Lorraine Gaenaelle Ge
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Lorraine.Gaenaelle.Ge@rsyd.dk
PhD Student
Ph.D.-fellow: Lorraine Gaenaelle Gé
Supervisor: Assoc. Prof., medical physicist, Helge Thisgaard
Co-supervisor: Prof. Christine McKenzie
Co-supervisor: Assoc. Prof., cell biologist, Birgitte Brinkmann Olsen
Co-supervisor: Assoc. Prof., Radiochemist, PhD, Johan Hygum Dam
Description of the Project
Auger Electron Emitters (AEEs) hold great promise in targeted radionuclide therapy of cancer due to short decay paths. This means cell destruction can occur without extensive damage to surrounding tissues. We aim to develop methods for enabling implementation of 119Sb and 58mCo AEEs.
This will be achieved through the synthesis of biocompatible molecules suitable for specifically binding Sb or Co and transporting them to cancer cells. Molecular design principles will target the destruction of the most aggressive and deadly type of brain cancer, glioblastomas, with two approaches: (i) Synthesizing neutral molecules which can be administered directly to a tumor or diffuse across the blood-brain barrier and (ii) using triplex forming oligonucleotide (TFO) hybrids for anchoring new Sb and Co complexes to DNA. Localizing AEEs to nuclear DNA via triplex formation has immense therapeutic potential for precision targeting.
Fortuitously, both Sb and Co offer the rare opportunity for development of theranostic isotope pairs because the sister isotopes 117Sb and 55Co furnish decay characteristics appropriate for in vivo imaging by SPECT and PET scanners, respectively. In addition to targeted therapy, the ID-Cancer project will furnish new ability to monitor tumor destruction by using the devised transporter molecules loaded with 117Sb or 55Co.
Support
This project is sponsored by Novo Nordisk foundation, which covers 2 years of employment of the Ph.D-fellow and running costs of the project. The project is as well supported by The Faculty of Health Sciences (Faculty Scholarship) which covers the employment and running costs of the project for 1 year.