KFU to cooperate with Gamaleya Research Center in cancer vaccine studies
As Director of the Institute of Fundamental Medicine and Biology (IFMB) Andrey Kiyasov noted, the University is now one of eighteen institutions joining this work, “We are talking about a new technology – a mRNA vaccine having RNA particles imitating immunity.”
KFU scientists are going to create syngeneic animal models in immunocompetent mice to test the efficacy of checkpoint inhibitors and promising mRNA drugs. The objective is to determine susceptible types of tumors for future innovative medications.
The teams are to develop models of urinary bladder cancer, pancreatic cancer, and colorectal cancer in mice. The models can help evaluate the response of tumors to checkpoint inhibitor antibody therapy and choose the optimal model to test mRNA vaccines.
Deputy Director for Infrastructure of Gamaleya Center Pavel Vandyshev commented, “The success criteria is the development of a model with a predictable response to therapy. Tumor growth, its size, metastasis, and the survivability of animals are going to be strongly controlled.”
Dr Kiyasov added, “Our part of responsibility is studying certain types of cancers. The research shall lay a foundation for a drug to be constructed by the Gamaleya Center. The work is set to be conducted by the Laboratory of Translational Oncology under the leadership of Regina Miftakhova. They are going to conduct all the experiments.”
Pavel Vandyshev opined that a revolutionary technology can only be achieved through partnership, “The idea to cooperate with KFU came up during our visit here last year. We saw the potential of the University and realized that KFU can become our partner in the most complex research.”
The signing ceremony was joined by Vice-Rector for Academic Affairs Yekaterina Turilova, Deputy Director for Research of IFMB Rashat Faizullin, Regina Miftakhova, and Lead Researcher of the Laboratory of Biomedical Technology Emil Bulatov.
“I am flattered to see this work starting. I hope that all your expectations are met and even surpassed,” said the Vice-Rector.