Target & Therapy Discovery

Despite application of innovative treatment protocols, many patients still succumb to cancer which drives the ongoing need for novel therapies.

Achilles had only one weakness, but cancer has many which we aim to uncover and exploit

About this Theme

Innovative therapeutic opportunities lie in exploiting synthetic and collateral lethality, as well as the cross-talk between cancer cells and their microenvironment. Importantly, molecular differences between individual patients require personalized treatment approaches, whereas intra-tumoral heterogeneity and primary or acquired drug-resistance demands development of novel strategies such as combination therapies.

This theme is about identification of novel targets and drugs to translate into clinical trials and applications.

Novel therapeutic targets are identified by descriptive and functional genomics approaches, by molecular and functional analysis of signaling pathways, and by focused as well as unbiased genome-wide RNA interference and CRISPR functional genomic screens. Chemical and biological inhibitors of candidate targets are tested in a preclinical setting, employing cell lines, primary patient material, patient-derived organoids and xenografts, as well as transgenic animal models. In addition, innovative cell (co-)culture models are employed which closely mimic the in vivo situation, yet allowing high-throughput approaches.

Key Strengths

Reflecting the strong translational research signature of the CCA, Target & Therapy Discovery is a large theme, bringing together researchers who are also actively involved in other themes. It forms the translational bridge between the fundamental and clinical themes, and provides a platform for fruitful collaborations in an environment that promotes the exchange of expertise, technologies and new developments. The key strength of Target & Therapy Discovery is combining state-of-the-art screening methods for druggable targets with innovative preclinical models for therapy development, all in close interaction with clinical departments. These close connections warrant the availability of primary patient material for basic research and provide strong incentives to translate laboratory findings to the clinic and vice versa.

Research Lines

Covering most major solid and hematological cancer types with an emphasis on target discovery, drug discovery, therapy resistance and preclinical therapy development, research lines of the Target & Therapy Discovery theme include: