The fourth call of the Virtual Research Institute (WIB) has been resolved. An international panel of experts awarded the highest score to the project “Personalized antibody-drug conjugates activated by matrix metalloproteinases for solid tumors (PACMAN)”, submitted by a consortium of scientific institutions from Wrocław and Warsaw. An amount of PLN 72,854,995 from the Polish Science Fund has been allocated for its implementation.
A new strategy in the fight against cancer
The PACMAN project opens a new chapter in anticancer therapy. Researchers will work on conjugates—special combinations of antibodies and drugs (ADCs) which, unlike current solutions, do not need to enter cancer cells to be effective. Instead, they will be activated in the tumor microenvironment, precisely where hyperactive enzymes (matrix metalloproteinases MMP-2, MMP-9, MMP-14) are present, characteristic of many solid tumors such as pancreatic cancer, breast cancer, and melanoma. In practice, this means more precise delivery of anticancer drugs with a lower risk of damage to healthy tissues.
The project also includes the development of diagnostic tools to assess MMP activity in clinical material and the use of AI algorithms to support patient qualification for therapy. This will enable comprehensive preclinical validation of the new strategy in the context of personalized medicine.
Who is behind the project?
The research team is led by Prof. Marcin Poręba from Wrocław University of Science and Technology. Over the next 4.5 years, the research will be conducted by as many as 99 scientists from 6 research centers in Wrocław and Warsaw.
The consortium includes:
Wrocław University of Science and Technology (PLN 28,495,305.95), research led by Prof. Bożena Cybulska-Stopa
Nencki Institute of Experimental Biology, PAS (PLN 9,641,249.00), Prof. Agnieszka Dobrzyń
Institute of Physical Chemistry, PAS (PLN 9,377,240.35), Prof. Marcin Drąg
Hirszfeld Institute of Immunology and Experimental Therapy, PAS (PLN 8,855,079.35), Prof. Elżbieta Pajtasz-Piasecka
University of Wrocław (PLN 7,999,975.00), Prof. Małgorzata Zakrzewska
Wrocław University of Environmental and Life Sciences (PLN 8,486,145.10), Prof. Arkadiusz Miążek
WIB Program – commercialization in medical biotechnology
The Virtual Research Institute is an innovative funding program for research with high commercialization potential in one of the most socially important areas—medical biotechnology. The Ministry of Science and Higher Education allocated a record amount of PLN 450 million to this program.
The program is addressed to the most outstanding and talented Polish scientists conducting research at the highest global level—representatives of universities and scientific and research institutes. The goal of projects selected by international experts is to develop new technologies in line with procedures necessary for their commercialization within a maximum of five years.
For nearly three years, the HERO project (“Horizon of Excellence in the Applications of Matrix RNA in Immuno-Oncology”) has been underway, focusing on the use of mRNA technology in cancer immunotherapy. In 2024, funding was awarded to the INTERCEPT project (“Targeted Single-Cell Analysis Technology for Cancer Diagnostics – Toward the Development of Interceptive Cellular Medicine”) and the ADEVASCO project (“Personalized Vascular Endothelium Diagnostics in Oncology Therapy; Toward Modern Vasculo-Oncology”).
Łukasiewicz – PORT – managing entity
Łukasiewicz – PORT is the managing entity of the program. This Wrocław-based institute is responsible for organizing and conducting the calls, overseeing project implementation, and coordinating the commercialization of research results.
