Immunotherapy is a promising form of treatment in which the body’s own immune system is used to target tumor cells. Developing new immunotherapies requires extensive research into the immune system.
Ten times more
The new cell sorting device in the Flow Cytometry Facility at the Princess Máxima Center helps researchers sort cells faster and more accurately. This device can sort twice as many different types of cells as previous models—and at a higher speed: up to 25,000 cells per second. It’s also easier to use and available to researchers all day for experiments. This enables up to ten times more experiments to be conducted in the same amount of time.
Prof. Dr. René Medema, Chief Scientific Director of the Princess Máxima Center, explains: ‘Thanks to this device, we are accelerating our research into better and more effective immunotherapies for children with various types of cancer. We are very grateful to everyone involved for their support and for enabling us to take another step toward our mission: to cure every child with cancer, with optimal quality of life.’
Sorting immune cells
The new device can sort specific cells from research material such as blood or tumor tissue. This allows researchers to isolate the immune cells that are best at attacking tumor cells for further study. One of the first researchers to use the device is upcoming group leader Dr. Judith Wienke. She aims to identify which immune cells are capable of recognizing neuroblastoma cells. The cell sorter will help her by filtering out the activated T-cells from her research material.
Wienke says: ‘Previously, such specific sorting wasn’t possible. It’s wonderful that we can now carry out this experiment at the Máxima. And that I can take the next steps in my research into new and improved immunotherapies for children with neuroblastoma.’
Enhancing research facilities
Jeroen van Velzen is also pleased with the arrival of the BD Aria Fusion flow cytometer. As manager of the Flow Cytometry Facility, one of the specialized research facilities at the Máxima Center, he explains: ‘It’s going to make research much faster. The sorting is more precise, which saves researchers time, and the sorting process itself is quicker. For comparison, an experiment used to take several days and required two or more people. Now, the same experiment can be done by one person in a single day.’
De 538 Ochtendrun
During the second edition of De 538 Ochtendrun, funds were raised for the Princess Máxima Center thanks to the team of the 538 Morning Show, their listeners, businesses, and campaigners. This time, the initiative was inspired by the story of Jade Kops (18), who is terminally ill. The total proceeds from this Radio 538 campaign, media partner of the Princess Máxima Center Foundation, amounted to €822,000. The team from the 538 Morning Show, Jade Kops, and Bas Smit, ambassador of the Princess Máxima Center Foundation, visited to see the new cell sorting device. Watch the video of this visit here.
Want to know how the cell sorter works? Watch the animation below.
