Keynote lecture by prof.dr. Jai Prakash, University of Twente

 

 

Precision Drug Targeting and Bioengineering Approaches to Revolutionize Cancer Therapeutics

Jai Prakash, Professor & Chair – Engineered Therapeutics, Department of Advanced Organ Bioengineering and Therapeutics, TechMed Centre, University of Twente, The Netherlands. Email: j.prakash@utwente.nl

Cancer is one of the most challenging diseases to be addressed in the clinic, attributed to its highly complex and dynamic microenvironment. Besides cancer cells, the tumor microenvironment contains different cell types such as fibroblasts, macrophages and immune cells as well as extracellular matrix. Crosstalk among each other creates an environment favoring cancer cells to proliferate, migrate and develop resistance. We aim to develop cutting-edge engineering technologies to re-program the tumor microenvironment to reverse their pro-tumoral properties. Learning from the natural cellular behavior, we have recently developed nanomedicine-based technologies to target tumor-associated macrophages and trained them to kill cancer effectively. Furthermore, we strive to understand the complex physiological and biochemical characteristics of the tumor microenvironment by developing 3D bioengineered models. Since many therapeutics fail in preclinical animal models or during clinical development, it is imperative to develop advanced in vitro models that mimic the tumor microenvironment. Over the years, we have developed a variety of cancer models based on 3D spheroids, bioprinted models and vasculature compression models. These models not only support testing therapeutics but also identifying novel biomarkers. Altogether, both cell-specific precision medicine and bioengineering approaches will advance personalized medicine tailored to individual patients.

References:

1. Kuninty PR, Binnemars-Postma KA, Jarray A, Heinrich MA, Pednekar K, ten Hoopen H, Storm G, van Hoogevest P, den Otter WK, Prakash J. (2022) Cancer immune therapy using engineered ‛tail-flipping’ nanoliposomes targeting alternatively activated macrophages. Nature Communications 13, 4548. DOI:10.1038/s41467-022-32091-9.
2. Kuninty PR, Bansal R, De Geus G, Mardhian DF, Schnittert J, van Baarlen J, Storm G, Bijlsma M, van Laarhoven H, Metselaar JM, Kuppen PJK, Vahrmeijer A, Ostman A, Sier CFM, Prakash J. (2019) ITGA5 inhibition in pancreatic stellate cells attenuates desmoplasia and potentiates efficacy of chemotherapy in pancreatic cancer. Science Advances Sep 4;5(9):eaax2770. doi: 10.1126/sciadv.aax2770.
3. Rodrigues J, Heinrich MA, Teixeira LM, Prakash J. 3D In Vitro Model (R)evolution: Unveiling Tumor-Stroma Interactions. Trends Cancer. 2021 Mar;7(3):249-264.
4. Heinrich MA, Bansal R, Lammers T, Zhang YS, Schiffelers RM, Prakash J. (2019) 3D-Bioprinted Mini-Brain: A Glioblastoma Model to Study cellular interactions and therapeutics. Advanced Materials. 31(14):e1806590. doi: 10.1002/adma.201806590.
5. Heinrich MA, Uboldi I, Kuninty PR, Ankone MJK, van Baarlen J, Zhang YS, Jain K, Prakash J. Microarchitectural mimicking of stroma-induced vasculature compression in pancreatic tumors using a 3D engineered model. Bioactive Materials 2023; 22:18-33.

Biography

Jai Prakash is a Professor and Chair of Engineered Therapeutics at the Department of Advanced Organ Bioengineering and Therapeutics at the University of Twente, The Netherlands. He is a pharmaceutical and entrepreneurial scientist with a background in targeted (nano)therapeutics against fibrosis and the tumor microenvironment. He obtained PhD (cum laude) in 2006 from University of Groningen, The Netherlands in the field of drug targeting to treat renal fibrosis. Thereafter, he worked as a Vice President – Preclinical Research at BiOrion Technologies with a joint position as junior group leader at University of Groningen. In 2011, he joined Karolinska Institutet in Stockholm (Sweden) as Assistant Professor in the Department of Oncology-Pathology, followed by a Tenure-Track Professor at University of Twente to set up his new research line on novel therapeutics against fibrosis and cancer. He also spent his sabbaticals at the School of Engineering and Applied Sciences at Harvard University as a visiting scientist. He has published >100 peer-reviewed publications and is also a (co)-inventor on several international patents. He is also the Founder and CSO of ScarTec Therapeutics, focusing on the development of novel peptide therapeutics against fibrotic diseases and pancreatic cancer. He is a co-founder of the CRS BeNeLux and France Local chapter and has served as the President from 2021 to 2023. He is also the Founder and Chair of the International Conference on Nanomedicine meets the Tumor Microenvironment (NanoTME), which was successfully organized in 2021 and 2023. He serves as an expert referee, panel member and Chair on more than 30 national and international grant agencies.