The Marqués de Valdecilla Health Research Institute (IDIVAL) is strengthening its commitment to health innovation through the DTEC-VAL program, which in its latest edition has allocated €17,000 to a project led by Dr. Mónica López Fanarraga, Professor in the Department of Molecular Biology and IDIVAL researcher. The goal is to advance the development of a new gene transfer system based on biocompatible silica nanoparticles, a technology with the potential to transform access to advanced cancer therapies.
The DTEC-VAL program, with a total budget of €30,000, aims to support initiatives in the technological maturation phase that can have a direct impact on clinical practice, fostering collaboration among hospitals, universities, and companies. Its focus areas include biomedicine, biotechnology, electromedicine, and pharmaceutical technology, among other key fields.
The Challenge of CAR-T Therapies
CAR-T therapies have represented a major breakthrough in oncology by offering an effective alternative for certain hematological cancers. These treatments involve modifying a patient’s T lymphocytes so that they can recognize and attack tumor cells. However, current production methods using viral vectors are costly, unreliable, and difficult to scale, limiting their accessibility. Meanwhile, non-viral alternatives still face challenges in terms of efficiency and standardization.
Dr. López Fanarraga’s team proposes an innovative gene transfer system based on silica nanoparticles, protected under patent ES2934282A1. These particles offer several key advantages:
• High stability and protection of DNA against degradation.• Simple, scalable, and reproducible production.
• Versatility to encapsulate, protect, and transfect genes of different sizes.
• Potential for targeted delivery through ligands.
Thanks to these properties, the system could reduce the cost and complexity of CAR-T cell production and, in the future, be applied directly to patients, eliminating part of the complex ex vivo manipulation currently required in laboratories.
Expected Impact
This advancement could have a direct impact on the accessibility and safety of gene therapies, by lowering production costs, minimizing risks associated with viral vectors, and opening the door to new applications beyond cancer, such as autoimmune, rare, or neurological diseases.
Moreover, the project represents a strategic opportunity for Cantabria, as it provides the region with technological capabilities in a key area for personalized medicine. For IDIVAL, it strengthens its position as a national leader in nanotechnology applied to biomedicine, consolidating its translational research model focused on delivering real solutions for patients and the healthcare system.
