Highlighted Publications
Heterogeneity-driven phenotypic plasticity and treatment response in branched-organoid models of pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma
Papargyriou, A., …, Shastri, A. R., …, Schmidleitner, L., …, Ravichandra, A., …, Bausch, A. R., …, and Reichert, M.
Nature Biomedical Engineering 9, 836–864 (2025)
Cover Story – Branched pancreatic cancer organoids reveal heterogeneity-driven tumor state transitions and treatment response.
Spatiotemporal dynamics of self-organized branching in pancreas-derived organoids
Randriamanantsoa, S., Papargyriou, A., …, Reichert, M.*, and Bausch, A. R.*
Nature Communications 13, 5219 (2022)
⭐ Defined biophysical rules of self-organized branching in pancreatic organoids; relevant for state transition modelling. *Equally contributing
Identification of treatment-induced vulnerabilities in pancreatic cancer patients using functional model systems
Peschke, K., Jakubowsky, H., …, and Reichert, M.
EMBO Molecular Medicine 14, e14876 (2022) Functional model systems reveal treatment-triggered vulnerabilities in PDAC, providing rationale for exploiting tumor plasticity for personalized therapy frameworks.
Selective multi-kinase inhibition sensitizes mesenchymal pancreatic cancer to immune checkpoint blockade by remodeling the tumor microenvironment
Falcomatà, C., …, Reichert, M., …, and Saur, D.
Nature Cancer 3, 318–336 (2022)
⭐ Identified multi-kinase inhibitor vulnerability in mesenchymal PDAC subtypes enabling immune checkpoint response. Demonstrates lineage-informed therapeutic approach.
Mesenchymal Plasticity Regulated by Prrx1 Drives Aggressive Pancreatic Cancer Biology
Feldmann, K., …, Papargyriou, A., …, Ranjan, R. A., …, and Reichert, M.
Gastroenterology 160, 346–361.e24 (2021) Prrx1-driven plasticity of cancer-associated fibroblasts shapes aggressive PDAC phenotypes. Conceptual evidence for cell-state–driven plasticity in the tumour microenvironment.
Regulation of Epithelial Plasticity Determines Metastatic Organotropism in Pancreatic Cancer
Reichert, M.*, …, and Rustgi, A. K.*
Developmental Cell 45, 696–711.e8 (2018) Cover Story – Demonstrated p120ctn-dependent state-plasticity as key driver of metastatic organotropism. *Co-senior authors.
The Prrx1 homeodomain transcription factor plays a central role in pancreatic regeneration and carcinogenesis
Reichert, M., …, and Rustgi, A. K.
Genes & Development 27, 288–300 (2013) Cover Story – Identified Prrx1 as master regulator of pancreatic plasticity in development, regeneration and carcinogenesis.
Isolation, culture and genetic manipulation of mouse pancreatic ductal cells
Reichert, M., …, and Rustgi, A. K.
Nature Protocols 8, 1354–1365 (2013) Established an organotypic 3D pancreatic ductal culture system enabling disease modelling, and early organoid-analog technology.
Patents & Technologies
Analysis of tissue samples using quantitative phase-contrast microscopy (2022)
Patent No. EP20206259.2
⭐ Development of a novel and patented technology for label-free single-cell phenotyping to quantify real-time tumor heterogeneity with potential of clinical implementation.
(also see DOI).
Combination Treatment of Pancreatic Cancer (2017)
Patent No. WO2019073031A1
⭐ Combined inhibition of PI3K informs p110a and ρ110γ as efficient strategy for pancreatic cancer patients (honored with the Forcheurs Jean-Marie Lehn Award).
Recent Publications
Oncogenic KRAS-driven type I interferon signalling primes pancreatic cancer for necroptosis
Tishina, S., …, Murr, J., …, Reichert, M., …, and von Karstedt, S.
Nature Communications 17, 5288 (2026)
Murr, J., ..., Reichert, M., …, and Schneider, G.
MedComm 7, e70794 (2026)
A disease model resource reveals core principles of tissue-specific cancer evolution
Mueller, S., …, Papargyriou, A., ..., Reichert, M., …, and Rad, R.
Nature 653, 265–276 (2026)
TIGIT disruption rescues the antitumor activity of low avidity TCR-engineered T cells by increasing TCR signal strength
Spiga, M., ..., Reichert, M., …, and Bonini, C.
Nature Communications 17, 568 (2026)
Accelerated maturation of branched organoids confined in collagen droplets
Ruider, I., …, Reichert, M., …, and Bausch, A. R.
Lab Chip 25, 5043–5054 (2025)
A decision point between transdifferentiation and programmed cell death priming controls KRAS-dependent pancreatic cancer development
Schneider, A. T., …, Papargyriou, A., ..., Reichert, M., …, and Luedde, T.
Nature Communications 16, 1765 (2025)