Alina Ringaci
Improving the Safety and Efficacy of Existing Antibody-Drug Conjugates for Cancer Treatment
Summary
Antibody-drug conjugates (ADCs) are a new type of cancer treatment that use special proteins called antibodies to deliver drugs directly to cancer cells. This targeted approach helps kill cancer cells while sparing healthy ones. Several ADCs are already used in clinics, but they often release the drug too early, before reaching the cancer cells, which affects healthy cells and causes side effects. I’m developing a new way to connect the drug to the antibody using short proteins called coiled-coil peptides. One set of these peptides is attached to the antibody, and the matching set is attached to the drug. When mixed together, the peptides fit like puzzle pieces, linking the drug to the antibody. This approach allows us to create well-defined and stable antibody-drug conjugates, holding the drug securely and potentially reducing the risk of the drug falling off before reaching a cancer cell.
I am very grateful to receive the PhRMA Foundation Predoctoral Fellowship in Drug Delivery. This award is an important milestone in my journey toward my PhD, providing support and encouragement for my further growth as a researcher in the field of drug delivery.
