Rienk Offringa Principal Scientist: Immunology Profile | Education/Background | Top Scientific Papers | Awards & Honors

"My move to Genentech, in April 2007, was inspired by the notion that it takes both an excellent academic environment and a solid biotech infrastructure to translate innovative concepts into new therapies for cancer patients."

Current Projects "Genentech's present oncology program is primarily aimed at disrupting the cell growth and survival pathways that drive carcinogenesis. My mission at Genentech is to bring the tumoricidal potential of the immune system into play. One way of achieving this is by increasing the capacity of tumor-targeting antibodies, such as Herceptin® (Trastuzumab) and Rituximab, to mobilize antibody-dependent cellular cytotoxicity (ADDC) through recruitment of innate effector cells. Alternatively, one can exploit the formidable power of T-lymphocytes for eliminating cancers. My research with respect to the latter approach is focused on the following two questions:

1. If we succeed in building up an army of anti-tumor T-lymphocytes, how do we empower these T-cells to efficiently home to the tumor site and, once arrived, to maintain their tumoricidal efficacy?
2. If we unleash dormant T-cell immunity through intervention with immune regulatory pathways, how do we ensure that the desired anti-tumor T-cell response prevails over hazardous auto-immune responses that cause severe immune pathology in vital tissues?"

Collaborations "My research program is positioned at the interface between the Immunology and Oncology divisions within Genentech and, as such, it is important for me to constitute a bridge between these divisions. Having come from academia very recently, I intend to keep strong connections to the various institutions and colleagues with whom I interacted during the past years. I know from experience how difficult it is to translate promising concepts for cancer immunotherapy, as conceived in academia, into a clinical program that can form the basis of a marketable drug. Even though academia-based start up companies can support this progress, such initiatives can rarely bring development beyond the stage of a Phase I/II clinical trial. My current position at Genentech gives me the opportunity to propel selected concepts for immunotherapy of cancer into the next stage."

Inspiration/Vision "Recent advances of our insights in the regulation of (anti-tumor) immune responses have brought effective immune-mediated modalities against cancers into view. The potential of such therapies has been illustrated by striking clinical impact in cancer patients. Even though this efficacy is so far limited to a small fraction of the patients treated, I am convinced that further research involving clinical studies and well-designed animal models will help us to understand the reasons behind failure or success of treatment, and thereby to greatly increase the efficacy of these modalities. The high-tech context of Genentech will offer me ample opportunities to contribute to these exciting developments."