Feasibility phase

Malignant brain tumours often lead to death despite state-of-the-art medical treatment. The current standard includes surgical removal of the tumour as well as extensive combination treatments that involve various therapy methods. TumiKo-ZAP 2 pursues an innovative approach to strengthen the immune response. The aim is to specifically activate the body‘s own immune cells, so-called sentinel cells, before surgical intervention takes place. Research shows that these cells have a high therapeutic potential and accumulate in the skull bone near the tumour.

A Revolutionary Interface for Brain Tumour Immunotherapy

In the feasibility phase, the demonstrator is being developed for an advanced medical device that serves as a local interface for the treatment of brain tumours. This minimally invasive approach makes it possible to introduce drug and cellular therapies directly and gently through the bone. Through this interface, the active substances can be released in the brain in a targeted manner and passed on by the guardian cells. Continuous measurement of local activity also allows real-time insights into the disease progression. The approach is unique because it combines diagnosis, monitoring and treatment of brain diseases in a way that has never been done before. This opens up new perspectives for the treatment of brain tumours and represents a significant advance in medical care. The focus here is on a holistic solution that closes the gap between the current standard treatment and an innovative
immunotherapy.

Conceptual phase

The research of the project team shows for the first time that compartments of the immune system form as a dynamic component of brain tumour diseases in the skull bone. These ‘cranioencephalic’ units are an unexpected interface to brain tumour immunology.

By accessing these structures, the project aims to contribute to new and particularly sustainable standards in the care of malignant brain tumours. Among other things the aim is to innovate molecular and imaging diagnostics and the development of new medical devices for oncology, as well as in the production and application of pharmaceuticals for personalised cellular therapy.

During the exploratory phase (i) transfer-relevant exploitation ideas will be refined and existing IP rights examined, (ii) the team and external partnerships will be established, (iii) the work plan for the feasibility phase will be put into concrete terms and (iv) strategic patent applications for the utilisation channels will be prepared. Open questions will additionally be answered in order to (i) clarify the future needs of the utilisation ideas and estimate the market, (ii) to substantiate the innovation potential and (iii) further develop the scientific concept.

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