October 28, 2024

How PhD researcher is using targeted treatments to wage war on tumours

Elahe Minaei named one of five finalists in Rising Researcher Award

Cancer is often referred to as a fight, a battle taking place within the body that demands a scorched earth approach.

Now imagine an army that is meticulously trained, which targets enemy strongholds with precision and purpose.

This is where Elahe Minaei believes the future of cancer research and treatment lies, as she pursues her goal of combating one of the deadliest of all diseases – pancreatic cancer.

A third-year PhD researcher in Associate Professor Kara Vine-Perrow's Targeted Cancer Therapeutics Research Laboratory at the University of Wollongong (UOW), Elahe is developing targeted drug delivery that will act like a tool to raise a specialised army in the body, eradicating tumours without destroying the surrounding healthy cells.

Using revolutionary immunotherapies, Elahe’s approach relies on the integral role that the immune system plays in the body. Immunotherapy is a type of treatment that uses one’s immune system to eradicate the cancer.

“Imagine immune cells as soldiers in an army. In leukaemia, the army has already started the fight against the cancer. But they’ve got to the point when they’re exhausted and outnumbered and sending ‘give up’ signals,” she said.

“Immunotherapy blocks those signals and reinvigorates immune systems, just like energy drinks packaged in the form of antibodies.

“On the other hand, we have pancreatic cancer, where the immune army hasn’t noticed the cancer calls because they’re too similar to the body’s own cells. In this scenario, immunotherapy, should aim at informing and weaponising the army and keeping them energised. That requires a combination of treatments that can be too toxic if given through the blood stream as they raise a large army everywhere in the body, attacking everything, including healthy organs. This can be fatal.

“But what if we could harness immune systems where they are needed? That is the purpose of my PhD,” Elahe said. 

Using a 3D printer, Elahe has devised unique, biocompatible and biodegradable implantable devices. Loading them with multiple immunotherapies, she inserted the devices right next to the tumour for a targeted cancer treatment. The research is in the development phase, but Elahe said the early results are promising. The aim is to implant these devices into the tumours of pancreatic cancer patients.

“The beauty of this localised approach is that it only raises an army where it needs to be, around the tumour. And because it’s localised immunotherapy, once the war is over, the remaining soldiers are more empowered.”

Since undertaking her PhD, Elahe has gained a reputation for being a gifted science communicator. It is not an easy feat in a field that is dominated by intricate and complicated scientific concepts that are often difficult for the wider public to grasp.

Elahe was the overall winner and people’s choice winner of this year’s UOW Three-Minute Thesis competition, which encourages PhD candidates to distil their research into a short, punchy three-minute presentation.

This month, Elahe has been announced as one of five finalists in the Rising Researcher Award, a nationwide competition run by Promega, a global biotechnology company. It relies on public votes, and Elahe is encouraging everyone to show their support for her radical approach to cancer treatment. The finalist with the most votes – the Grand Prize - will win a trip to Promega headquarters in Wisconsin in the United States, to meet and present their project to the company’s Research and Development team.

Combining a love of science with a love of storytelling, Elahe is dedicated to ensuring that her complex and sophisticated research is easy to understand for all.

“An interesting moment in my scientific journey was realising that my passion for storytelling and poetry could merge with my research, leading me to explore how the internal world of the body mirrors the external one. This perspective has guided my work in developing innovative cancer treatments that not only target the disease but also resonate with the human experience on a deeper level.”

Elahe cites Neil deGrasse Tyson, an astrophysicist, author, and science communicator, as her favourite scientist for his ability to make science “accessible and exhilarating”. It is his approach she seeks to emulate in her own research.

“He has a gift for breaking down complex scientific concepts, making them understandable and exciting for everyone. His ability to weave humour, curiosity, and profound knowledge into his explanations allows him to connect with people on a personal level.”

Elahe was thrilled to be chosen as one of the five finalists for the Promega award, drawn from researchers around Australia.

“Receiving the Grand Prize would provide me with the opportunity to collaborate with leading scientists and drive forward advancements in treatments that have the potential to significantly improve outcomes for cancer patients.”

To vote for Elahe’s project in the Rising Researcher Award, visit: https://www.promega.com.au/c/landing-pages/elahe-minaei-profile-page?accordion0=0,1,2,3,4