HaikaLab studies why lung cancers resist immunotherapy and targeted treatments, and how these resistance mechanisms can be overcome. Our goal is to identify new therapeutic strategies that enable more durable treatment responses. Led by Assistant Professor Heidi Haikala, the group operates at Tampere University and the University of Helsinki.
Our research focuses on the interactions between cancer cells, immune cells and the tumor microenvironment. We investigate how tumor heterogeneity and cancer-associated fibroblasts influence antitumor immunity and treatment resistance. Alongside these local interactions, we explore how systemic immune responses shape the effectiveness of cancer therapies.
We combine single-cell and spatial profiling of patient samples with functional studies in patient-derived models. These include tumor organoids, immune cell co-cultures, and tumor-on-chip platforms. At Tampere, we also develop 3D bioprinted models to reconstruct the tumor microenvironment and study its role in therapy response.
By connecting clinical observations with experimental models, we aim to uncover mechanisms of resistance, identify predictive biomarkers and evaluate new treatment combinations. Our work also advances human-based research methods for studying cancer and developing precision medicine approaches.
Contact
Heidi Haikala, PhD, MBA
Principal Investigator
heidi.haikala@tuni.fi