prof. dr. P.J. (Paul) Coffer
prof. dr. P.J. (Paul) Coffer

- Stem Cells
- Research
Research Programs
Biography
Biography
Paul Coffer studied Biochemistry at Oxford University and obtained his PhD from the Ludwig Institute for Cancer Research in London, UK where he identified Protein Kinase B (PKB/AKT), a critical intracellular hub regulating multiple cellular processes.
He then relocated to the Hubrecht Laboratory for Developmental Biology and Stem Cell Research. This postdoctoral research was involved in investigating the mechanisms by which hematopoietic cytokines can regulate gene expression through transcription factor phosphorylation.
Paul moved to the Department of Respiratory Medicine at the University Medical Centre Utrecht to initiate his own research group. During this period, work involved studying the role of intracellular signal transduction pathways in regulating both the production and function of leukocytes. Work in his group also demonstrated that PKB-mediated phosphorylation of Forkhead transcription factors (FOXO) was critical for the regulation of leukocyte proliferation and survival. These studies laid the groundwork for his further research into the regulation of hematopoietic stem cell-fate decisions.
In 2005 Paul Coffer was appointed Professor of Pediatric Immunology moving to the Wilhelmina Children's Hospital (UMCU). During this time research was expanded to investigate the molecular mechanisms regulating mesenchymal stem stem cell (MSC) function and generation of induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSC) as models of disease. Furthermore, studies investigating the molecular mechanisms underlying T-regulatory cell function were initiated.
In 2010 he moved to the UMC Utrecht Center for Molecular Medicine (CMM) and in 2013 worked at Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center (New York) for 14 months in Sasha Rudensky's Lab.
Current research is driven by both fundamental and clinical questions inersecting the fuelds of tumor biology and immunology. This is focussed on identifying pathways that can be exploited to selectively target cells in both cancer and (auto)immunity. This translational research applies a broad range of state-of-the-art molecular and cell biologival appraoches as well as in vivo and ex-vivo models of disease.
http://www.cofferlab.science/
Side Activities
2019- Board of trustees, World Wide Cancer Research
2016-Study Section member for both Fundamental and Translational applications for the Dutch Rheumatology Foundation (ReumaFonds; around 100 grant applications per year)
2016/2018 Study section member for the Swedish Research Council (SRC), consolidator grants for established investigators.
2016 Study section member for National Institutes of Health (NIH/NIAD), Immunology review branch.
2016 Advisory panel member and site visit for quinquennial review of Molecular Mechanisms of Disease Master’s program, Radboud University (Nijmegen, The Netherlands)
2014- Hubrecht Institute selection committee for new junior and senior principle investigators
2013-2018 Study section member for the Worldwide Cancer Research (WWCR/AICR; more than 800 international grant applications submitted each year)
2011/2014 Scientific Advisory Board Member and site visit, ViB Institute of Inflammation & Immunity (Ghent, Belgium).
2008- Committee member Dutch Society for Stem Cell Research (DSSCR) and chair 2010 & 2015
2011-2012 Study section member for Netherlands Organization for Scientific Research (NWO) collaborative TOP grants for senior PIs and largest national project grant applications
2008 Site visit for Leukemia Research Foundation UK (Immunodiagnostics Unit, John Radcliff Hospital, Oxford)
2007 Study section member Portugese Foundation of Science & Technology (FCT)
2005- Section Editor, Journal of Leukocyte Biology
Regular reviewer for journals: Nature, Science, Science Immunology, Nature Cell Biology, Nature Immunology, Nature Communications, Immunity, Journal of Clinical Investigation, Journal of Experimental Medicine, EMBO Journal, Blood, Oncogene, Molecular Cell Biology, Journal of Biological Chemistry, Journal of Immunology.
Ad hoc reviewer of grants for: National Institutes of Health (NIH), Dutch Scientific Organisation (NWO), Dutch Cancer Foundation (KWF), Swedish Research Council (SRC); Cancer Research UK (CRUK), Wellcome Trust UK, BBRC UK, Leukemia Research Foundation (LRF), Swiss National Science Foundation (SNF), Portugese Foundation of Science & Technology (FCT).
