Affiliation: Translational Radiobiology, Department of Radiation Oncology, Universitätsklinikum Erlangen, Friedrich-Alexander-Universität Erlangen-Nürnberg

Dr. Michael Rückert is a researcher in the Translational Radiobiology group of Prof. Gaipl at the Department of Radiation Oncology, Universitätsklinikum Erlangen. During his doctoral studies, he researched the induction of systemic anti-tumor immune responses through a combination of local hypofractionated radiotherapy, immune checkpoint inhibition, and an experimental tumor cell vaccine generated by inactivating tumor cells with high hydrostatic pressure. After receiving his Dr. rer. nat. in 2020, he now leads the group 'Systemic Anti-Tumor Immune Responses'. His group is particularly interested in investigating how radiotherapy and other treatments modulate the immune phenotype of tumor cells. In particular, they are investigating the impact of poorly understood immune checkpoint molecules on the immune suppression of tumors.