# smartdrugs2024.com


## Posts

- [Antimatter against cancer?](https://smartdrugs2024.com/?p=1480): Zurich 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 […]
- [Exploring the Future of Precision Medicine ](https://smartdrugs2024.com/?p=1465): Online 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.
- [SMARTdrugs Annual Meeting 2025 ](https://smartdrugs2024.com/?p=1414): London 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.
- [News Article: Commitment to Supporting Young Talents through the TUM Entdeckerinnen Program](https://smartdrugs2024.com/?p=1379): Garching
- [News Article: Biopharma dives into tumor-seeking radioactive drugs](https://smartdrugs2024.com/?p=1371): Garching
- [17th Wolfsberg Meeting on Radiation Biology and Oncology](https://smartdrugs2024.com/?p=1366): Oslo Jason introduces the SMARTdrugs program and the concept of mechanical bonding at the 17th Wolfsberg Meeting on Radiation Biology and Oncology, Oslo, Norway (23rd June 2025) 
- [Lange Nacht der Universitäten (Long Night of Science)](https://smartdrugs2024.com/?p=1348): Munich Shout out to the #students who organized an impressive “Lange Nacht der Universitäten” (Long Night of Science) at Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität München on 30 April this year. With lecture halls bursting with capacity, the Technical University of Munich School of Natural Sciences professors presented great topics for a general audience.  Prof. Angela Casini gave a lecture on “ The Periodic Table of the Elements as the Powerhouse of Drug Discovery”
- [Student-Led Symposia](https://smartdrugs2024.com/?p=1330): TUM, Raitenhaslach. Members of the SMARTdrugs network participated in a student-led symposium from the 7th – 9th of April, filled with insightful presentations and engaging discussions. A huge thank you to all the students and international guests who presented and everyone who attended!
- [LSCCB International Conference 2025 for Drug Discovery and Development](https://smartdrugs2024.com/?p=1312): Hong Kong Prof. Angela Casini visits Hong Kong to present the SMARTdrugs design concept of new theranostic agents to the Laboratory for Synthetic Chemistry and Chemical Biology (LSCCB) funded by the InnoHK program. The event involved ca. 80 participants, including PIs, students and delegates from Imperial College London.
- [SMARTdrugs @EMIM](https://smartdrugs2024.com/?p=1284): Bilbao Many of our Team Members attended the annual meeting of the European Society of Molecular Imaging in Bilbao (11-14 March 2025). Dr. Jordi Loop, as president of the ESMI,  gave the opening session and was involved in the organization of the conference. Many of our Early Career Researchers obtained Awards for their Poster presentations, or received the “Work Group Award”. Moreover, they actively engaged in the “Science speed dating’” event organized by the youngESMI. Overall, a FANTASTIC contribution to a Stellar Event!! Well done Folks!
- [Global Young Scientists Summit](https://smartdrugs2024.com/?p=1229): Singapore
- [News Article: Scientists develop new scans that light-up aggressive cancer tumours for better treatment](https://smartdrugs2024.com/?p=1163): London
- [News Article: Assembling a New Generation of Radiopharmaceuticals with Supramolecular Theranostics](https://smartdrugs2024.com/?p=1116): Garching
- [High School Visit](https://smartdrugs2024.com/?p=1087): König-Karlmann-Gymnasium Altötting On the 14th November Marike Drexler (@TUM), our “SMARTdrugs” PhD student, had a stand at the study fair of König-Karlmann-Gymnasium Altötting.
- [2024 LCC Symposium of Young Investigators](https://smartdrugs2024.com/?p=1113): Toulouse On Friday 8th November 2024, Prof. Angela Casini (TUM) gave a lecture on medicinal inorganic chemistry, attended by PhDs and post docs as well as PIs of the Laboratoire de Chimie de Coordination (LCC) of the CNRS.
- [1st Annual Plenary Meeting](https://smartdrugs2024.com/?p=36): TUM, Raitenhaslach. The first Annual Plenary Meeting of the SMARTdrugs network met at the TUM Science & Study Center Raitenhaslach on the 3rd – 4th of October. 2024.
- [Growing cancer in chicken eggs](https://smartdrugs2024.com/?p=1013): King’s College, London. It’s predicted from Cancer Research UK’s data that 1 in 2 of us will develop cancer in our lifetime. In this short documentary, and in collaboration with King’s College London, Understanding Animal Research explores one of the alternative models being used in cancer research. Professor Tim Witney explains how his team is trying to reduce the number of mice used in science and medical research when imaging cancer, by using chicken eggs.

