Research Group

Translational Research in Immuno-oncology and Microbiome (TRIM)

A woman with shoulder-length gray hair, wearing a red blouse, smiles confidently at the camera. The background is soft and bright, suggesting a professional or welcoming environment.

Dr. Maria Paula Roberti

Significant progress in cancer treatment has been achieved by stimulating the immune system to eliminate tumors. The microorganisms residing in our bodies are vital for immune function, and disruptions in this microbiota balance (dysbiosis) can weaken immune surveillance and reduce therapy efficacy. Targeting the microbiome, its functions, or related immunosuppressive mechanisms is a key strategy to better treat cancer.

Our Reserach

Microscopic image showing vibrant, multi-colored cell structures. The dominant colors are purple, blue, and green, highlighting distinct areas of cellular architecture potentially relevant to tumor immunology and microbiome research. The formation resembles tissue samples commonly analyzed in scientific studies.

Immunotherapy led to a paradigm change of systemic tumor therapy. Many patients now benefit from improved survival and sometimes cure. However, there is urgent need to further improve immunotherapy, as a majority of patients will progress despite treatment. Recent preclinical translational and clinical studies demonstrate that the patient's (gut) microbiome is a major determinant of response to immunotherapy and highlight the potential of microbiome intervention in immuno-oncology.

In our team, we actively integrate translational data, functional assays and preclinical models, to understand and overcome mechanisms of resistance to immunotherapy and chemotherapy, with a focus in gut-related subversion of anti-tumor immunity. By leveraging this knowledge, we aim to find biomarkers, patient stratification and innovative treatment combinations.

Our research group, is embedded in a multidisciplinary team with close connection to the clinic and a bioinformatics team.

Future outlook: We will continue our efforts to improve the understanding of tumor-microbiome-host interactions with a focus on T cell- and tumor-intrinsic mechanisms of resistance in Immuno-Oncology. Our ultimate goal is to bring microbiome-based personalized I-O to patients.

Projects

The image illustrates a process for cancer patients involving biomarker screening of gut microbiota. It shows two outcomes: "ICI-favorable" and "ICI-unfavorable," indicating different responses based on the screening results.

 

Mucosome

To bring Fecal Microbiota Transfer (FMT) therapy to the standard of care, the open challenge is to identify cancer patients at risk of gut-related therapy failure who are amenable to FMT. We are currently collaborating with clinicians and scientists at UKHD and NCT (Dr. C. Rauber) to conduct the "Mucosome" study (S-633/2021) with the aim of identifying biomarkers in patients with extraintestinal cancers that can be used for the selection of patients who will potentially benefit from FMT and to identify stool donors that can be used pharmacologically in a tailored donor-recipient approach in cancer therapy.

DFG Individual Research Grant. Project no. 537739196. (2024-2027)

Team

  • A woman with shoulder-length gray hair, wearing a red blouse, smiles confidently at the camera. The background is soft and bright, suggesting a professional or welcoming environment.

    Dr. Maria Paula Roberti

    Group head

  • Employee image

    Dr. Andrea Leufgen

    Postdoctoral researcher

  • Employee image

    Jasmin Zech

    PhD candidate

  • Employee image

    Annika Steitz

    MD candidate

  • Employee image

    Güner Can

    MD candidate (with AG Rauber, UKHD)

  • Employee image

    Claudia Luckner-Minden

    Technical assistant

Entire Team

Selected Publications

2023 - Science

Fidelle M, Rauber C, Alves Costa Silva C, Tian AL, Lahmar I, de La Varende AM, Zhao L, Thelemaque C, Lebhar I, Messaoudene M, Pizzato E, Birebent R, Mbogning Fonkou MD, Zoppi S, Reni A, Dalban C, Leduc M, Ferrere G, Durand S, Ly P, Silvin A, Mulder K, Dutertre CA, Ginhoux F, Yonekura S, Roberti MP, Tidjani-Alou M, Terrisse S, Chen J, Kepp O, Schippers A, Wagner N, Suárez-Gosálvez J, Kobold S, Fahrner JE, Richard C, Bosq J, Lordello L, Vitali G, Galleron N, Quinquis B, Le Chatelier E, Blanchard L, Girard JP, Jarry A, Gervois N, Godefroy E, Labarrière N, Koschny R, Daillère R, Besse B, Truntzer C, Ghiringhelli F, Coatnoan N, Mhanna V, Klatzmann D, Drubay D, Albiges L, Thomas AM, Segata N, Danlos FX, Marabelle A, Routy B, Derosa L, Kroemer G, Zitvogel L. A

2020 - Nature Medicine

Roberti MP, Yonekura S, Duong CPM, Picard M, Ferrere G, Tidjani Alou M, Rauber C, Iebba V, Lehmann CHK, Amon L, Dudziak D, Derosa L, Routy B, Flament C, Richard C, Daillère R, Fluckiger A, Van Seuningen I, Chamaillard M, Vincent A, Kourula S, Opolon P, Ly P, Pizzato E, Becharef S, Paillet J, Klein C, Marliot F, Pietrantonio F, Benoist S, Scoazec JY, Dartigues P, Hollebecque A, Malka D, Pagès F, Galon J, Gomperts Boneca I, Lepage P, Ryffel B, Raoult D, Eggermont A, Vanden Berghe T, Ghiringhelli F, Vandenabeele P, Kroemer G, Zitvogel L.

2019 - Cell Research

Jacquelot N, Yamazaki T, Roberti MP, Duong CPM, Andrews MC, Verlingue L, Ferrere G, Becharef S, Vétizou M, Daillère R, Messaoudene M, Enot DP, Stoll G, Ugel S, Marigo I, Foong Ngiow S, Marabelle A, Prevost-Blondel A, Gaudreau PO, Gopalakrishnan V, Eggermont AM, Opolon P, Klein C, Madonna G, Ascierto PA, Sucker A, Schadendorf D, Smyth MJ, Soria JC, Kroemer G, Bronte V, Wargo J, Zitvogel L.

2018 - Science

Routy B, Le Chatelier E, Derosa L, Duong CPM, Alou MT, Daillère R, Fluckiger A, Messaoudene M, Rauber C, Roberti MP, Fidelle M, Flament C, Poirier-Colame V, Opolon P, Klein C, Iribarren K, Mondragón L, Jacquelot N, Qu B, Ferrere G, Clémenson C, Mezquita L, Masip JR, Naltet C, Brosseau S, Kaderbhai C, Richard C, Rizvi H, Levenez F, Galleron N, Quinquis B, Pons N, Ryffel B, Minard-Colin V, Gonin P, Soria JC, Deutsch E, Loriot Y, Ghiringhelli F, Zalcman G, Goldwasser F, Escudier B, Hellmann MD, Eggermont A, Raoult D, Albiges L, Kroemer G, Zitvogel L.

Full list of publications

Link to all publications

Get in touch with us

A woman with shoulder-length gray hair, wearing a red blouse, smiles confidently at the camera. The background is soft and bright, suggesting a professional or welcoming environment.

Dr. Maria Paula Roberti

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