Leiden University Medical Center (LUMC) has opened a dedicated department for CAR-T cell therapy, bringing care, research and expertise in this rapidly developing field together in one place. The new department, officially opened on 24 September, marks another step in the development of advanced cell therapies in Leiden.
CAR-T therapy uses a patient’s own immune cells to recognise and attack diseased cells. T cells are collected from the patient’s blood and modified in the laboratory to become CAR-T cells. Once returned to the patient, these cells can identify their specific target and attack it.
The therapy is already used to treat certain types of blood cancer, but research is exploring its potential for a growing number of diseases, including autoimmune disorders. The LUMC is involved in research into these new applications and aims to make CAR-T therapy available to more patients in the future.
Bringing expertise together
The new department brings together physicians, nurses, researchers and laboratory specialists working on CAR-T therapy. According to LUMC haematologist Tim Dekker, bringing CAR-T care together in one location will help strengthen both clinical expertise and research.
The department also supports the LUMC’s broader focus on developing innovative forms of cellular therapy. By combining patient care with research, the LUMC aims to accelerate the development of CAR-T treatments and explore how the technology can be applied to a wider range of diseases.
The opening of the dedicated CAR-T department further strengthens Leiden’s position in cell and gene therapy, connecting clinical expertise and research within the wider life sciences ecosystem of Leiden Bio Science Park.
