Forschungsgruppen
KONG LAB
Brief description of the main research areas and objectives
The Kong Lab focuses on advancing the understanding and treatment of pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) through several key research areas:
KRAS Inhibition
The group uses a variety of preclinical models to replicate human PDAC and to predict its response to KRAS inhibition.
In Vivo Models of PDAC
The lab develops transgenic mouse models that reflect the molecular and histological diversity of PDAC. By modifying the cell of origin and genetic background, these models emulate key features of human PDAC, including desmoplastic reactions and immune-exclusion phenotypes.
Cancer Signal Simulation
The team investigates changes in cancer-related signalling during pancreatic organ regeneration and carcinogenesis, with a particular focus on KRAS dynamics and related signalling pathways in PDAC development, as well as adaptive responses following KRAS inhibition and other targeted treatments.
Patient-Derived PDAC Models and Therapeutic Testing
The lab develops patient-derived three-dimensional PDAC organoid models to predict potential therapeutic responses. These individualized models mimic the complexity of PDAC and provide a platform for studying treatment responses.
Team
Teamleiter
PD Dr. Dr. med. Bo Kong
Leitung wissenschaftliche Fachredaktion
Prof. Dr. rer. nat. Ingrid Herr
Senior-Wissenschaftler*innen und Adviser
PD Dr. Franco Fortunato (PhD)
Dr. rer. nat. Michael Schäfer
Technische Mitarbeiter*innen
Sascha Hinterkopf
Elvira Mohr
Doktorand*innen
Zining Bei
Zeynep Dal
Malte Hermes
Franz Li (HIWI/student asssistant)
Enis Salihi
Marcel Luca Schindler
Jing Yang
Jingxin Yin
Yiping Yin
Zhaiyue Xu
Sekretärin
Ellen Watson
Finanzierung
Drittmittel
DFG
DFG 2020 DFG 2022
Wilhelm Sander Stiftung
Wilhelm Sander Stiftung 2023
Deutsche Krebshilfe
Deutsche Krebshilfe 2023
Heidelberger Stiftung Chirurgie
Heidelberger Stiftung Chirurgie 2023
Else Kröner-Fresenius Stiftung
Else Kröner-Fresenius Stiftung 2024
Hans Beger Stiftung
Hans Beger Stiftung 2022
Ausgewählte Publikationen
- Yang X, Qiao Y, Sun Y, Abdelaal T, Schuck K, Abdelrasoul H, De La Torre C, Hermes M, Dong Y, Hu J, Fang C, Huang X, Kahlert C, Herr I, Michalski CW, Kong B.
Arp2/3 complex and β1 integrin drive an invasive front through extracellular matrix adaptation in pancreatic cancer.
International Journal of Cancer, 2026. - Li H, Zhang Z, Shi Z, Zhou S, Nie S, Yu Y, Zhang L, Sun Y, Fang C, Hu J, Niu Y, Schuck K, Wang L, Jiang K, Lu Z, Kahlert C, Roth S, Loos M, Herr I, Sunami Y, Kleeff J, Friess H, Reichert M, Dantes Z, Zou X, Michalski CW, Shen S, Kong B.
Disrupting AGR2/IGF1 paracrine and reciprocal signaling for pancreatic cancer therapy.
Cell Reports Medicine, 2025. - Sun Y, Qiao Y, Niu Y, Madhavan BK, Fang C, Hu J, Schuck K, Traub B, Friess H, Herr I, Michalski CW, Kong B.
ARP2/3 complex affects myofibroblast differentiation and migration in pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma.
International Journal of Cancer, 2025. - Zhang Z, Li H, Deng Y, Schuck K, Raulefs S, Maeritz N, Yu Y, Hechler T, Pahl A, Fernández-Sáiz V, Wan Y, Wang G, Engleitner T, Öllinger R, Rad R, Reichert M, Diakopoulos KN, Weber V, Li J, Shen S, Zou X, Kleeff J, Mihaljevic A, Michalski CW, Algül H, Friess H, Kong B.
AGR2-dependent nuclear import of RNA polymerase II constitutes a specific target of pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma in the context of wild-type p53.
Gastroenterology, 2021. - Zhao Y, Schoeps B, Yao D, Zhang Z, Schuck K, Tissen V, Jäger C, Schlitter AM, van der Kammen R, Ludwig C, D'Haese JG, Raulefs S, Maeritz N, Shen S, Zou X, Krüger A, Kleeff J, Michalski CW, Friess H, Innocenti M, Kong B.
mTORC1 and mTORC2 converge on the Arp2/3 complex to promote KrasG12D-induced acinar-to-ductal metaplasia and early pancreatic carcinogenesis.
Gastroenterology, 2021.
Gruppenfoto
