Ralph Gräsbeck Scholarship for Research in Laboratory Medicine

The 2024 Ralph Gräsbeck Scholarship for Research in Laboratory Medicine is awarded to PhD Daehong Kim at the University of Zurich, Institute of Experimental Immunology, Switzerland. The Ralph Gräsbeck Scholarship is granted to Kim  for his research “Decoding the Language of Immune Landscape on the Acute GvHD.”

This years Ralph Gräsbeck grant will support pioneering research aimed at unraveling the complexities of acute graft-versus-host disease (aGvHD) following allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplants (allo-HSCT).

Allo-HSCT remains the only curative option for various hematological cancers, yet aGvHD presents a major challenge, with a mortality rate of up to 70% within seven months of onset. Despite its severity, there are currently no effective treatments for aGvHD. The project seeks to address this critical gap by exploring the intricate relationship between genetic variants and immune system dysfunction in aGvHD.

Leveraging high-dimensional single-cell cytometry, the applicant has initiated a systemic characterization of immune cells in preclinical models of aGvHD. The study will investigate how genetic risk variants, identified through genetic array systems and associated with autoimmune GvHD, correlate with deep immune phenotypes in aGvHD patients. Utilizing advanced computational tools, multiplexed tissue imaging, and single-cell spectral flow cytometry, the research aims to reveal functional associations of these genetic mutations.

The outcomes of this research will provide invaluable insights into the pathogenesis of aGvHD and could pave the way for novel therapeutic targets, ultimately guiding the development of disease-modifying treatments. This project represents a significant stride toward improving patient outcomes and understanding the immune mechanisms underlying aGvHD.

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The Ralph Gräsbeck Scholarship is awarded every other year for a scientist who has defended his/her doctoral thesis during the past seven years in the field of laboratory medicine and continued innovative and high-quality research in the same field. The amount of the scholarship is 10.000 EUR and this is the fourth time the scholarship is awarded.