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SUMMARY:Engineering antibodies for agonism: from Fc to Fab - Prof Mark Cra
 gg\, Professor in Experimental Cancer Biology\, University of Southampton
DTSTART:20251113T163000Z
DTEND:20251113T173000Z
UID:TALK236443@talks.cam.ac.uk
CONTACT:Liat Churley
DESCRIPTION:This Cambridge Immunology Network Seminar will take place on *
 Thursday 13 November 2025*\, starting at *4:30pm*\, in the Ground Floor Le
 cture Theatre\, Jeffrey Cheah Biomedical Centre (JCBC)\n\n*Speaker:* Prof 
 Mark Cragg\, Professor in Experimental Cancer Biology\, University of Sout
 hampton\n\n*Title:* “Engineering antibodies for agonism: from Fc to Fab
 ”\n\n\n*Talk abstract:* Antibodies are now a major source of new therape
 utics\, leveraging the ability of the immune system to improve treatment o
 utcomes. However\, agonistic antibodies directed to immunostimulatory rece
 ptors remain an untapped source for immunotherapy. The salient properties 
 of antibodies required to optimally agonise these receptors will be discus
 sed and potential strategies for leveraging them for immune activation and
  anti-tumour efficacy explored. Using TNFR superfamily receptors as a para
 digm\, the role of the Fc\, hinge and Fab affinity in delivering optimal r
 eceptor agonism will be outlined.\n \n*Bio:* Mark Cragg is Professor of Ex
 perimental Cancer Biology in the School of Cancer Sciences at the Universi
 ty of Southampton Faculty of Medicine. His research concerns how therapeut
 ics result in tumour regression with a focus on antibodies and small molec
 ules\, with a particular interest in Fc receptors and TNFR family members.
  The aim is to understand how these therapeutics delete tumour cells\, how
  resistance occurs\, and how it might be overcome through antibody enginee
 ring. Throughout the strategy undertaken is highly translational with iter
 ative cycling between in vitro experiments\, appropriate in vivo model sys
 tems\, and primary clinical material. He sits on advisory boards for sever
 al charities and institutes nationally and internationally.\n\n*Host*: Tim
  Halim\, CRUK\, Cambridge\n\nRefreshments will be available following the 
 seminar.\n
LOCATION: Lecture Theatre\, Jeffrey Cheah Biomedical Centre\, Cambridge Bi
 omedical Campus
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