Menno Van Lookeren Campagne

Senior Scientist, Immunology

POSTDOC MENTOR

"Only with scientific rigor, a creative mind and immense dedication can we drive innovation and come up with new and better treatments."

• 16
  years at Genentech
• 7
  publications (2010-12)

I joined Genentech as a postdoctoral fellow in 1997 and in 1999 as a scientist in the Immunology Department. I was extremely motivated to join Genentech since it is one of the few places where high quality discovery research and drug development are directly connected.

During my years at the company, I have experienced first hand the immense satisfaction of discovering a new receptor-ligand interaction and developing this molecular entity into a novel drug. In the process, I learned to appreciate the many other aspects that are unique to Genentech culture, including the collaborative and creative spirit among the scientists. I'm proud of being a part of this culture and especially proud of contributing to the highest goal one can think of: finding a cure for a devastating disease.

• My Focus

  The research projects in my lab are aimed at understanding the role of macrophages, immune cells whose primary function is to defend the host against pathogens, in controlling chronic inflammatory diseases. Through functional screening of macrophage-specific cell surface molecules, we identified a macrophage complement receptor, CRIg, which is required for clearance of pathogens in the circulation, thus preventing systemic bacterial infection. In addition to its function as a phagocytic receptor, the extracellular domain CRIg (Complement Receptor of the Immunoglobulin superfamily) inhibits complement activation and inflammation in experimental models of arthritis.

  Currently a potent complement inhibitor is being developed for treatment of Age-Related Macular Degeneration (AMD), a blinding disease caused by neovascularization in the retina and degeneration of photoreceptors. Next to complement, my lab is validating additional inflammatory pathways as therapeutic targets in AMD.

• Publications

  • CRIg mediates early Kupffer cell responses to adenovirus

    Journal of Leukocyte Biology, 2012, ISSN: 0741-5400

    He, Jeannie Q; Katschke, Kenneth J; Gribling, Peter; Suto, Eric; Lee, Wyne P; Diehl, Lauri; Eastham-Anderson, Jeffrey; Ponakala, Anusha; Komuves, Laszlo; Egen, Jackson G; van Lookeren Campagne, Menno

     View on PubMed

  • Activation of the Alternative Complement Pathway in Vitreous is Controlled by Genetics in Age-related Macular Degeneration

    Investigative Ophthalmology & Visual Science, 2012, ISSN: 0146-0404

    Loyet, Kelly M; Deforge, Laura E; Katschke, Kenneth J; Diehl, Lauri; Graham, Robert R; Pao, Lily; Sturgeon, Lizette; Lewin-Koh, Sock-Cheng; Hollyfield, Joe G; van Lookeren Campagne, Menno

     View on PubMed

  • Inhibiting alternative pathway complement activation by targeting the factor D exosite

    Journal of Biological Chemistry, 2012, ISSN: 0021-9258

    Katschke Jr, Kenneth J; Wu, Ping; Ganesan, Rajkumar; Kelley, Robert F; Mathieu, Mary A; Hass, Philip E; Murray, Jeremy; Kirchhofer, Daniel; Wiesmann, Christian; Campagne, Menno van Lookeren;

     View on PubMed

  • Immunology: In command of commensals.

    NATURE, 2011, V474, N7349, JUN 2, pp 43-44. ISSN: 0028-0836.

    van Lookeren Campagne, Menno; Dixit, Vishva M

     View on PubMed

  • Negative regulation of autoimmune demyelination by the inhibitory receptor CLM-1.

    Journal of Experimental Medicine, 2010, ISSN: 1540-9538

    Xi, H.; Katschke, K.J. Jr.; Helmy, K.Y.; Wark, P.A.; Kljavin, N.; Clark, H.; Eastham-Anderson, J.; Shek, T.; Roose-Girma, M.; Ghilardi, N.; van Lookeren Campagne, M.

  • Macrophage Metalloelastase: Stretching Therapeutic Opportunities.

    Journal Of Molecular Cell Biology, 2009, ISSN: 1759-4685

    He, J.Q.; Van Lookeren-Campagne, M.

  • Structural and functional analysis of a C3b-specific antibody that selectively inhibits the alternative pathway of complement.

    Journal of Biological Chemistry, 2009, ISSN: 0021-9258

    Katschke, K.J., Jr.; Stawicki, S.; Yin, J.; Steffek, M.; Xi, H.; Sturgeon, L.; Hass, P.E.; Loyet, K.; DeForge, L.; Wu, Y.; van Lookeren Campagne, M.; Wiesmann, C.

• Education
  • State University of Utrecht, Netherlands, Rudolf Magnus Institute of Pharmacology, Ph.D. – 1991
  • State University of Utrecht, Netherlands, Masters Degree – 1987