Rana Kamel Elnady

Hello, I’m Rana Kamel Elnady, an immune-oncology researcher. I graduated with a bachelor's degree in pharmacy from Mansoura University in Egypt in 2018. In 2022, I had my master's degree in cancer and therapeutics from Queen Mary University of London, supported by the Chevening Scholarship.

My ultimate goal is to develop more effective cancer immunotherapies with fewer side effects than traditional cancer treatments, especially for aggressive solid tumors. The Prof. Dr. Mahfouz Kassem Scholarship gave me the opportunity to work on a unique project: “Exploring Cell-Free Cancer Immunotherapy: Harnessing Extracellular Vesicles from Chimeric Antigen Receptor T Cells for Safer Cancer Treatment”..

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The portal of Cologne Cathedral

My project was a partnership with Prof. Bernd Giebel’s lab and Prof. Helmut Hanenberg’s lab at Universität Duisburg-Essen. My general project involves isolating T cells from the blood of healthy donors and engineering them with chimeric antigen receptor constructs. This construct directs the T cells to target and kill tumor cells. You can think of the CAR construct as a lighthouse guiding the T cells directly to the cancer cells, which have developed ways to evade the immune system and escape detection.

CAR T cell therapy has been revolutionary in the field of immune-oncology. Despite its great success in treating hematological malignancies, its impact on solid tumors has been modest due to the suppressive tumor microenvironment and associated adverse effects such as cytokine release syndrome.

In our project, I utilized the extracellular vesicles secreted by CAR T cells as a safer alternative to the CAR T cells themselves. These EVs retain cytotoxic activity against cancer cells, in some years time potentially offering a safer, cell-free approach to cancer treatment

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The Grugapark in Essen

Although it was a hectic project, striving to achieve my desired results within the planned three months and sometimes working on weekends, I was thrilled to experience German culture up close. In my experience, one notable difference between the German and Egyptian culture is the approach to leisure activities. In Germany, outdoor activities like hiking, cycling, and spending time in nature are very popular, and there's a strong emphasis on enjoying the outdoors. In Egypt, leisure activities tend to be more centered around social gatherings, family, and community events.

One moment that particularly stood out to me was the practice of separating waste into various categories for recycling. In Germany, the commitment to environmental sustainability is deeply ingrained in daily life, and the precision of waste sorting was something new to me. While not exactly a ‘shock,’ it was certainly a cultural difference that I had to adjust to.

I truly enjoyed exploring the German landscapes and cities. I visited various cities, including Cochem with its beautiful castle and charming atmosphere, Bonn, the historic former capital of Germany, and Kassel, where I enjoyed climbing the steps of the Hercules monument. I also explored Düsseldorf, a famous shopping hub on the Rhine River, and Cologne with its magnificent cathedral architecture.

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The Deutsches Eck in Koblenz

Bremen had a friendly vibe, while Koblenz offered unforgettable amazing moments at the Deutsches Eck, where the Mosel River joins the Rhine and the iconic Emperor William monument. My final destination was Kettwig, where I appreciated the peaceful atmosphere and the friendliness, smiles, and warmth of the people. Regarding the culture, I appreciated the efficiency and organization of public transportation, which made getting around very convenient. I also admired the above mentioned emphasis on recycling and environmental sustainability, which is deeply integrated into daily life.

As for the German language, I didn’t learn to speak it during my stay as English was the primary language used in the lab. However, I would definitely recommend learning the local language if one plans to stay for an extended period, as it enhances the overall experience and integration into the community.

I sincerely thank Prof. Giebel and Prof. Hanenberg for their guidance and support during these three months. They provided me with the workspace and tools needed to achieve these promising results and finalize the project in such a short time. I also want to thank my teammates, Maren and Tobias for their support and time. A special warm thanks goes to Mohamed Elbeltagy, my direct supervisor and teammate. Thank you for your time, effort, support, passion, and belief in me and my capabilities.

Thanks to you, many hurdles were lifted from my shoulders, and without your expertise, I wouldn’t have reached this level of the project in just three months. Thank you for sharing your knowledge with me and being an excellent example of what a scientist should be. Lastly, my heartfelt thanks go to my family and Ola, my backbone and cheerleaders, who continuously support me in pursuing my dreams. Without them, I wouldn’t have made it through many hard moments.

I highly recommend the Prof. Dr. Mahfouz Kassem Scholarship for Egyptian scientists with exciting research ideas they wish to pursue in collaboration with labs in Germany. I am confident that this scholarship will provide you with the same support and assistance that I received, helping to turn your ideas into reality.