Prof Geir Kjetil Sandve, Scientific Computing and Machine Learning group, Department of Informatics, University of Oslo
Short biosketch: My research is within theoretical and applied machine learning, spanning a broad range of methodologies and where I have worked across multiple application domains within life science. I have the last five years focused mostly on deciphering the binding of adaptive immune receptors to antigens. Methodological contributions include development of new machine learning approaches, software platforms, simulation frameworks and benchmarks.
How do you foresee that your team can benefit from and contribute to PRIMA?
My expectation is to gradually learn from and exchange perspectives with the other PIs based on our complementary fields, with an ambition of over time discovering specific research themes of joint interest - meaning important unsolved problems within cancer immunology that also present interesting machine learning challenges. As the primary focus of my team is to develop novel insights and methodology within machine learning, I believe the main benefits will be to be exposed and introduced to intriguing problems that one can try to solve in collaboration with domain experts. I believe the primary contribution to PRIMA will be that my group have the capacity to solve computational problems that require long-term dedicated efforts by experts in machine learning and related fields. In addition, our broad experience with computational aspects may allow us to provide guidance and strategic advice on computational aspects of PRIMA-related research.
Short description of the group
The Sandve-group develops machine learning methodology, algorithms, software platforms, simulation frameworks and benchmarks within adaptive immunology, functional genomics and epidemiology:
Associate Prof. Victor Greiff, Department of Immunology, University of Oslo
Short biosketch: Victor Greiff is Associate Professor of Systems Immunology at the University of Oslo since 2018. His group develops machine learning, computational and experimental tools for immune-repertoire-based in silico immunodiagnostics and immunotherapeutics discovery and design. He is the president of the Norwegian Society for Immunology. Victor received his PhD in Systems Immunology from Humboldt University (Germany, 2012) and performed his postdoctoral training at ETH Zürich (Switzerland, 2013-17).
How do you foresee that your team can benefit from and contribute to PRIMA?
PRIMA aims to develop novel therapeutic avenues to cancer treatment. Our lab has deep expertise in experimental and computational profiling of adaptive immune specificity. We foresee exciting synergies in teaming up with PRIMA to use novel AI and experimental high-throughput technologies for precision and personalized identification of novel cancer therapeutics. Our lab has already ongoing collaborations with two PRIMA PIs (Jan Terje Andersen, Fridtjof Lund-Johansen).
Short description of the group
Our research focuses on developing novel computational and experimental strategies for designing next-generation therapeutics, diagnostics and vaccines by combining high-throughput single-cell antibody and T-cell receptor sequencing with artificial intelligence and high-dimensional statistics.
Associate Prof. Johanne Tracey Jacobsen, Department of Immunology, University of Oslo
Short biosketch: I obtained my PhD at the Institute of Immunology, UiO in 2013. Shortly thereafter I relocated to the USA, where I did two postdoc training periods first at MIT, Boston and then at Rockefeller University, New York, both with Professor Gabriel Victora. During this period I studied how T cells regulate the germinal center reaction, and worked developing novel transgenic tools to enable our studies. At the end of my postdoc period, I obtained an ERC starting grant to continue my studies on T cell control of the germinal center reaction. The starting grant included funding to acquire a 2-photon microscope to perform intravital studies on T- and B cell behavior.
How do you foresee that your team can benefit from and contribute to PRIMA?
My lab is implementing several new technologies at UiO to study how T cells control the quality of B cells in the germinal center reaction. These will shape the foundation for several collaborations within PRIMA, enabling us to explore clonally restricted lymphocyte dynamics, optimize B cell and antibody quality, and understanding the biological underpinnings of novel therapeutic candidates emerging from PRIMA.
Short description of the group
My lab studies the drivers and regulators of the germinal center reaction, and how these can be modulated to shape the quality of B cells and antibodies arising from the germinal center.