Researchers at King’s College London (KCL) are spearheading an international project to develop a new platform for diagnosing and treating aggressive cancers like lung and brain tumors. The project, called SMARTdrugs, has been awarded a €4 million grant from the European Innovation Council.
A New Approach to Fighting Cancer
The current standard treatment involves attaching radioactive particles directly to drug molecules. SMARTdrugs takes a different approach by utilizing supramolecular compounds. These compounds offer greater control over factors such as size, shape, and other biochemical properties, allowing researchers to fine-tune how the drugs interact with human tissue.
Targeting Aggressive Cancers
The project focuses on aggressive cancers, where rapid cell division and specific genetic mutations fuel the disease. Researchers at KCL’s School of Biomedical Engineering and Imaging Sciences (BEIS) will be particularly interested in how SMARTdrugs can improve lung cancer treatment.
Hope for Patients with Poor Prognosis
Dr. Tim Witney, the lead researcher and a specialist in molecular imaging, highlights the potential of SMARTdrugs to improve the outlook for patients with aggressive cancers. “We are developing a completely new strategy to help those diagnosed with aggressive cancers, who currently have limited treatment options,” he explains. Dr. Witney emphasizes the project’s innovative use of radioactivity: “While radioactivity is often seen as dangerous, here we are harnessing its unique properties to target and kill cancer cells.”
This project builds on KCL’s ongoing commitment to fighting cancer. Earlier this year, their PharosAI project received funding to develop an AI-powered platform for cancer diagnosis.
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