Dr. Osvaldo L. Podhajcer
Jefe de Laboratorio
Terapia Molecular y Celular Versión en español
Subject
The lab core studies focus on translational research and design of novel and proprietary biomedicines also including studies in genomics applied to adult and pediatric cancer.
We design and test advanced medicines for targeting disseminated adult and pediatric cancer and vaccines against infectious diseases.
Through the use of genomic platforms, we aim to understand the mechanisms involved in cancer prognosis and response to therapeutics.
Approach
We make use of Oncolytic adenovirus (OAVs)-based medicines designed to target the tumor; the OAVs are “armed” with genes that enhance the secondary, tumor-specific immune response. Targeted OAVs are designed for systemic use in advanced disease. OAVs are properly designed using in house developed bioinformatic algorithms.
We also use engineered adenoviruses as a vaccine platform to fight viruses which cause novel and emergent infectious diseases.
Different genomic platforms (including WES, targeted sequencing, RNA sequencing and SNPs) are used to identify specific genes and molecular signatures that might help in predicting clinical outcome and response to therapy in adult and pediatric cancer.
Advances
We developed different OAVs to target different cancer types using transcriptionally, and transductionally targeted OAVs. Systemically delivered OAVs were able to eradicate different cancer types in preclinical “nude” mice models of human cancer (combined or not with mainstay chemotherapy). Several products of our pipeline have been licensed to biotech start ups.
As part of the US-Latin American Cancer Research Network (US-LACRN) almost 1,500 breast cancer patients were enrolled from more than 30 centers of Argentina, Brazil, Chile, Mexico and Uruguay with 5 years follow up. Clinical, pathology, molecular and epidemiological data are being analyzed in comparison with molecular ancestry markers aiming to help in prognosis and response to treatment in breast cancer Latin American women. In collaboration with Hospital Udaondo (Buenos Aires) we also performed genomic studies in locally advanced rectal cancer and through a collaboration with Pediatric Hospital Garrahan (Buenos Aires) we identified underlying mechanisms potentially associated with refractory pediatric retinoblastoma.
Starting from mid2020 we are developing 2nd generation vaccine candidates for COVID-19.
The lab core studies focus on translational research and design of novel and proprietary biomedicines also including studies in genomics applied to adult and pediatric cancer.
We design and test advanced medicines for targeting disseminated adult and pediatric cancer and vaccines against infectious diseases.
Through the use of genomic platforms, we aim to understand the mechanisms involved in cancer prognosis and response to therapeutics.
Approach
We make use of Oncolytic adenovirus (OAVs)-based medicines designed to target the tumor; the OAVs are “armed” with genes that enhance the secondary, tumor-specific immune response. Targeted OAVs are designed for systemic use in advanced disease. OAVs are properly designed using in house developed bioinformatic algorithms.
We also use engineered adenoviruses as a vaccine platform to fight viruses which cause novel and emergent infectious diseases.
Different genomic platforms (including WES, targeted sequencing, RNA sequencing and SNPs) are used to identify specific genes and molecular signatures that might help in predicting clinical outcome and response to therapy in adult and pediatric cancer.
Advances
We developed different OAVs to target different cancer types using transcriptionally, and transductionally targeted OAVs. Systemically delivered OAVs were able to eradicate different cancer types in preclinical “nude” mice models of human cancer (combined or not with mainstay chemotherapy). Several products of our pipeline have been licensed to biotech start ups.
As part of the US-Latin American Cancer Research Network (US-LACRN) almost 1,500 breast cancer patients were enrolled from more than 30 centers of Argentina, Brazil, Chile, Mexico and Uruguay with 5 years follow up. Clinical, pathology, molecular and epidemiological data are being analyzed in comparison with molecular ancestry markers aiming to help in prognosis and response to treatment in breast cancer Latin American women. In collaboration with Hospital Udaondo (Buenos Aires) we also performed genomic studies in locally advanced rectal cancer and through a collaboration with Pediatric Hospital Garrahan (Buenos Aires) we identified underlying mechanisms potentially associated with refractory pediatric retinoblastoma.
Starting from mid2020 we are developing 2nd generation vaccine candidates for COVID-19.