application process and extensive peer-reviewing. The Center’s management team is already preparing for this evaluation and is dedicated to do its utmost for enabling a continuation.

Hans-Gustaf Ljunggren, Director

Hans-Gustaf Ljunggren

Photo: Ulf Sirborn

Under the heading "Spotlight," we present Partners involved in the NextGenNK Competence Center. A new Partner in NextGenNK is Lund University, Sweden. A particular emphasis will be on collaborative projects with professor Anna Falk, who focuses on reprogramming somatic cells to induced pluripotent stem (iPS) cells. The Falk lab is driving translational projects with the aim to create ATMPs to take iPS derived cells to the clinic. Read more about the Falk lab.

Tell us about your research

Our research revolves around NK cell heterogeneity, differentiation, and functionality. We have an interest in hematological disorders and the interplay between NK cells, other immune cells, and tumor cells in these settings. We hope that by understanding these interactions we can improve patient therapies.

When did you know you wanted to become a researcher?

I jokingly say it was when I saw my father (who was a Professor in Psychology) “go to work” reading science papers in the summer sun on the boat. He was a great inspiration, but also I had a wonderful Immunology teacher in high school and was always very interested in the scientific process - question, method, answer!

Ebba Sohlberg, PhD
Photo: Erik Wetterskog