Christina Metoikidou was the 2025 recipient of an EACR-The Mark Foundation Postdoctoral Fellowship, funding that is awarded for a period of up to three years and support excellent postdoctoral researchers in laboratories throughout Europe.
She is a Postdoctoral Research Fellow at the Netherlands Cancer Institute in the Netherlands, where she seeks to understand the diversity of dysfunctional CD8 T-cell states in human cancer and to identify the mechanisms that regulate their function.
We recently caught up with her to hear about the progress she has made in her research during this first year of her fellowship.
Can you tell us about the topic of the research you are undertaking during your fellowship?
My research focuses on understanding the diversity of dysfunctional CD8 T-cell states in human cancer and identifying the mechanisms that regulate their function. By combining cellular, molecular, transcriptomic, and metabolic analyses, I aim to define the factors that distinguish more functional from less functional exhausted T-cell populations. Ultimately, my goal is to identify and test novel therapeutic targets, including cytokines, chemokines, metabolites, and cell-cell interaction pathways, that can enhance T-cell function and improve anti-tumor immunity.
At this stage, how do you think the fellowship will be beneficial to your research and your career?
This fellowship has provided crucial support for the development of my research programme and has allowed me to pursue new ideas with a high degree of scientific independence. The project is generating new insights into the regulation of distinct exhausted T-cell states and is helping establish a framework for identifying strategies to restore T-cell function and metabolic fitness in cancer, which will be a main focus of interest as an independent researcher. In addition, the fellowship has contributed significantly to my professional development through networking opportunities, increased scientific visibility, and interactions with peer researchers in the field. Together, these elements are helping me to build the foundation for a future independent research career in the field of cancer immunology and immunometabolism.
What were the highlights from the first year of your fellowship?
One of the most rewarding aspects of the first year of the fellowship has been seeing some of my initial hypotheses supported by experimental data. It has been particularly exciting to uncover distinct dysfunctional CD8⁺ T-cell states with different functional and metabolic properties, opening new directions for the project. The fellowship has also provided valuable opportunities for scientific and professional development. Attending the EACR Congress and The Mark Foundation Symposium in New York allowed me to learn from leading researchers, engage with fellowship network, and discuss my work with peers in the field. I have also greatly enjoyed supervising students in the laboratory, which has been a rewarding learning experience. Finally, exploring the field of immunometabolism, a new area for me, has broadened my scientific perspective and enriched the scope of my research.
EACR-The Mark Foundation Postdoctoral Fellowships
The goals of this funding programme are to support talented EACR members during their postdoctoral training, to advance innovative areas of cancer research, and to continue to grow a global network of scientists with diverse expertise. Learn more here.
About The Mark Foundation for Cancer Research
The Mark Foundation for Cancer Research, a charitable organization based in New York City, actively partners with scientists worldwide to accelerate research that will transform cancer prevention, diagnosis, and treatment. Since 2017, The Mark Foundation has awarded over $300 million in grants to investigators at more than 120 academic institutions across 18 countries, with research programs focusing on early career support, team science collaboration, new technology innovation, and therapeutics discovery. Additionally, The Mark Foundation maintains a growing portfolio of investments in early-stage cancer diagnostics and therapeutics companies, including several that have transitioned from grantee projects into commercial development. To learn more, please visit www.themarkfoundation.org.
