Nadia Guerra, PhD, CRI - Esther M. Baird Technology Impact Award Investigator Imperial College London Area of Research: Liver Cancer, Multiple Myeloma While there have been significant advancements in cancer treatment through immunotherapies, there is still an urgent need for early cancer detection, monitoring of cancer relapse post-treatment, and monitoring severe adverse effects. These tests are often invasive, time-consuming, and require multiple procedures to gather comprehensive information. The emergence of nanobiosensors presents a promising path for affordable, non-invasive diagnosis and monitoring through blood and urine samples. In Dr. Guerra’s multidisciplinary project, she proposes to harness novel multiplexed nanobiosensors and the existing knowledge of cancer biology and immunity to develop a fingerprinting approach to detect a broad spectrum of genetic (DNA and RNA) and protein markers encompassing cancer type and disease stage. The technology will be optimized and validated in vitro and in tumor models. She will then prospectively analyze biofluids from cancer patients prior to and during Immunotherapy to validate the technology in a clinical setting, focusing on samples from liver cancer and multiple myeloma patients. Her unique biosensor platform will enable (1) earlier and more precise cancer diagnosis, (2) continuous monitoring of treatment adverse effects and treatment effectiveness, including the emergence of drug resistance, and (3) personalized treatment plans based on predicted responses to specific therapies. The proposed project holds the potential to transform cancer diagnostics and treatment monitoring, moving towards a multiplexed, versatile biomarker approach for quantitative molecular profiling and fostering a more individualized and effective approach to cancer care. Projects and Grants Versatile nanobiosensors for cancer diagnosis and immune monitoring in cancer treatment Imperial College London | Liver Cancer and Multiple Myeloma | 2024
