Dr Paweł Mikulski from the Nencki Institute has received a FIRST TEAM grant from the Foundation for Polish Science to carry out the project “Development of an innovative molecule for a new type of immunotherapy for hepatocellular carcinoma.”

Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is the fifth most common and the third deadliest type of cancer worldwide, causing approximately 0.8 million deaths each year.

Current treatments for HCC are either ineffective or associated with significant clinical limitations. Standard approaches include surgery, such as resection and transplantation, local ablation, and systemic therapies, including targeted treatment and immune checkpoint inhibitors. These options are associated with high recurrence rates, the need for early diagnosis, a shortage of donor organs, or limited effectiveness.

The project aims to develop and validate, both in vitro and in vivo, a new therapeutic molecule for potential future use in a novel HCC immunotherapy. Its mechanism of action will be based on immunomodulation of the tumour microenvironment through the regulation of gene expression in liver cells.

The project is expected to deliver a new therapeutic approach for HCC with high specificity, reduced toxicity and minimal invasiveness.

The project will be implemented under the FNP First Team programme, funded by the European Funds for Smart Economy 2021-2027. 

Project value: PLN 3,354,575
European Funds contribution: PLN 3,354,575