Group Leader
Phuong-Hien Nguyen, PhD
hien.nguyen@uni-koeln.de
Hien is a cancer cell biologist with training from Heidelberg University, the German Cancer Research Center (DKFZ), and the University of Cologne. Her research focuses on uncovering mechanistic signal transduction pathways involved in the crosstalk between tumor cells and the surrounding microenvironment, aiming to translate these fundamental insights into potential new therapeutic strategies for cancer treatment.
Assistants
Rebekka Zölzer, BTA
rebekka.zoelzer@uk-koeln.de
Rebekka brings deep expertise in in vivo experimentation and contributes to a wide range of scientific projects in the lab. She supports and maintains laboratory operations to ensure an efficient research environment.
Laura Wortmann, student assistant
laura.wortmann@uk-koeln.de
Laura graduated from Maastricht University and assists the laboratory with different cell culture and molecular techniques.
Doctoral Students
Mila Lobastova, MSc.
liudmila.lobastova1@uk-koeln.de
Mila studied Biology in Bonn and Cologne, where she developed a strong interest in cancer immunology. She is currently exploring the mechanistic role of immune checkpoints in leukemogenesis, with the goal of improving the efficacy of immunotherapy for B cell lymphoma.
Luca Schreurs, MSc.
luca.schreurs1@uk-koeln.de
Luca graduated from Düsseldorf and University College London, with a focus on Neurosciences. His current research investigates the intricate immune landscape of brain tumors and metastases, aiming to uncover insights that could inform future therapeutic strategies.
Thanh Tung Truong, MD, MSc.
thanh.truong@uk-koeln.de
Tung is a physician-scientist and pulmonologist with clinical and research training from Vietnam, South Korea, and Australia. His PhD project focuses on the role of macrophage-associated protein tyrosine kinases in promoting lung tumor progression.
Master & Bachelor Students
Viktoriia Nikolaeva, BSc.
viktoriia.nikolaeva@uk-koeln.de
Viktoriia is an enthusiastic Master’s student in Biochemistry and Molecular Medicine at the University of Cologne. Her thesis project focuses on T cell–mediated immunity against B cell lymphoma, aiming to advance immune-based lymphoma therapies.
Patrick Hölker, BSc.
patrick.hoelker@uk-koeln.de
Patrick is currently enrolled in the Master’s program in Molecular Biotechnology at Esslingen University of Applied Sciences. His thesis investigates tumor-intrinsic signaling and tumor microenvironment communication mediated by kinase signaling in macrophages.
Hannah Kirchgässner
Hannah is a Bachelor’s student at the University of Cologne with an interest in exploring how immune checkpoint molecules affect lymphomagenesis.
MD Students
Jessica Barz
Jessica is a medical student at the University of Cologne, currently pursuing her doctoral thesis in the tumor microenvironment with a focus on immunological mechanisms in brain tumors.
Associated Postdocs
Trong-Hieu Nguyen, PhD
trong-hieu.nguyen@uk-koeln.de
Hieu studied Mathematics and Computer Sciences in Vietnam and France, and earned his PhD in Mathematics from RWTH Aachen University. His work focuses on the computational analysis of complex omics data, with a particular interest in integrative single-cell analytics.
