I joined Translational Genomics Research Institute, part of City of Hope, late last year to launch the Center for Accelerated Nanotherapeutics.
The center focuses on developing and advancing nanobody-based therapies—therapeutics derived from the single-domain antibodies of camelids such as alpacas, llamas, and camels—to treat cancer and other serious diseases.
Nanobodies, also known as VHHs, are compact, stable, and highly specific antibody fragments that can access targets traditional antibodies cannot. Their small size and structural simplicity allow for improved tissue penetration, manufacturability, and engineering versatility.
These features make nanobodies promising candidates for next-generation cancer diagnostics and therapeutics.
Their small size also allows them greater access to the brain, and I’ve already generated several leads against Alzheimer’s disease targets that we’re also developing at the center.
The Center for Accelerated Nanotherapeutics is designed to harness the power of camelid-derived nanobodies and move them swiftly toward clinical applications.
By integrating synthetic biology, protein engineering, and phage display technologies, we aim to create a pipeline of nanobody therapeutics that are fast to develop and precisely targeted.
Building on my expertise in molecular neuroscience and translational science, the center serves as a multidisciplinary hub—bringing together immunologists, structural biologists, oncologists, and bioengineers to design, test, and optimize nanobody-based treatments.
Our early-stage efforts include creating nanobodies against tumor-specific antigens, immune checkpoint molecules, and cancer-associated signaling proteins.
One core initiative involves designing modular nanobody platforms that can be rapidly adapted for use in CAR T cells, bispecific antibodies, and nanobody-drug conjugates.
As Jeffrey Trent, PhD, TGen president and research director, put it, “Nanobodies are a transformative technology with the potential to reshape the therapeutic and theranostics landscape.”
This new center positions TGen and City of Hope at the forefront of nanotherapeutic innovation in cancer research.
In addition to therapeutic development, we’re also investing in novel screening and expression systems to streamline nanobody discovery and production, including the use of synthetic libraries and phage display to bypass animal immunization when possible.
Advancing these nanotherapeutics to clinical stage will require effort across teams at both TGen and City of Hope, and I am excited about the collaborations that have already started as well as ones to come.
The future of cancer therapeutics lies in precision, speed, and flexibility. Our goal is to make nanotherapeutics as programmable and efficient as possible.
Discover the latest innovations in cancer research on City of Hope’s new podcast, “On the Edge of Breakthrough: Voices of Cancer Research.” Available on Spotify, Apple Podcasts and at cityofhope.org/edge-of-breakthrough.
City of Hope® is one of the largest and most advanced cancer research and treatment organizations in the U.S., with its National Medical Center named top 5 in the nation for cancer by U.S. News & World Report. To learn more about City of Hope, visit: www.cityofhope.org.
