Maria Sibilia, PhD

Institute for Cancer Research (Head)
Department of Medicine I
Medical University of Vienna
Borschkegasse 8a
A-1090 Vienna, Austria
Tel: +43-1-40160-57502
Fax: +43-1-40160-957502

Email:     Maria.Sibilia@meduniwien.ac.at
Website: http://www.meduniwien.ac.at/krebsforschung
               Sibilia-Lab

Research interests

Our laboratory is interested in understanding the molecular mechanisms leading to inflammatory diseases and cancer using the mouse as a model system. We investigate the cell-specific role of EGFR signaling in cancer and tumor stromal cells and their complex interaction. Moreover, we aim to understand how inflammatory cells affect tumor development and regression and exploit novel concepts to modulate tumors to become more sensitive to current anti-cancer treatments. The ultimate goal is to translate this knowledge to patients to develop more effective personalized treatments for human cancer.

Selected publications

Srivatsa S, Paul MC, Cardone C, Holcmann M, Amberg N, Pathria P, Diamanti MA, Linder M, Timelthaler G, Dienes HP, Kenner L, Wrba F, Prager GW, Rose-John S, Eferl R, Liguori G, Botti G, Martinelli E, Greten FR, Ciardiello F, Sibilia M. EGFR in Tumor-Associated Myeloid Cells Promotes Development of Colorectal Cancer in Mice and Associates With Outcomes of Patients. Gastroenterology. 2017 Jul;153(1):178-190.e10. doi: 10.1053/j.gastro.2017.03.053.

Amberg N, Holcmann M, Stulnig G, Sibilia M. Effects of Imiquimod on Hair Follicle Stem Cells and Hair Cycle Progression. J Invest Dermatol. 2016 Nov;136(11):2140-2149. doi: 10.1016/j.jid.2016.06.613.

Lanaya, H., A. Natarajan, K. Komposch, L. Li, N. Amberg, L. Chen, S. K. Wculek, M. Hammer, R. Zenz, M. Peck-Radosavljevic, W. Sieghart, M. Trauner, H. Wang, and M. Sibilia. 2014. EGFR has a tumour-promoting role in liver macrophages during hepatocellular carcinoma formation. Nature cell biology 16: 972-981, 971-977.

Glitzner, E., A. Korosec, P. M. Brunner, B. Drobits, N. Amberg, H. B. Schonthaler, T. Kopp, E. F. Wagner, G. Stingl, M. Holcmann, and M. Sibilia. 2014. Specific roles for dendritic cell subsets during initiation and progression of psoriasis. EMBO molecular medicine 6: 1312-1327.

Lichtenberger, B. M., P. A. Gerber, M. Holcmann, B. A. Buhren, N. Amberg, V. Smolle, H. Schrumpf, E. Boelke, P. Ansari, C. Mackenzie, A. Wollenberg, A. Kislat, J. W. Fischer, K. Rock, J. Harder, J. M. Schroder, B. Homey, and M. Sibilia. 2013. Epidermal EGFR controls cutaneous host defense and prevents inflammation. Science translational medicine 5: 199ra111.

Drobits, B., M. Holcmann, N. Amberg, M. Swiecki, R. Grundtner, M. Hammer, M. Colonna, and M. Sibilia. 2012. Imiquimod clears tumors in mice independent of adaptive immunity by converting pDCs into tumor-killing effector cells. The Journal of clinical investigation 122: 575-585.

Lichtenberger, B. M., P. K. Tan, H. Niederleithner, N. Ferrara, P. Petzelbauer, and M. Sibilia. 2010. Autocrine VEGF signaling synergizes with EGFR in tumor cells to promote epithelial cancer development. Cell 140: 268-279.