DCMatters Project
The DCMatters project aims to study an innovative therapeutic approach based on the combination of dendritic cell (DC) vaccine together with immune checkpoint inhibitors, such as inhibition of PD-1/PD-L1 immune checkpoint, as first-line therapy in patients with solid malignancies, which is financed by the research and technological development incentive system (SI I&DT, AVISO Nº 17/SI/2019) with reference 47212. An in silico approach will be explored by building machine learning classification models to predict the inhibition of PD-1/PD-L1 in dendritic cells, which subsequently are going to be applied to a library of off-patent small molecules and approved drugs. These virtual hits will be prioritized using computer-aided drug design softwares which afterwards will be validated in vitro, in order to optimize the DCs maturation with the aim of increasing the potential of DCs to activate T-cells and therefore increase T-cell antitumor activity.
This project is part of the studies of the Glycoimmunology group, which has stood out with publications and projects on the mechanisms controlling the maturation of dendritic cells and their antitumor activity, developing technologies to improve their application as anti-cancer vaccines.
DCMatters Project Official Website: http://www.dcmatters.eu/
Co Promoters:
Stemmatters - Biotechnology and Regenerative Medicine S.A
Instituto Português de Oncologia do Porto Francisco Gentil (IPO) - EPE
NOVA School of Science and Technology - NOVA University Lisbon
CINTESIS / FMUP
Researchers of NOVA School of Science and Technology:
Paula Videira, DCV - Departamento de Ciências da Vida
Florbela Pereira, DQ - Departamento de Química
Zélia Silva, DCV - Departamento de Ciências da Vida
Jaime Mota, DCV - Departamento de Ciências da Vida
João Aires de Sousa, DQ - Departamento de Química
João Almeida, DCV - Departamento de Ciências da Vida
José Sampaio, DCV - Departamento de Ciências da Vida
Margarida Braga, DCV - Departamento de Ciências da Vida
Patricia Sobral, DCV - Departamento de Ciências da Vida
Vanessa Luz, DCV - Departamento de Ciências da Vida