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Activatable antibodies in targeted therapies

18/02/2022
Dr Oller from IQS has recently received a grant from the Semilla programme with the Spanish Cancer Society (AECC) to work on new types of activatable antibodies against a specific marker of resistant cancer cells.
Anticuerpos activables en terapias dirigidas
Created with Biorender by Roberta Lucchi

Among all cancers, one of the most prevalent types with the worst prognosis is glioblastoma multiforme (GBM). GBM is a very invasive brain tumour that current treatments are not very effective against. It is a rather heterogeneous tumour and, in order to attempt to treat it, eradicating different types of cells responsible for the growth, resistance, and regeneration of the tumour is necessary.

Antibodies offer efficient treatment options for many diseases, especially in oncology, either as therapeutic molecules or for targeting other drugs to the affected part of the body. However, the target molecules are often present not only in the tumour, but also in other healthy tissues. In recent years it has been shown that antibodies sensitive to tumour-specific stimuli are capable of selectively recognizing targets found on tumour cells. Thus, these activatable antibodies can aid in developing more efficient targeted therapies.

Dr Benjamí Oller, a researcher with the Materials Engineering Group (GEMAT) at the IQS School of Engineering, is working on the development of a targeted therapy that can successfully address glioblastoma treatments. His research work at IQS began in 2019 with a Marie Sklodowska-Curie project entitled TargetGBM. Recently, Dr Oller has obtained a grant from the “La Caixa” Junior Leader Fellowships programme to further expand his research.

Following the path he launched in these two projects, the team of researchers led by Dr Oller is working on the development of different targeted therapies that can be activated with antibodies and peptides. Dr Oller has also recently received a grant from the Semilla programme with the Spanish Cancer Society (AECC) to work on new types of activatable antibodies against a specific marker of resistant cancer cells.

This new technology of activatable antibodies could lead the creation of new targeted therapies, especially towards tumour cells, with greater efficacy and safety.

RELATED PEOPLE:

Benjamí Oller-Salvia, PhD

Associate Professor - Junior Leader F. La Caixa - ERC Grantee
+34932672000
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COLABORATORS

RESEARCH GROUP

GEMAT

Grup d'Enginyeria de Materials

School of Engineering

Materials Engineering

Its activities focus on three main areas: the development of new functional materials, surface engineering and biomaterials.

ChemSynBio

CHEMICAL & SYNTHETIC BIOLOGY FOR BIOTHERAPIES

School of Engineering

Chemical & Synthetic Biology for Biotherapies

This group combines chemistry and synthetic biology to develop precision bio-nano-therapeutics based on smart proteins and to generate molecular systems that enable transport of therapeutics to the brain.

RELATED PROJECTS

ACTIVATED (Anticuerpos activables en terapias dirigidas)

Desarrollo de un anticuerpo activable para dirigir un nanosistema de vectorización de terapias génicas a células madre de glioma
Funding Agency:
Research Group Link:
Materials Engineering (GEMAT)
Chemical & Synthetic Biology for Biotherapies (ChemSynBio)

OTHER RELATED:

Interview

Interview with Montse Escobar, IQS Predoctoral Researcher

01/12/2023
Montse Escobar has earned an INPhINIT grant awarded by the "la Caixa" Foundation to carry out her doctoral thesis within the Bioengineering Department at IQS. This represents the first INPhINIT grant awarded to the school.
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Research

New Peptide and Protein Characterization and Purification Instruments

18/05/2022
IQS has acquired three chromatography instruments for peptide and protein characterization and purification, with funding from the Fundación “la Caixa” Junior Leader Fellowships programme.
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Research

Activatable Antibodies to Increase Selectivity for Brain Tumour Therapies

19/10/2021
In the Materials Engineering Group (GEMAT) at the IQS School of Engineering, the team led by Dr Benjami Oller Salvia is working to take on two of the great challenges with GBM therapies.
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