Amsterdam institute for Immunology and Infectious diseases

In April 2025, dr. Affandi, a pioneering researcher-entrepreneur from the Amsterdam institute for Immunology and Infectious diseases, joined the Faculty of Impact with a bold vision: to turn his scientific breakthroughs in next-generation cancer therapies into real-world solutions.

His project, “Harnessing Nanobody Technology for Smarter Cancer Immunotherapy,” aims to advance immunotherapy by using innovative nanobody technology. This approach enables the patient’s own immune system to target cancer cells more precisely, reducing side effects and increasing treatment effectiveness.

When he started Faculty of Impact he was in the early preclinical stage, validating his first indication. At the end of the program, in one year, he hopes to deliver robust proof-of-concept data, secure funding, and prepare for manufacturing and clinical studies. Now, one year in, we are very curious how dr. Affandi is doing.

Q&A with Dr. Alsya Affandi

What motivated you to join the Faculty of Impact, and how has the experience shaped your approach to entrepreneurship?

My main motivation has always been to bring our discoveries beyond the lab and take the next steps closer to the clinic, with the ultimate goal of helping cancer patients. To achieve this, I realized I needed to expand my work beyond academia. As a trained immunologist, I knew little about entrepreneurship, so I applied for the Faculty of Impact fellowship to gain the knowledge, tools, and dedicated time to develop entrepreneurial skills and build a biotech startup.

Can you share a key lesson or insight you gained during your first year in the program?

A key lesson I learned is to adopt a goal-oriented mindset. Rather than focusing solely on perfecting the technology, I learned to start from the end goal, identifying the patient populations who would benefit most from our therapy, and work backwards. This approach informs our clinical study design, required preclinical validation, and overall product development strategy.

How has your project progressed over the past year?

Together with the team, we have been sharpening our business plan and actively engaging with a broad range of stakeholders. We participated in the Venture Challenge with our whole team, and feedback from clinicians, biotech and pharma colleagues, investors, and fellow startup founders has been invaluable. In parallel, we have continued developing our first clinical candidate in the lab, and soon we aim to evaluate it in clinically relevant models, supported by the NWO Take-Off grant we recently obtained.

What challenges have you faced in translating your scientific breakthroughs into real-world impact, and how have you addressed them?

One challenge has been communicating complex scientific concepts to a general audience, such as investors. I had to learn how to develop a pitch deck that highlights our technology’s unique selling points in a simple, concise, and accessible way.

What are your main goals for the coming year, both for your research and your startup?

We are focused on building our startup on a technology with robust data and strong preclinical validation. Establishing this foundation is critical for securing initial non-dilutive funding and advancing to the next stages of development. This year, we also plan to incorporate our startup, Immunara, and begin fundraising in earnest.

What advice would you give to other researchers considering entrepreneurship?

My advice is to talk to people who have made the shift and ask about their experiences. These conversations helped me commit to this journey. The learning curve can be steep and often involves stepping outside your comfort zone, but it’s also enriching. I’ve learned many new skills and connected with people from all kinds of backgrounds. If you decide to take the leap, try to enjoy the ride!

Text: Alsya Affandi and Esmée Vesseur