Laboratory of Immunological Research

The Laboratory of Immunological Research is a structural subdivision of the Scientific Department of the Center and has been operating since 2006.

The main areas of scientific activity of the laboratory include:

1. Research on primary immunodeficiencies (PID):
   • Identification, detection and diagnosis of PID using immunological tests and molecular genetic studies;
   • Studies aimed at verifying the pathogenicity of identified mutations;
   • Development of methodological and organizational approaches for implementing newborn screening procedures to enable early detection of PID in the Republic of Belarus;
2. Research on natural killer (NK) cells:
   • Development of methods for obtaining NK cells for cellular anti-tumor immunotherapy;
   • Production of NK cell-based products for immunotherapy in patients with acute myeloid leukemia, monitoring immune recovery after cellular immunotherapy;
   • Studies aimed at modifying NK cell properties using various genetically modified feeder cell lines, as well as research on generating CAR NK cells;
3. Research on immunophenotypic features of tumor cells in oncohematological diseases:
   • Immunophenotypic analysis of leukemic stem cell content in acute leukemia, assessment of their prognostic significance; introduction of new immunophenotypic markers for minimal residual disease (MRD) monitoring;
   • Implementation of immunophenotypic analysis methods in the diagnosis of myelodysplastic syndrome.

Staff of the Laboratory of Immunological Research:

	Vashkevich Ekaterina Petrovna Head of the Laboratory of Immunological Research Main topics of scientific research: Antitumor immunity, antitumor cellular immunotherapy, immunophenotypic diagnostics of oncohematological diseases +375 17 287-10-68 E-mail: immunology@oncology.by
Sharapova Svetlana Olegovna Leading Researcher, PhD in Biological Sciences	Research interests: Founder mutations in primary immunodeficiencies (PID) genes in Slavic children, frequency, geographic prevalence, range of manifestation; immunophenotypic lymphocyte markers in assessing immune dysregulation severity in children with genetically confirmed PID; genetic landscape of severe combined immunodeficiency in Eastern European children.
Sakovich Inga Sergeevna Researcher	Research interests: Molecular diagnostics of primary immunodeficiencies, functional validation of novel variants in known genes; identification and validation of new genes responsible for inborn errors of immunity in children with oncological and hematological manifestations.
Kupchinskaya Alexandra Nikolaevna Researcher	Research interests: Immunopathology, diagnostics of primary immunodeficiencies, flow cytometry in immunology.
Ermilova Tatyana Igorevna  Researcher	Research interests: Quantification of drug concentrations and metabolites using HPLC; assessment of chemosensitivity in leukemic cells.

Equipment:

The laboratory is equipped with modern high-tech devices enabling cell culture work, various functional tests and immunophenotypic cell analysis, including: laminar cabinets, CO₂ incubators, upright and inverted microscopes, DxFLEX flow cytometer (Beckman Coulter), Leica SE confocal microscope.