Scott Engels
Research
My research focuses on understanding how tumor cells interact with their surrounding immune and stromal microenvironment and how these interactions influence colorectal cancer development and progression. I use advanced spatial transcriptomics technologies to characterize the cellular and molecular processes underlying these interactions while preserving their spatial context within the tumor. This enables me to study how the tumor microenvironment is organized and how its composition and interactions relate to tumor progression and clinical outcomes.
A particular focus of my research is early-stage colorectal cancer, specifically pT1 tumors that are often detected through population screening. Although these tumors can often be treated by endoscopic resection, some patients remain at risk of disease progression or metastasis and may therefore require additional treatment. A better understanding of the biology of these tumors could help identify patients at risk and support more personalized treatment decisions.
Curriculum vitae
After completing my Bachelor’s in Bio-Pharmaceutical Sciences at Leiden University, I continued with the Master’s programme in Bio-Pharmaceutical Sciences to pursue my passion for biomedical research. During my first Master’s research internship in the Aging and Immunity group of Dr. Amanda Foks at the Leiden Academic Centre for Drug Research (LACDR), I used single-cell RNA sequencing to investigate age-associated auto-immunity in atherosclerosis. This sparked my interest in genomic immunology and the use of advanced technologies to study the immune system.
For my second Master’s research internship, I therefore joined Dr. Karin Pelka’s group at the Gladstone-UCSF Institute of Genomic Immunology in San Francisco (USA), where I used a state-of-the-art spatial transcriptomics technology (MERFISH) to investigate immune hubs: multicellular communities of immune and tumor cells that cooperate to promote anti-tumor responses. I completed my Master’s degree summa cum laude, and my Master’s research was recognized with five thesis awards.
In March 2024, I joined the Cancer-Immune-Microbiome group and Cancer Immunogenomics group as a PhD candidate, where I use spatial transcriptomics to investigate colorectal cancer and contribute to a better understanding of its biology and clinical management.
