Gonzalo Fernández-Miranda, associate researcher at IRB Barcelona, leads this therapeutic project selected by CaixaImpulse to facilitate its development towards the market.
The third edition of the CaixaImpulse, a programme run by the Banking Foundation La Caixa and Caixa Capital Risc that supports the development of bio-health projects, is to fund an immunotherapy project for advanced head and neck cancers (HNCs) at IRB Barcelona. Gonzalo Fernández-Miranda, associate researcher with the Translational Control of Cell Cycle and Differentiation Lab—lead by Raúl Méndez— heads this eight-month project entitled “Immunotherapy for HNCs, New potential immunotherapy drug for advanced head and neck cancers”.
The incidence of HNCs is increasing worldwide, and there are still no effective therapies to treat these conditions. HNCs are generally diagnosed in late stages and frequently have a poor prognosis. This project seeks to develop a new cancer immunotherapy focused on an innovative mechanism of action, which combines a cytotoxic effect on malignant cells and an enhanced antitumor immune response.
“The possibility of using a single drug with a dual beneficial effect, such as cancer cell- selective cytotoxicity and enhanced antitumor immune response, breaks new ground in terms of developing advanced therapies for cancer patients,” explains Fernández-Miranda.
In order to facilitate the development of this project and to work on the valorisation plan, CaixaImpulse provides it with high-value resources, such as financial support and the assignment of a Mentor to monitor and support the project.
It also offers the project leader the chance to meet key partners, industry experts and consultants to explore collaboration and business opportunities, in addition to training in key areas like IP Rights, finance and commercialization. “It helps us to understand what we need to create a successful spin-off”, stresses Fernández-Miranda.
This project also involves Raúl Méndez, ICREA researcher and group leader of the Translational Control of Cell Cycle and Differentiation Lab at IRB Barcelona, and Chiara Lara Castellazzi, researcher at Technology Transfer Programme from Fundación Botín. It also involves Alba Olivares from the Innovation Department at IRB Barcelona.
IRB Barcelona’s project is one of the 23 (out of 80 applications) to receive funding this year. CaixaImpulse seeks to promote the transformation of knowledge in the field of life sciences and healthcare into business initiatives.
More information about CaixaImpulse Programme
Immunotherapy is gaining ground in the fight against cancer. The tumour has a strategy to evade detection by the immune system, thus allowing it to spread throughout the body. Science has discovered this therapy and is working on overcoming this evasion strategy. In this regard, La República has published an interview with Eduard Batlle, head of the Colorectal Cancer Lab at IRB Barcelona.
Catalunya Press, Revista Genética, among other national and international media, have published articles about a study co-led by Travis H. Stracker, head of the Genomic Instability and Cancer Lab, which has identified a key role for enzymes in DNA replication and sensitivity to chemotherapeutic drugs.
Link to Catalunya Press
Link to Revista Genética
Published in Science Advances, the study shows that the TLK1 and TLK2 enzymes are critical for ensuring the copying of DNA.
Loss of TLK1 and TLK2 results in extensive DNA damage during DNA replication and in cancer cell death.
Depletion of TLK1/2 enhances the effectiveness of some chemotherapeutic agents currently being tested in clinical trials
