Fanny Amrein, MD PhD in the laboratory of Prof. Olivier Michielin (UNIGE) – (Immuno oncology.)

Deciphering the role of TIM 1 expressing B lymphocytes in antitumor immunity

This MD PhD fellowship was awarded under the national MD PhD fellowship program of the Swiss Academy of Medical Sciences (SAMS) in January 2026 for a duration of three years. Fanny Amrein conducts her work in the laboratory of Prof. Olivier Michielin at the University of Geneva.

Dr. Fanny Amrein’s research project focuses on the still poorly understood role of certain immune system cells, known as B cells, in skin cancer of the melanoma type.

While immunotherapies have transformed the care of many patients, some of them still do not respond to these treatments. Better understanding why remains a major challenge.

At the interface between basic research and clinical practice, this project aims to identify how specific subpopulations of B cells interact with tumor cells and other immune cells, and how they may influence the response to existing immunotherapies.

By combining experimental models and analysis of patient data, this research could pave the way for new predictive markers of treatment response and even new therapeutic strategies, directly benefiting patients with melanoma.