A scientific consortium involving the Nencki Institute of Experimental Biology PAS has received nearly PLN 73 million to implement the PACMAN project (Personalized Antibody-Drug Conjugates Activated by Matrix Metalloproteinases for Solid Tumors).

The PACMAN project received the highest rating from an international panel of experts and was the only one to receive funding in the fourth edition of the WIB (Virtual Research Institute) competition. The project will last 4.5 years and will be carried out in six leading research centers in Wrocław and Warsaw under the supervision of Prof. Marcin Poręba from the Wrocław University of Science and Technology. The project focuses on solid tumors with a poor prognosis, such as pancreatic cancer, triple-negative breast cancer, melanoma, and lung cancer.

A research team from the Nencki Institute, led by Prof. Agnieszka Dobrzyń, will be responsible for key research on pancreatic cancer - one of the most aggressive solid tumors with a poor prognosis and limited effectiveness of current therapies. The study will be carried out at the Laboratory of Cell Signaling and Metabolic Disorders (Dr hab. Justyna Janikiewicz), the Laboratory of Preclinical Testing of Higher Standard (Prof. Urszula Wojda), and the Laboratory of Epileptogenesis (Dr hab. Monika Liguz-Lęcznar, Associate Professor). For this research, the Nencki Institute received 9,641,249 PLN.

The PACMAN project opens a new chapter in cancer therapy. Scientists will develop personalized antibody-drug conjugates (ADCs), which, unlike current solutions, do not need to penetrate cancer cells to work. Instead, they will be activated directly in the tumor microenvironment by hyperactive enzymes - extracellular matrix metalloproteinases - characteristic of aggressive cancers. The development of new therapies based on ADCs activated in the tumor microenvironment may bring significant benefits to patients: more precise delivery of anticancer drugs, reduced risk of damage to healthy tissue, reduced side effects, and personalized treatment tailored to the tumor's molecular profile.

Six renowned scientific institutions are participating in the project: Wrocław University of Science and Technology, the consortium leader; Nencki Institute PAS; Institute of Physical Chemistry PAS; Hirszfeld Institute of Immunology and Experimental Therapy PAS; University of Wrocław; and Wrocław University of Environmental and Life Sciences. Such a broad, interdisciplinary consortium enables research from the molecular level to advanced preclinical models and clinical analyses, integrating knowledge across chemistry, biology, medicine, immunology, bioinformatics, and artificial intelligence.

The Virtual Research Institute is an innovative program for financing research with high commercialization potential in medical biotechnology. The program is aimed at the most outstanding Polish scientists conducting research at the highest global level. The projects selected by international experts aim to develop new technologies in accordance with the procedures required for their commercialization within a maximum of 5 years. The program is managed by Łukasiewicz – PORT in Wrocław, which is responsible for organizing and conducting competitions, supervising the implementation of projects, and coordinating the commercialization of the results.