Saru Basnet

I hold a PhD in oncoimmunology from the Cancer Gene Therapy Group at the University of Helsinki, where I focused on developing innovative cancer therapies using oncolytic adenoviruses. My doctoral thesis, titled "Cancer Immunotherapy with Oncolytic Viruses Armed with Cytokines and Fusion Proteins," involved designing and conducting preclinical studies aimed at advancing potential clinical applications. I am deeply passionate about cancer research and thrive in collaborative environments where I can contribute to impactful discoveries and the development of groundbreaking therapies. Throughout my academic journey, I have cultivated key skills such as persistence, adaptability, and effective problem-solving under pressure. I am structured and goal-oriented, with a disciplined approach to achieving tangible results. My experience includes mentoring PhD students, managing multiple projects, and excelling in fast-paced, high-stakes situations. Outside of my professional life, I enjoy practicing yoga and meditation, which help me maintain a calm, optimistic, and confident outlook. I am eager to connect with like-minded professionals and explore opportunities for collaboration in advancing cancer research.

• Orion Research Foundation's grant, 2021
• Ida Montin Foundation grant, 2021
• Ida Montin Foundation grant, 2022
• Minerva Foundation, 2022
• Paulo Foundation, 2022
• Biomedicine grant, 2024
• The Medicine Fund and Doctoral school in health sciences - Travel grant, 2021

• Yoga & Mediation
• Swimming
• Reading
• Travelling

• Date of Birth: 11/22/92
• Gender: Female
• Nationality: Finnish (origin: Nepali)

Society for Immunotherapy of Cancer, Poster presentation, 2023

Translational Immunology research programme (TRIMM) day, Research Presentation, 2022/2023

European Society for Medical Oncology (ESMO) Congress, Poster presentation, 2022

Basnet, S., et al. (2023). Overcoming effector T cell exhaustion in ovarian cancer ascites with a novel adenovirus encoding for a MUC1 bispecific antibody engager and IL-2 cytokine. Molecular Therapy - https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ymthe.2024.07.009., Saru Basnet, Mirte Van der Heijden, Dafne C.A. Quixabeira, Elise Jirovec, Susanna A.M. Grönberg-Vähä-Koskela, James H.A. Clubb, Anna Kanerva, Santeri Pakola, Lyna Haybout, Victor Arias, Otto Hemminki, Tatiana Kudling, Sadia Zafar, Victor Cervera-Carrascon, Joao M. Santos, Akseli Hemminki. 

Oncolytic adenovirus coding for bispecific T cell engager against human MUC-1 potentiates T cell response against solid tumors., Basnet S, Santos JM, Quixabeira DCA, Clubb JHA, Grönberg-Vähä-Koskela SAM, Arias V, Pakola S, Kudling TV, Heiniö C, Havunen R, Cervera-Carrascon V, Sorsa S, Anttila M, Kanerva A, Hemminki A. Oncolytic adenovirus coding for bispecific T cell engager against human MUC-1 potentiates T cell response against solid tumors. 

 Oncolytic adenovirus decreases the proportion of TIM-3 + subset of tumor-infiltrating CD8 + T cells with correlation to improved survival in patients with cancer. Journal for ImmunoTherapy of Cancer, 10(2). 10.1136/jitc-2021-003490., Liikanen, I., Basnet, S., Quixabeira, D. C. A., Taipale, K., Hemminki, O., Oksanen, M., Kankainen, M., Juhila, J., Kanerva, A., Joensuu, T., Tähtinen, S., & Hemminki, A. (2022).

Oncolytic Adenovirus Type 3 Coding for CD40L Facilitates Dendritic Cell Therapy of Prostate Cancer in Humanized Mice and Patient Samples. 10.1089/hum.2020.222., Zafar, S., Basnet, S., Launonen, I.-M., Carolina, D., Quixabeira, A., Santos, J., Hemminki, O., Malmstedt, M., Cervera-Carrascon, V., Aronen, P., Kalliokoski, R., Havunen, R., Rannikko, A., Mirtti, T., Matikainen, M., Kanerva, A., & Hemminki, A.