Barcelona, Spain – 27/9/23
In a pivotal moment for medical research and innovation, the NEOSETAC project, an esteemed initiative under the Horizon 2020 Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions Research and Innovation Staff Exchange Programme, has proudly concluded its final project meeting in Barcelona. Funded by the European Union under GA No 101086354, the project has its eyes set on the future of breast cancer treatment, emphasizing the vast potential of nanomedicine.
The project’s curtain call meeting, held post its detailed workshop on September 26th, 2023, is not merely an end but a marker of a new beginning in the fight against breast cancer, a disease that has cast its shadow across countless lives worldwide.
With the unwavering commitment of its partners, NEOSETAC has embarked on an ambitious journey, endeavoring to harness the full potential of nanotechnology in challenging the might of cancer. The collaborative project is graced by the expertise of:
Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona (UAB)
Karolinska Institutet
Karolinska University Hospital
acib GmbH
CliniSciences Group
ADSI – Austrian Drug Screening Institute GmbH
REDINN
Prof. Manuel Valiente, the Project Coordinator and GTS Research Group Director from UAB’s Department of Chemistry, expressed, “The magnitude of our mission required unparalleled dedication and synergy. We are indebted to our partners for their relentless pursuit of excellence, driving us closer to a future where breast cancer is not a looming threat but a challenge surmounted.”
Notable contributors to the project’s success include:
MR Leonardo Piccinetti of REDINN, Rome, Italy.
Dr. Rui He from the Karolinska Institutet, Huddinge, Sweden.
M.Sc. Camila Cazorla Ares of GTS Research Group, UAB.
Prof. Fernando Novio Vázquez from UAB’s Department of Chemistry.
Dr. Esther Vazquez of the NanoBioTechnology Group, IBB UAB.
Dr. Adrià Botet Carreras of IN2UB.
Dr. Thomas Jakschitz, the Executive Vice President at ADSI, Innsbruck, Austria.
The grim statistics from the European Chronic Diseases Alliance underscore the magnitude of the global cancer challenge, with cancer causing 13% of deaths, amounting to 8.2 million fatalities annually. With breast cancer standing out as the most common cancer among women, accounting for over 10% of all cancer incidences, it culminates in 411,093 annual deaths globally. The disease’s complex nature and higher incidence rate in Europe relative to other regions make it a formidable adversary in the medical arena.
But NEOSETAC’s research offers a glimmer of hope. Their innovative approach is poised to unearth the anti-cancer capabilities of a unique Selenium-based therapy for breast cancer. Historically, the use of Selenium (Se) compounds was limited to dietary supplements for cancer prevention. This project has reimagined its application, optimizing drug delivery via nanoparticles (NPs) to enhance therapeutic outcomes, control drug release, and ensure targeted drug activation.
The ambitious vision continues beyond there. By functionalizing NPs with cancer cell or cancer stem cell targeting ligands, the project aims to boost therapeutic efficacy and combat cancer recurrence post-chemotherapy. Such strategic interventions are designed to amplify anti-cancer activity, minimise toxicity, and improve the pharmacokinetic properties of Se.
In conclusion, NEOSETAC stands at the forefront of a transformative wave in breast cancer treatment, invigorated by its commitment, innovation, and the collective efforts of its collaborators. Their work is a testament to scientific progress and a beacon of hope for millions affected by breast cancer.
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