Living with Cancer

Cancer touches many of us whether through personal experience, a loved one, a colleague or a friend. According to the World Health Organization, 20 million new cases of cancer were diagnosed in 2022 alone. It remains one of the most pressing health challenges worldwide.

Despite decades of progress in chemotherapy, radiotherapy, surgery and immunotherapy, many cancers remain incurable. Treatments can be harsh, often impacting not just physical health, but emotional well-being, daily life and financial stability — for both patients and their loved ones. Chemotherapy, for example, while widely used, can lose effectiveness over time as cancer cells become resistant.

A New Kind of Normal
For those diagnosed, cancer often brings an abrupt shift in what "normal" means. Living with uncertainty, anxiety or grief becomes part of daily life. But so does strength, resilience and support through caregivers, community, counselling, family and faith.
People at the Centre
At the heart of the SCALPEL project is a recognition of this reality. People affected by cancer are the driving force behind our research. Our goal is not only scientific, it is deeply human. We are developing an experimental therapy that aims to transform how cancer is treated by combining the precision of light-based targeting with the power of immunotherapy. While this therapy is still in the early stages of development and is not yet available to patients, our long-term goal is to bring forward a new kind of treatment, one that is more precise, less invasive and designed to protect quality of life.
Purpose Driven
We do not offer promises — but we do offer purpose. Everything we do is motivated by a commitment to make a meaningful difference in the lives of people living with cancer. We believe that innovation rooted in compassion is the key to changing the story of cancer care.