"Find your niche and believe in it"
A conversation with experts Bart Lambrecht and Diether Lambrechts on immune niches in cancer and inflammation
In the rapidly evolving fields of immunology and oncology, understanding the microenvironments where immune cells interact - so-called "immune niches" - is opening new avenues for research and treatment. Recognizing the importance of this emerging field, Bart Lambrecht and Diether Lambrechts, both leading researchers and organizing committee members, initiated the Immune Niches in Cancer & Inflammation Conference. Their goal: to bring together experts from both disciplines to share the latest insights and forge new collaborations. We spoke with Bart and Diether about why immune niches are such a hot topic, where the field is headed, and what they would do given unlimited funding.
Hi both, could you introduce yourself and your work?
Bart: “I’m a pulmonologist, and my research focuses on mucosal immunity, or how the immune system functions at barrier surfaces like the lungs. A significant part of my work touches on cancer, and since 2012, I’ve been the director of the VIB Center for Inflammation Research. Aside from research, I also continue to be involved in patient care.”
Diether: “I’m a bioengineer, deeply involved in genetic technologies and their applications to disease research. My lab mainly works with sequencing technologies in oncology, and through that, we became increasingly interested in immunology. Since 2014, I’m also the director of the VIB-KU Leuven Center for Cancer Biology.”
Immune niches in cancer and inflammation are gaining a lot of attention. Why is this such a hot topic now?
Bart: “Immunology has long focused on individual cells in vitro, with the assumption that understanding these isolated cells would reveal the full picture of the immune system. But in the last five years, we’ve realized that immune function is deeply tied to the cellular environment, where cells compete for resources. Cancer research has long known about niches — think of stem cell niches that allow certain cells to keep proliferating. Now, immunologists are discovering similar dynamics in immune responses, which is transforming how we study both cancer and inflammation. This conference is a great opportunity to merge expertise across disciplines. Cancer researchers are learning from immunologists and vice versa, shifting how we frame problems and approach solutions.”
Diether: “Exactly. Cancer is a genetic disease, but the immune system plays a huge role in how tumors grow and respond to treatment. We structured the conference to reflect this convergence, bringing together speakers from both fields. Understanding immune niches helps explain why some tumors evade immune attacks and why inflammation can either suppress or promote cancer. The overlap between these areas is expanding rapidly.”
Is getting researchers from different subfields to “speak the same language” challenging?
Diether: “Sometimes! Oncologists and cancer immunologists understand each other better than ever. But for fundamental immunologists — those outside applied research — it can still be tricky. They might struggle with certain oncology terminology, just as cancer researchers don’t always grasp the nuances of basic immunology.”
Bart: “That’s why conferences like this are so important. We really start to understand each other at the interface of discovery and application.”
Which sessions are you most excited about?
Bart: “I’m particularly looking forward to discussions on type 2 immunity in cancer. Traditionally, we’ve focused on immune cells which can kill tumor cells directly. But now we’re seeing that other immune cells, including macrophages, play crucial roles in shaping the tumor environment.”
Diether: “I’m actually really excited about the opening talks in each session, where speakers will reflect on how the field has evolved. As cancer researchers we entered the field of immunology quite late, so I think there’s a lot to learn from this historical perspective.”
How do you see the field evolving in the next five to ten years?
Bart: “I think we’ll see a revival of B-cell research. B-cells and natural antibodies play a crucial role in recognizing tumors, but they’ve been somewhat overlooked in recent years. These antibodies recognize post-translational modifications, rather than just linear protein sequences, which might open new therapeutic avenues.”
Diether: “Another emerging area is the tumor microbiome, which is the idea that tumors themselves harbor distinct microbial communities. Generally, I think it’s fascinating and challenging at the same time to see that the therapeutical spectrum in cancer for a patient is becoming wider and wider.”
Now onto some personal questions. Science is both collaborative and competitive. How do you balance the two?
Bart: “You can’t make real progress without engaging with your competitors. Modern science is too complex to go it alone, especially with the technologies we use today. Collaboration is the only way forward.”
Diether: “It’s also about mindset. There’s enough sunlight for everyone. Your goal should be to push the field forward, not to be the first one to do it.”
If you could give the next generation of scientists career advice, what would it be?
Bart: “Have a bold, original idea. It’s tough to secure funding, so you need something that sets you apart. Young researchers should also focus on making the most of their postdoc years. It really is a critical time for developing your scientific vision.”
Diether: “Find your niche and believe in it. Seek mentorship, but don’t give up if the road is tough. Persistence pays off.”
If you had unlimited funding, what research would you pursue?
Bart: “I’d study how tissues change over time in chronic disease. This is very expensive, but understanding how immune niches evolve during disease progression could lead to smarter, more predictive experiments that directly benefit patients.”
Diether: “I’d like to bring more clinicians into our research centers. The gap between lab discoveries and patient applications is shrinking, and having more medical professionals embedded in research would accelerate that process.”
Lastly, do you have any book or film recommendations?
Bart: “I recently read the book ‘Middeleeuwse medemensen’ [‘Medieval neighbors’ – ed.] from Jonas Roelens, which challenges stereotypes about medieval life and medicine. It’s actually very fitting since our conference is in Bruges, a beautiful medieval city.”
Diether: “I love the movie Gattaca. It’s a dystopian science fiction film about society being dictated by your genetics.”
Thank you both!
Don't forget to register for the Immune Niches in Cancer & Inflammation conference on 7-9 May in the lovely Bruges.
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