What: B cells are essential for protective immunity but can also contribute to pathological

responses, as seen in allergies, autoimmunity, and certain malignancies. This project

investigates how antigen recognition by the B-cell receptor triggers intracellular signaling

cascades that drive B-cell activation, survival, and differentiation into antibody-secreting

plasma cells.

Why: Current B-cell therapies often deplete B cells indiscriminately rather than selectively

targeting disease-specific clones. This can compromise immunity, as B cells are critical for

producing antibodies in responses to pathogens and vaccines. Advancing therapeutic

strategies therefore requires a molecular understanding of the mechanisms that initiate and

sustain pathological B-cell responses.

How: Using an interdisciplinary strategy that combines advanced flow cytometry,

precision-engineered antigens, and single-cell analyses, I will define the physicochemical

requirements for B-cell activation and investigate how malignant B cells exploit this

mechanism to promote their survival and proliferation in an otherwise tightly regulated

microenvironment.

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