Fascinated by the ingenuity of the human body and the search for a cancer remedy, bio-engineer Xenia Geeraerts decided on an academic career at a young age. Thanks to her ambitions and determination, she was able to win funding with which to complete her pioneering doctoral research. The continuity of her current cancer research depends on funding as well. Or how some financial support for young potentials in science makes a world of difference and improves the prospects for cancer patients.
What made you start a doctorate after graduating as a bio-engineer?
"I studied Biomedical Engineering at VUB. In the 3rd year of my bachelor programme, I followed the course on Tumour immunology run by professor De Baetselier and professor Van Ginderachter. We learned how diseases such as cancer began and the role of the immune system in the evolution of cancer. I found that so interesting that I did my Master’s dissertation under the supervision of prof Van Ginderachter. Then he also asked me to stay on for a doctorate. Initially I rejected the idea, because based on the Homo Universalis philosophy I wanted to study Medicine as well and had also passed my entrance exam. However, after careful consideration I ended up choosing a doctorate. In fact I was not keen on the idea of studying for another seven years and the urge to delve deeper into the impact of the immune system on the tumour was too big (laughs)."
What was the subject of your doctorate?
"During my doctorate I did a deep and difficult study of the role of lactic acid in tumours. My doctorate questioned whether certain immune cells that are also present in the tumour acquire certain characteristics due to lactic acid. In the end we found out that the lactic acid produced by cancer cells means that cells in our immune system acquire more pro-tumoral characteristics, which means that they assist the cancer cells."
Thanks to your doctorate you also won the Unesco award for Women in Science, how did that help you in your journey?
"The Women in Science prize, awarded by Unesco and L’Oréal, meant I was able to embark on my doctorate. In addition, I also became a figurehead for women in science. I think it is wonderful that I can encourage girls to continue studying science."
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Xenia Geeraerts: "My urge to delve deeper into the impact of the immune system on tumours was big."
Do you have tips for new doctoral students from your own experience?
"There are many ups and downs when you do a doctorate. You hit your head against the wall nine times before picking yourself up and discovering that it does work on the tenth attempt. It is tough, you find out a lot about yourself and sometimes ask yourself: “Why am I doing this?”. Sometimes I went to the lab for two days and slept there. I stayed there for experiments that did not always produce the anticipated results (based on hypotheses). On such occasions you do learn a lot at a scientific level and you develop a strong foundation. The most important thing is determination, a quality that never fails to come in handy. However challenging things become: you must keep going, you must never give up and everything will turn out alright. The feeling at the end is then worth even more. It was also helpful that my promotor, professor Van Ginderachter, supported and encouraged me, that I had colleagues going through the same thing and that I could count on my friends and family."
How did things continue after your doctorate? I read that you recently started a post-doctorate to give patients with glioblastoma, an aggressive brain tumour, hope of a better prognosis.
“During my doctorate I did fundamental research into tumour development. Following my doctorate I wanted to do more translational research, the link between fundamental research and the clinical research that is directed at patients. I am now working as a post-doc under the supervision of professor Neyns and professor Tuyaerts in the Medical Oncology department (VUB/UZ Brussels), where, using research on samples from patients receiving immunotherapy, we are trying to understand why the therapy is effective on some patients, but not with others. Together we are working on glioblastoma, an extremely aggressive brain cancer that is difficult to treat, and offers little chance of survival. It is diagnosed in hundreds of Belgians every year. We want to discover whether the so-called killer T-cells, the body’s immune cells that can deactivate cancer cells, can be multiplied and genetically modified. The intention is to return them afterwards to the patients who are being treated with immunotherapy and who generally display a first influx of those killer T-cells, but in bigger quantities and well-equipped to fight the tumour.”
The direct administering of immunotherapy in the brain is not being done anywhere else in the world. With this unique and life-saving research, Xenia hopes to be able to improve the chances of survival for patients with recurrent glioblastoma. However, this is only possible with financial support.
“We are looking for more financial resources in order to develop this research further. The fact that research depends on grants and you need to satisfy many criteria is the only downside in academia. You already need a certain amount of funding to generate initial data and to win competitive grants further down the line for the rest of the research.”
"Scientific research requires plenty of money in order to finance laboratory material and personnel. Fortunately there is also significant interest in our research among Master’s and PhD students. Cancer research certainly attracts lots of attention: everyone knows someone in their family who is affected."
What are your ambitions?
"In any case I am keen to remain active in the field of tumour immunology. I want to take the research into glioblastoma even further and I believe strongly in the interaction between research and applied therapy under the supervision of professor Neyns. The cancer-cell mechanisms are so fascinating, it is ingenious how your immune system can lead you up the garden path. It’s so exciting to be smarter in standing up to cancer cells, to find strategies and therapies to combat them and in doing so to help the patient. My heart lies in our unique academic research at VUB, so I am hoping for opportunities to continue. The great, ultimate solution for cancer is still a long way off, but for me, being able to lay a small piece of the puzzle is the big motivation behind wanting to continue."
Support Xenia’s research
Funds are still required for Xenia to accomplish her research. That is why, as part of its fifty year anniversary, the VUB Scientific Support Fund is doing a special appeal to make this possible. By supporting a young researcher like Xenia, the fund aims to give the pioneering work and exploratory research every opportunity and, in doing so, give patients hope of a better prognosis.
Become a donator in this unique and life-saving research by transferring your donation to the account number BE51 0013 6779 3562 at VUB, with the reference ‘Gift 167’. Donations are tax deductible as from €40. www.vub.be/foundation/donate
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