Shared expertise to advance in cancer immunotherapy

Collaboration between research bodies and companies could lead to the development of new techologies and innovative business models. Industrial partners can develop and market new products and services that build on the scientific advances achieved in research centres, increasing their competitiveness and bringing new qualified jobs. AEI call for public-private collaborations, where the Center for Research in Biological Chemistry and Molecular Materials (CiQUS) has recently obtained positive results, aims to foster such kind of synergies.

Prof. Eddy Sotelo will participate in two new collaborative projects with industry in consortia led by companies, with the aim to improve treatments and diagnosis in cancer immunotherapy. CAPN-IO will further investigate LGC-2091, a cysteine proteases selective inhibitor, as a novel anticancer immunotherapeutic and start clinical studies. Led by Landsteiner Genmed, the project also involves researchers from the Centro Nacional de Biotecnología and the Instituto de Investigación Hospital 12 de Octubre. On the other hand, the PREDICTEAM project will address the development of new diagnostic methods and personalised medicine for cancer immunotherapy. Hawks Biosystems leads the consortium formed by CiQUS, Celtarys Research, and the University of Navarra.

CiQUS continues to strengthen collaboration with industry. The center participates in collaborative research projects with a wide range of companies including IBM Research, Zendal or Sapreme Technologies. Furthermore, up to 15 regional biotech companies have contracts with CiQUS though the regional industrial cluster Bioga, most of them technology-based SMEs.

Image: Darko Stojanovic