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Molecular model of immunoglobulin
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Dr. rer. nat. Lesly Calderon

Principal Investigator at Institute of Allergy Research – Molecular Immunology

“ Our group research focuses on understanding the molecular mechanisms that regulate the processes of B cell activation and differentiation into antibody-secreting cells. ”

“ Our group research focuses on understanding the molecular mechanisms that regulate the processes of B cell activation and differentiation into antibody-secreting cells.”

Academic Pathway & Research Area

Lesly Calderon studied Biochemistry at the University of Havana in Cuba and performed her master’s studies at the same institution and in collaboration with the University of São Paolo, Brazil. She was a PhD student at the International Max Planck Research School of the Max Planck Institute of Immunobiology and Epigenetics in Freiburg. She completed her PhD in Prof. Thomas Boehm's laboratory. During her PhD, by in vivo engineering of thymic epithelial cells, she offered novel insights into the roles of specific factors from the thymic microenvironment in the homing of hematopoietic progenitors to the thymus, commitment to the T cell lineage, expansion, and acquisition of T cell identity.

In 2012, she joined the Lymphocyte Development group led by Prof. Mathias Merkenschlager at the MRC Laboratory of Medical Sciences, Imperial College London, where she investigated the role of the cohesin complex in neuronal transcriptional regulation. While fascinated with the molecular studies during her first postdoc, she delved her research by combining the newly gained molecular expertise with B cell Immunology. In 2018, she joined the laboratory of Prof. Meinrad Busslinger at the Research Institute of Molecular Pathology (IMP) in Vienna and studied several molecular mechanisms by which the transcription factor Pax5 mediates B cell development. She then established an in vivo model system for pooled sgRNA CRISPR/Cas9 screens to uncover new regulators of B-cell activation and differentiation into antibody-secreting cells.

Her research group aims to expand these studies by dissecting the molecular mechanisms through which these novel genes regulate the development of B cell responses. Furthermore, she plans to establish in vitro and in vivo model systems for CRISPR/Cas9 screening to discover new regulators of IgE-expressing B cells and IgE-secreting plasma cells, which are the major drivers of allergic diseases.

Fields of Work and Expertise

Molecular ImmunologyB Cell ResponsesTranscriptional RegulationLymphocyte Development

Professional Background

Since 2024

Principal Investigator Molecular Immunology group at Helmholtz Munich

2018-2023

Postdoctoral Fellow at research Institute of Molecular Pathology (IMP), Vienna, Austria

2012-2017

Postdoctoral Fellow at Imperial College London/MRC Laboratory of Medical Sciences, London, UK

2007-2011

PhD student at Max Planck Institute of Immunobiology and Epigenetics (MPI-IE), Freiburg, Germany

Honors and Awards

  • 2013
    International Human Frontier Science Program Organization (HFSP) Long-Term Fellowship

  • 2012
    European Molecular Biology Organization (EMBO) Long-Term Fellowship

  • 2012
    Hans-Spemann Prize, Faculty of Biology, University of Freiburg

  • 2012
    Otto-Westphal PhD Prize, German Society of Immunology

  • 2011
    Otto Hahn Medal, Max-Planck Society

  • 2006
    Cuban Academy of Sciences Annual Prize (group award)

  • 2005
    International Foundation for Science (IFS) Research Fellowship, Sweden

Publications

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Media Highlights

IMP loyable talent

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Building Stem Cell Niches from Scratch. Cell Press

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Networks and Affiliations

German Society of Immunology (DGfI)