Newsroom
Here you will find MSSO's latest news and stories, interesting events as well as recent publications generated by our fellows.
Paper in Nature by MSSO junior research group leader Filippo Beleggia and his team out now
September 10th 2025, Cologne
The groundbreaking study found that small cell lung cancer (SCLC) cells form synapses with healthy neurons and receive neurotransmission to accelerate their proliferation, opening a new dimension of cancer biology for peripheral tumors. Crucially, the study also provides preclinical proof of principle that neuromodulatory therapies—drugs that interfere with nerve signals—can effectively slow SCLC growth and can be combined with chemotherapy. This finding represents a significant step forward for a disease where new and improved therapies are desperately needed.
The large international collaboration was led by the laboratories of Dr. Filippo Beleggia (University of Cologne), Professor Dr. Christian Reinhardt (University Hospital Essen), Dr. Elisa Motori (University of Cologne), Professor Dr. Matteo Bergami (University of Cologne), Professor Dr. Silvio Rizzoli (University of Göttingen) and Professor Dr. Max Anstötz (Heinrich Heine University Düsseldorf).
MSSO fellows Johannes Brägelmann was also a key contributor to this work.
The article is available through the following link: "Functional synapses between neurons and
Most-recent publications by our MSSO fellows:
- Till Braun, April 7th 2025, Cologne: "Emerging T-cell lymphomas after CAR T-cell therapy" published in Leukemia
- David Stahl, June 12th 2025, Cologne: "CSF1R+ myeloid-monocytic cells drive CAR-T cell resistance in aggressive B cell lymphoma" published in Cancer Cell
- Till Braun, March 7th 2025, Cologne: “Models for T-large granular lymphocytic leukemia: how to mimic the cellular interplays in malignant autoimmunity” published in Leukemia
- Till Braun, February 21st 2025, Cologne: “Multiomic profiling of T cell lymphoma after therapy with anti-BCMA CAR T cells and GPRC5D-directed bispecific antibody” published in Nature Medicine
- Jonas Saal, January 17th 2025, Bonn: “The modified Glasgow Prognostic Score (mGPS) can guide decisions for immunotherapy treatment beyond progression” published in the European Journal of Cancer
- Jonas Saal, December 26th 2024, Bonn: “Dissection of Progressive Disease Patterns for a Modified Classification for Immunotherapy” published in JAMA Oncology
- Jan-Michel Heger, Sophia Sobesky and Paul Bröckelmann, December 10th 2024, Cologne: "Circulating Tumor DNA Sequencing for Biologic Classification and Individualized Risk Stratification in Patients With Hodgkin Lymphoma" published in the Journal of Clinical Oncology
Publications
8 new papers from our MSSO fellows out now!
MSSO Retreat 2025
September 4th 2025, Cologne - Wahn
This year's MSSO Retreat 2025 took place on Thursday, 4th September 2025 at Schloss Wahn in Cologne-Porz.
The historical backdrop of the 17th century castle stood in contrast to the topicality of the young researchers' projects. They had brought anything but historical data with them to present and discuss at the annual MSSO Retreat.
At the all-day event MSSO fellows presented their current state of research and there was ample opportunity for exchange and networking for the guests from Aachen, Bonn, Cologne and Düsseldorf.
Attendees were also able to follow the example of a successful career in the talk by Angela Riedel from the Mildred Scheel Early Career Center (MSNZ) Würzburg.
Angela Riedel is junior research group leader at the university hospital Würzburg, where she researches on Metastases, Metabolism and the Microenvironment
The MSSO ABCD graduate school has been able to attract the brightest minds in oncological research at the ABCD sites for a scientific career. The MSSO ABCD is intended to pave the way for sustainable training programs in cutting-edge translational oncological research in NRW.
The training program, which is supported by German Cancer Aid, promotes careers in translational oncology. The MSSO Graduate School of the Centre for Integrated Oncology Aachen-Bonn-Cologne-Düsseldorf (CIO ABCD) is one of five locations across Germany funded by German Cancer Aid, where young scientists and doctors work together to help shape the future of cancer research in Germany.
11th DSO-Retreat at the O.A.S.E in Düsseldorf
May 15th 2025, Düsseldorf, Germany
The Düsseldorf SCHOOL of ONCOLOGY organized the 11th DSO Retreat, which took place on May 15th, 2025 in Düsseldorf, Germany.
Guest speaker was Prof. Peter Brossart (Director of the Medical Clinic and Polyclinic III for Oncology, Hematology, Immunooncology, and Rheumatology, University Hospital Bonn – CIO Bonn).
Furthermore, doctoral students of the DSO network program launched in 2023 as well as DSO fellows presented their current state of research.
MSSO fellows and alumni also presented their research projects and Prof. Lydia Meder gave a very valuable talk for young scientists entitled "From MSSO Funding to Tenure-Track: A Journey in Cancer Research".
The annual DSO retreat 2025 offered the MSSO fellows a great opportunity to present and discuss their research progress at a symposium and for networking.
Upcoming Events
DGHO 2025 - Poster Award for Julian Kallinowski
October 24th - 27th 2025, Cologne
Julian Kallinowski, who has been a MSSO MD research fellow since 2024, took part in the DGHO Annual Conference 2025 in Cologne.
His poster with the title "Role of SYK in Reprogramming the LME and Enhancing the Susceptibility to CAR-T Cell Therapy" was honoured with the DGHO Poster Award.
ITOC - Poster Award for Lilli Schlözer
April 3rd -5th 2025, Munich
Lilli Schlözer, who has been a MSSO MD research fellow since 2024, took part in the 11th ImmunoTherapy of Cancer Conference in Munich.
Her poster with the title "Overcoming endothelial cell anergy by VEGFR2 inhibition to enhance CAR T cell response in aggressive B cell lymphoma" was honoured with the IOTC Poster Award.
News
Till Braun receives research award from the Walter Schulz Foundation
July 25th 2025, Cologne
Till Braun, who is an MSSO ABCD fellow in Cologne, was awarded with the “Forschungspreis 2024” of the non-profit Walter Schulz Stiftung.
He was honored for his groundbreaking research on the side effects of CAR-T cell therapy.
CAR-T cell therapies are among the most innovative approaches in modern cancer medicine. They involve genetically modifying the body's own immune cells so that they can specifically recognize and destroy cancer cells.
His work was published in the journal Nature Medicine in April 2025 and is considered a significant contribution to the further development of personalized cancer therapies and the handling of potential side effects of modern immunotherapies.