Tumor Immunology and Immunotherapy – Arvelund Lab

Arvelund lab top imagea

During the last decade, immunotherapy has revolutionized cancer treatment and has shown great success in a subset of patients and cancers.

However, we have only just begun to understand how the complex interactions between cancer cells and the immune system can be exploited to develop efficient immunotherapies.

The aims of our research are to uncover the cellular and molecular mechanisms that predispose to systemic and long-term anti-tumor immunity and the mechanisms that drive resistance to immunotherapy. In particular, we are studying how oncolytic virotherapy can be used in synergy with immunotherapy to achieve optimal immunity against tumors.

A major focus of the lab is to understand the specific role of different types of antigen-presenting cells in priming efficient anti-tumor T cell responses and how this process can be empowered to improve treatment outcomes.

We also aim to study the impact of tumor heterogeneity and tissue-specific microenvironments on the response to therapy. To address these questions we combine in vitro studies, experimental mouse models, patient material and cutting-edge technologies.

Our goal is that our research will contribute to the development of safe and more efficient treatment strategies for patients that currently do not benefit from standard therapies.

Research group

Judit Svensson Arvelund

I Studied Biomedicine and obtained my PhD in 2015 at Linköping University, Sweden, in the field of reproductive immunology under the mentorship of Prof. Jan Ernerudh. My doctoral thesis focused on the role of macrophages in maintaining immune tolerance at the fetal-maternal interface during early human pregnancy. Along my thesis work I grew an interest in the field of tumor immunology, which shares many similarities with reproductive immunology; for instance, features that are beneficial in the utero-placental microenvironment are commonly exploited by malignancies to avoid anti-tumor immunity. In 2016 I joined the lab of Dr Joshua Brody at the Tisch Cancer Institute and Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York as a postdoctoral fellow to work on the development of lymphoma immunotherapies.
One of the main research areas in the lab was the development of in situ vaccination, a vaccine that is created at the tumor site in cancer patients. During my postdoc, in collaboration with the lab of Dr Garcia-Sastre, we started exploring the use of oncolytic viruses that in addition to actively lysing tumor cells have the potential to induce anti-tumor immunity. Thanks to generous starting grants from the Swedish Research Council, the Swedish Society for Medical Research and Cancerfonden, in 2024 I was able to start building a research group where we can continue exploring the role of the immune system in the development of lymphomas and other cancers and use this knowledge to develop and improve cancer immunotherapies.

Karthi Duraisamy

Originally from India, I lived in Hong Kong for 16 years, spent 3 years in France, and have now moved to Sweden. I earned my PhD in Molecular Biology and Biotechnology at the University of Hong Kong, where I identified the receptor MRGPRX2 as a key player in mast cell activation through an ant venom peptide (P17), advancing our understanding of mast cell immunology in allergy and inflammation. I later expanded my research to inflammatory bowel disease and colorectal cancer, exploring how MRGPRX2 influences immune responses and tumor growth. Most recently, as a WINNINGNormandy Marie Skłodowska-Curie Fellow in Rouen, France, I studied a gliomodulatory peptide in energy metabolism and obesity, with a focus on neuro-glia crosstalk. At Linköping University, I am excited to continue this trajectory within tumor immunology and immunotherapy in the Arvelund Lab.

Outside the lab, I enjoy playing cricket, exploring new cities with my wife, and discovering the best local spots for good food and travel experiences.

Karthi Duraisamy

Cornelia Börjesson Freitag

I am a research preparatory fellow in the Arvelund Lab, focusing on the role of different dendritic cell subsets in immunotherapy. I graduated with a masters in Biomedicine from Lund University in 2024 and conducted my master thesis within the field of glioblastoma. During my education in Lund I also spent a gap year working with the student union. My free time is best spent cooking a lot of good food with family and friends or enjoying the beauty of the Swedish or Norwegian nature though hikes, runs or camping.

Cornelia Börjesson Freitag
Cornelia Börjesson Freitag

Ingemar Lagerlöf

MD, PhD, Senior consultant
ingemar.lagerlof@liu.se

Mina Mosaffa

I got my bachelor’s degree in Biology from Guilan University and my first master’s in Histology and embryology from Urmia University, both in Iran. After ten years of being a Biology and Research teacher, I moved to Sweden to study the Experimental and Medical Biosciences master’s programme at Linköping University. I am currently a Research Engineer in the Arvelund lab, working on cancer immunotherapy. Outside of work, I am a bit artistic, and I love books and cats! Oh, and I wish I had four hands, so I could be faster in the lab or play two musical instruments at the same time!
Mina Mosaffa
Mina Mosaffa

Anna Sundin

Özgü Tansug

I have a background in Pharmacy and pursued the Biopharmaceuticals master’s programme at Uppsala University. Oncolytic viruses and other novel immunotherapy approaches are intriguing for me, and I believe that they have a huge potential that deserves to be explored. Technological breakthroughs in the biotechnology area led me to this field in the hope of contributing to the global fight against cancer. Outside of work, I am interested in photography, music production, and going on hikes.
Özgü Tansug
Özgü Tansug

Students

Hanna Ellerström, Bachelor student

I am currently doing my bachelor thesis in the Industrial and Experimental Biomedicine program at Linköping University. I’m really interested in how diseases affect the body and how the body reacts in return. That’s why I especially enjoy studying pathology, immunology, and microbiology.

Outside of my studies and the lab, I enjoy trying new recipes in the kitchen and spending time with my wonderful dogs.

Hanna Ellerström

Alumni

Alumni

  • Feiyu Zhu, Master student, Experimental and Medical Biosciences

Publications

Selected publications

Cover of publication ''
Mark Aleynick, Judit Svensson-Arvelund, Gvantsa Pantsulaia, Kristy Kim, Samuel A. Rose, Ranjan Upadhyay, Michael Yellin, Henry Marsh, Daniel Oreper, Suchit Jhunjhunwala, Christine Carine Moussion, Miriam Merad, Brian D. Brown, Joshua D. Brody (2023)

Journal for ImmunoTherapy of Cancer , Vol.11 Continue to DOI

Cover of publication ''
Judit Svensson-Arvelund, Sara Cuadrado-Castano, Gvantsa Pantsulaia, Kristy Kim, Mark Aleynick, Linda Hammerich, Ranjan Upadhyay, Michael Yellin, Henry Marsh, Daniel Oreper, Suchit Jhunjhunwala, Christine Moussion, Miriam Merad, Brian D. Brown, Adolfo Garcia-Sastre, Joshua D. Brody (2022)

Nature Communications , Vol.13 Continue to DOI

Cover of publication ''
Matthew J. Lin, Judit Svensson-Arvelund, Gabrielle S. Lubitz, Aurelien Marabelle, Ignacio Melero, Brian D. Brown, Joshua D. Brody (2022)

NATURE CANCER , Vol.3 , s.911-926 Continue to DOI

Strategic Research Areas

Financing

Organisation