ICCVS in collaboration with the Faculty of Health Sciences at the University of Malta, has had its joint research project entitled “Subtractive Phage Discovery of Lung-specific Unknown Native Glycoproteins” (SPD-LUNG) recommended for funding under the INNOGLOBO 5 programme.
With a total budget of €499,999.11, the project will bring together research teams from Poland and Malta to investigate potential new therapeutic targets in non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). The project is supported by the National Centre for Research and Development (NCBR) in Poland and Xjenza, Malta’s national research funding agency. Approximately 70% of the project budget has been allocated to research activities carried out at the University of Gdańsk. The project will be led by Prof. Natalia Marek-Trzonkowska on behalf of the University of Gdańsk and Prof. David Saliba on behalf of the University of Malta.
The main objective of SPD-LUNG is to identify previously unknown molecular targets associated with cancer stem cells in non-small cell lung cancer. These cells play an important role in tumour development, metastasis and treatment resistance, and remain a significant challenge for current therapeutic approaches.
Identifying molecules specifically present on the surface of cancer stem cells could provide a basis for developing more targeted treatment strategies. Potential applications include antibody-based therapies, which use antibodies to deliver therapeutic agents directly to cancer cells, as well as CAR-T cell therapies.
An important aspect of the project is its approach to identifying molecular targets. Rather than relying exclusively on predictions based on genetic analyses, the researchers aim to identify molecules based on their actual presence on the surface of cancer cells. This approach could help identify targets with greater potential for further therapeutic development.
The collaboration between ICCVS and Prof. David Saliba’s research team has been developing for several years. Joint activities have been supported by various academic mobility and research initiatives, including Erasmus+, the University of Gdańsk Visiting Professors Programme and the University of Malta SEA-EU Research Seed Fund.
The SPD-LUNG project represents another step in strengthening this international partnership and combining complementary research expertise to advance the search for new therapeutic approaches in oncology.
The project is aligned with National Smart Specialisation 1 (KIS 1) – Healthy Society.
List of projects recommended for funding in the INNOGLOBO5 competition
