06 a 06 May. 2022 - 13:30
On May 6th, at 1.30pm, the Champalimaud Foundation will host the renowned biochemist and immunologist Prof. Hidde Ploegh for a public event dedicated to the theme "Nanobodies, inflammation and cancer".
This lecture is part of the "Champalimaud Cancer Talks" series, organised by the Champalimaud Foundation with the aim of offering the general public unique opportunities to hear the world's leading authorities in different fields related to cancer research and clinical practice. This time, Professor Hidde Ploegh will present his research work on:
Nanobodies are the smallest immunoglobulin fragments that retain the property of specific antigen recognition. Their small size (~15 kDa) ensures vastly superior tissue penetration when compared to conventional immunoglobulins, which makes them ideal for imaging and drug delivery applications. For many of the immunologically relevant targets (Class II MHC, PD-L1, CTLA-4), nanobodies are available that have been converted into imaging agents.
Nanobodies can also be used for the construction of chimeric antigen receptor (CAR) T cells, at least one version of which, an anti-BCMA CAR, has been approved for clinical use to treat multiple myeloma, with striking response rates. Nanobodies that recognise conserved features on tumour cells, such as a splice variant (EIIIB) of fibronectin have served as preclinical examples and may also find clinical use.
The application of nanobodies as antibody-drug conjugates, as imaging agents and as biologicals that can modulate immune responses is likely to rapidly expand.
Professor Hidde Ploegh Dr. Ploegh is a biochemist and immunologist at the Boston Children’s Hospital, in the Programme of Cellular and Molecular Medicine.
He trained with Jack Strominger at Harvard University and has held positions at the University of Cologne and the Netherlands Cancer Institute. He joined the MIT faculty in 1992, and in 1997 joined Harvard Medical School, where he directed the graduate programme in immunology. In 2005 he returned to MIT at its Whitehead Institute. In 2016 he joined the Programme in Cellular and Molecular Medicine at Boston Children's Hospital, where he continues to explore the properties and applications of nanobodies. His interests include chemo-enzymatic approaches to protein modification. His lab is focused on the conversion of nanobodies for imaging purposes (PET) and on their use for perturbation of protein-protein interactions.
Click here to register for Prof. Hidde Ploegh lecture on May 6th, 2022 at 1.30pm, in the Champalimaud Foundation Auditorium.
The lecture will be in English and admission is free, limited to the number of seats available in the Champalimaud Foundation's auditorium, so don't forget to register to guarantee your place.
On the day of the event and depending on the number of no-shows and free seats available in the Auditorium, people who show up without a reservation will be allowed entry. If you have already registered, don't forget your digital ticket that you must present on the day of the conference.
