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On October 3, 2026, members of the Casini Lab (TUM) participated in the Open Day at the Research Campus Garching, engaging with the public to showcase how medicinal and bioinorganic chemistry intersect with modern data science and innovation.

Collaborating with the Munich Data Science Institute (MDSI) and the Konrad Zuse School of Excellence in Reliable AI (relAI), researchers Dr. Íñigo Iribarren Aguirre, Niccolò Radice, and Felix Böhm hosted interactive hands-on stations for visitors of all ages. Through tactile molecular model-building, 3D structural analyses, and computational chemistry games—in which participants tested their intuition against machine-learning models for materials and molecular binding—the team highlighted the excitement of scientific discovery and the core concepts driving advanced chemical design.

©Isabella Almstätter / TUM

The latest research publication from the Whitney Group, “Imaging xCT with Immuno-PET in Therapy-ResistantNon–Small Cell Lung Cancer”, is a Featured Basic Science Article in the latest edition of The Journal of Nuclear Medicine.

Tamara Trajkovic of the Holland Lab presented “A novel multicomponent bioorthogonal double-click strategy for constructing Tc(VII) trioxo-based radiopharmaceuticals” at the fifth edition of the International Symposium on Technetium and Other Radiometals in Chemistry and Medicine (TERACHEM 2026).

The 3rd SMARTdrugs annual meeting has just taken place at UMCU in Utrecht.

A major highlight of the gathering was the active and vibrant participation of early career researchers, who showcased their cutting-edge findings through oral presentations, injecting fresh perspectives into the consortium’s collaborative goals and proof-of-concept results. Additionally, the program featured a  clinical workshop designed to bridge the gap between benchside discovery and translational medicine, fostering vital discussions on clinical trial design and regulatory pathways for upcoming SMARTdrugs therapies.

It was also a great occasion to integrate the recently added Hop-On partner Team GIMM into the network.

Vera Neves, a core member of the GIMM SMARTdrugs team, has been selected for the EIC Women Leadership Program (WLP), an initiative by the European Innovation Council that strengthens leadership, mentoring, and networking skills among top women researchers and entrepreneurs in Europe’s innovation ecosystem (June 3–4 2026).

For the SMARTdrugs consortium, this selection opens valuable doors to visibility and strategic connections across Europe’s biotech and deep-tech sectors. With access to leading mentors and international stakeholders, we’re excited about the opportunities this brings for advancing our brain delivery technologies for patients with unmet medical needs.

Michal Juríček, in collaboration with the Holland Lab, explore how scientists use radioactive molecules and antimatter to detect and treat cancer.

By designing molecules that selectively bind to cancer cells like a key to a lock, the research team of Jason Holland attach radionuclides that decay and release positrons. These positrons meet electrons and release energy that is detected by specialized PET cameras, creating a real-time 3D map of the cancer’s location.

But it doesn’t stop at imaging. We reveal how the very same targeting molecules can be paired with different radionuclides — one to visualize tumors, another to deliver radiation that destroys cancer cells — turning science fiction into one of the most powerful tools in modern medicine.

From diagnosis to therapy, this is precision medicine powered by chemistry.

Produced with Matúš Okajček.

Chemistry Unwrapped.

We’re thrilled to announce our upcoming student-led symposia:

Exploring the Future of Precision Medicine

This event will bring together PhD students to dive into the cutting-edge developments shaping the future of personalized healthcare. Whether you’re passionate about radiotherapeutics, data-driven diagnostics, or innovative therapies, this is your chance to connect, learn, and contribute.

All details—including how to apply—can be found here.

Last week, we had the pleasure of hosting the second annual meeting of our EIC Pathfinder Open network SMARTdrugs at King’s College London, bringing together brilliant minds from across institutions and disciplines, featuring Angela Casini, Miguel Castanho, Jason Holland, Jordi Llop, Alex Poot, and Tim Witney.

Our talented PhD students took the stage to present their impressive progress over the past year. Their dedication and innovative approaches continue to push the boundaries of what’s possible in the SMARTdrugs development.

We were honored to welcome Maria Kitsara from Bioemtech to the meeting. Her insightful presentation brought a fresh perspective on biomedical imaging and its role in advancing the SMARTdrugs technologies.