Fraunhofer Institute seeks collaboration for cancer drug test

Partnership Opportunity

Scientists at the Fraunhofer Institute for Interfacial Engineering and Biotechnology are seeking partnership and investment to develop a novel tumour model for use in testing cancer drugs.

The new feature of the model tumour is that it contains a functioning bloodstream allowing for cancer drugs to be introduced via the bloodstream rather than directly into the tumour cells themselves, thereby better mimicking the natural functions of a patient’s body.

The idea was conceived by Master’s student, Jacqueline Michaelis who is now looking for investment to develop the model further:

“We are seeking private investments as well as partnership with different companies within the pharmaceutical industry, universities or cooperation with medical scientists. We would use the investment for further developments regarding the tumour model,” adding that “the amount and form of the investment (direct, licensing and contract research) would depend on the collaboration partner.”

The idea won Michaelis the Hugo Geiger Prize for Life Sciences for her Masters thesis describing the 3-D tumour model which contains endothelial cells lining the vessels.  Unlike conventional direct-to-tumour testing, the agents have to overcome the barrier of the endothelial cells before they can reach the tumour and start to work.  Possible future applications could include extracting the patient’s own cells from the tumour to create customised therapies.