Research Output (185)
Mocholi Enric, Russo Laura, Gopal Keshav, Ramstead Andrew G, Hochrein Sophia M, Vos Harmjan R, Geeven Geert, Adegoke Adeolu O, Hoekstra Anna, van Es Robert M, Pittol Jose Ramos, Vastert Sebastian, Rutter Jared, Radstake Timothy, van Loosdregt Jorg, Berkers Celia, Mokry Michal, Anderson Colin C, O'Connell Ryan M, Vaeth Martin, Ussher John, Burgering Boudewijn M T, Coffer Paul J 1 Jun 2023, In: Cell Reports. 42 , p. 1-24
Jansen Suze A, Cutilli Alessandro, de Koning Coco, van Hoesel Marliek, Sierra Leire Saiz, Nierkens Stefan, Mokry Michal, Nieuwenhuis Edward E S, Hanash Alan M, Mocholi Enric, Coffer Paul J, Lindemans Caroline A 30 Apr 2023,
Peeters Janneke G C, Boltjes Arjan, Scholman Rianne C, Vervoort Stephin J, Coffer Paul J, Mokry Michal, Vastert Sebastiaan J, van Wijk Femke, van Loosdregt Jorg 10 Jan 2023, In: Rheumatology (Oxford, England). 62 , p. 2887-2897 11 p.
Roukens M Guy, Frederiks Cynthia L, Seinstra Danielle, Braccioli Luca, Khalil Antoine A, Pals Cornelieke, De Neck Simon, Bornes Laura, Beerling Evelyne, Mokry Michal, de Bruin Alain, Westendorp Bart, van Rheenen Jacco, Coffer Paul J 2021, In: Oncogene. 40 , p. 6343-6353 11 p.
Lourenço Ana Rita, Roukens M. Guy, Seinstra Danielle, Frederiks Cynthia L., Pals Cornelieke E., Vervoort Stephin J., Margarido Andreia S., van Rheenen Jacco, Coffer Paul J. 7 Feb 2020, In: Nature Communications. 11 , p. 1-18
Govers Anita M A P, Wiggers Caroline R M, van Boxtel Ruben, Mokry Michal, Nieuwenhuis Edward E S, Creyghton Menno P, Bartels Marije, Coffer Paul J Aug 2019, In: HemaSphere. 3
Wiggers Caroline R M, Govers Anita M A P, Lelieveld Daphne, Egan David A, Zwaan C Michel, Sonneveld Edwin, Coffer Paul J, Bartels Marije 1 May 2019, In: Pediatric Blood & Cancer. 66
Fleskens Veerle, Minutti Carlos M., Wu Xingmei, Wei Ping, Pals Cornelieke E.G.M., McCrae James, Hemmers Saskia, Groenewold Vincent, Vos Harm Jan, Rudensky Alexander, Pan Fan, Li Huabin, Zaiss Dietmar M., Coffer Paul J. 26 Mar 2019, In: Cell Reports. 26 , p. 3600-3612.e6
Vervoort Stephin J., de Jong Olivier G., Guy Roukens M., Frederiks Cynthia L., Vermeulen Jeroen F., Lourenço Ana Rita, Bella Laura, Vidakovic Ana Tufegdzic, Sandoval José L., Moelans Cathy, van Amersfoort Miranda, Dallman Margaret J., Bruna Alejandra, Caldas Carlos, Nieuwenhuis Edward, van der Wall Elsken, Derksen Patrick, van Diest Paul, Verhaar Marianne C., Lam Eric W.F., Mokry Michal, Coffer Paul J. 3 Dec 2018, In: eLife. 7
Braccioli Luca, Vervoort Stephin J., Puma Gianmarco, Nijboer Cora H., Coffer Paul J. 1 Dec 2018, In: Stem Cell Research. 33 , p. 110-119 10 p.