LIfT Bio wishes to test its new class of immunotherapy (N-LIfT) in models created at QMUL, to validate N-LIfT's cancer killing ability and accelerate the path to clinical trials. The Knowledge Transfer Partnership (KTP) Associate employed on the project will create different cancer environments in which to test N-LIfT, and will help to create the next generation of spheroid models by adding a fourth cell type: 'macrophages'.
To significantly improve the accuracy of a novel immunotherapy to accelerate cancer therapy development and speed up delivery to patients.
New cancer therapies must first be tested outside the body in cell-based (in-vitro) models of disease. Most existing in-vitro models are poorly predictive of how cancer behaves in the body, as they fail to consider the contribution of other, non-tumour cells in the Tumour Microenvironment (TME). This leads to high failure rates in clinical trials.
While most immunotherapies deliver engineered immune cells against specific cancer types, N-LIfT is unique in exploiting innate immune cells from 'super donors' to fight all cancer types in a tumour-agnostic manner, paving the way for off-the-shelf cancer treatment.
The knowledge transfer and partnership working with QMUL in this KTP project will help LIfT Bio test future generations of immunotherapies, accelerating their path to market.
This project is a new addition to Queen Mary’s KTP project portfolio.
“We are delighted to be working with QMUL on our leading-edge cancer therapy research and development. This partnership will help us to advance cancer therapy knowledge and understanding, helping to advance cancer treatments for all patients.” — Dr Oxana Polyakova, Chief Scientific Officer, LIfT Biosciences