Renata Stripecke (Biology)
Renata Stripecke |
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Renata Stripecke was born and grew up in Sao Paulo, Brazil, where she obtained her degree in biology and a masters in genetics. She then moved on to Heidelberg, Germany, for a PhD in gene expression regulation at the European Molecular Biology Laboratory (EMBL). Changing continents again, she moved to the U.S. and performed post-doctoral training in gene therapy at Childrens' Hospital Los Angeles. From 1999-2003, she was Assistant Professor at the University of Southern California (USC) in Los Angeles and from 2003-2007 Assistant Professor at the University of California Los Angeles (UCLA), where she served as Co-director of the UCLA Vector Core. She joined the Hannover Medical School in 2007 for a W2 professorship to set up the programme area of Lymphatic Cell Therapy. She is currently a member of REBIRTH, an excellence cluster research programme dedicated to Regenerative Therapy. She runs a multicultural laboratory, where the most often spoken language is English.
Research
Renata's scientific topic is the understanding and targeted manipulation of the immune system to be applied in the cure of chronic human diseases. Her approach is to genetically programme blood cells with designed viral vectors, such that they can be used in the treatment of diseases like cancer and viral infections, where the immune responses have been severely abrogated. Her group utilises designed lentiviral vectors that deliver ectopic expression of cytokines and antigens into hematopoietic precursors. They are then capable to self-differentiate into dendritic cells, which are powerful antigen presenting cells. This concept is currently being developed in pre-clinical models of melanoma, leukemia and HIV.
Kids and beyond
Side by side with her scientific life, Renata has two kids. Gabriela (16) was born during her PhD and Thomas (5) when she was already a faculty. Her experience: at any time of career development, having and raising children is never a small task. Most important factors for success? Not giving up, determination that it can be done, a lot of multitasking and a very supportive environment. Renata loves to swim, to travel and to make friends.