Light meets precision with a click
Light Meets Precision With a Click
In a bold step to redefine modern oncology, SCALPEL is pioneering a new approach to treating cancer that combines the precision of photomedicine with the power of immunotherapy. Our mission is to use light-activated click chemistry to selectively tag cancer cells, enabling the immune system to recognize and eliminate them with exceptional accuracy.
Unlike conventional therapies which often affect healthy tissues and struggle to prevent relapse, our approach works at the molecular level, specifically destroying the remaining cancer cells. This dual-action therapy aims not only to destroy cancer cells but to train the immune system to recognise and prevent future recurrence. By leveraging light and immunotherapy, we are redefining cancer treatment by turning light into a powerful weapon against cancer with just a click.
Our Scientific Objectives
The primary goal of SCALPEL is to develop a potentially curative radical new photoimmunotherapy that can eliminate cancer with minimal invasiveness and maximum precision. We aim to:
- Design, synthesise and optimise the necessary SCALPEL components.
- Validate the efficacy of SCALPEL technology in cell cultures following the application of photodynamic therapy (PDT) and photochemical internalisation (PCI).
- Validate the efficacy of the groundbreaking SCALPEL technology in animal models following PDT and PCI treatments.
- Overall, provide a proof-of-principle of the proposed technology.
This hybrid technology combines click chemistry, targeted photomedicine and immunological stimulation making it a potentially curative, scalable and adaptable treatment strategy for a wide range of cancers.