## Pages

- [Castanho Team - GIMM](https://smartdrugs2024.com/?page_id=1407): Prof. Dr. Miguel Castanho Dr. Vera Neves  Dr. Marco Cavaco Marco Cavaco (H-index 14) began his academic journey at the Lisbon School of Pharmacy, where he studied Pharmaceutical Sciences. He then continued at the Lisbon School of Medicine, completing his doctoral thesis in Biomedical Sciences in 2022 under the supervision of Prof. Dr. Miguel Castanho and Prof. Dr. Vera Neves. His research focused on designing and studying novel brain-penetrating peptides to enhance the brain accumulation of drugs, along with the development of novel anticancer agents, including anticancer peptides and antibody fragments, aimed at treating breast cancer. After earning his PhD, […]
- [ITM](https://smartdrugs2024.com/?page_id=1212): ITM Isotope Technologies Munich SE (ITM), a leading radiopharmaceutical biotech company is dedicated to providing a new generation of radiomolecular precision therapeutics and diagnostics for hard-to-treat tumors. We aim to meet the needs of cancer patients, clinicians and our partners through excellence in development, production and global supply. With improved patient benefit as the driving principle for all we do, ITM advances a broad precision oncology pipeline, including two phase III studies, combining the company’s high-quality radioisotopes with a range of targeting molecules. By leveraging our nearly two decades of pioneering radiopharma expertise, central industry position and established global network, ITM […]
- [BIOEMTECH](https://smartdrugs2024.com/?page_id=1205): BIOEMTECH is a preclinical CRO that aims to bridge the gap between ex vivo studies and in vivo molecular imaging, by providing cost effective solutions in terms of instrumentation and services. BIOEMTECH has developed and commercialized the “eyesTM, the first desktop cameras, suitable for whole-body, real-time imaging of PET and SPECT isotopes in small animals. Finally, BIOEMTECH is active as an imaging partner in several projects including H2020, FET, ERA, ITN and more. In SMARTdrugs, BIOEMTECH provides advices on the preclinical investigation and possible commercialisation of the newly developed supramolecular radio-theranostics.   https://bioemtech.com/ BIOEMTECH Contact persons: Dr. George Loudos, CEO: george@bioemtech.com Dr. Maria Kitsara, Science & Innovation […]
- [Media Groups](https://smartdrugs2024.com/?page_id=1188): Proudly powered by WordPress
- [Study Fairs and Open Days](https://smartdrugs2024.com/?page_id=1184): Proudly powered by WordPress
- [Participation to Symposia/Workshops](https://smartdrugs2024.com/?page_id=1180): Proudly powered by WordPress
- [Industry Partners](https://smartdrugs2024.com/?page_id=1123): Proudly powered by WordPress
- [Outreach](https://smartdrugs2024.com/?page_id=782): Electronic Media @SMARTdrugs_ #SMARTdrugs_ SMARTdrugs Participation to Symposia/Workshops Study Fairs and Open Days Media Groups Proudly powered by WordPress
- [Scientific Advisors](https://smartdrugs2024.com/?page_id=587): Prof. Dr. Kevin M. Brindle Kevin M. Brindle, D. Phil., is Emeritus Professor of Biomedical Magnetic Resonance in the Department of  Biochemistry at the University of Cambridge and a Senior Group Leader in the Cancer Research UK Cambridge Institute.  He got his BA (Biochemistry,1978) and D. Phil (1982) in Oxford, before becoming a Royal Society University Research Fellow in 1986.  He moved to a lectureship in Manchester in 1990 and in 1993 to a lectureship in Cambridge, where he became Professor in 2005. The current focus of his work is to develop novel imaging methods to detect cancer, disease progression and to monitor early […]
- [Management Committee](https://smartdrugs2024.com/?page_id=585): Prof. Dr. Angela Casini (TUM) Prof. Dr. Jason P. Holland (UZH) Dr. Jordi Llop (CICbiomaGUNE) Dr. Alex Poot (UMCU) Prof. Dr. Tim Witney (KCL) Prof. Dr. Miguel Castanho (GIMM) Rosie Lewis (PhD student representative, KCL) Nina Willnhammerl (PhD student representative, TUM) Dr. Claudia Schmidt (TUM) Proudly powered by WordPress
- [Governance](https://smartdrugs2024.com/?page_id=583): The Management Board, chaired by TUM, comprises the lead scientists at all partner institutions, and two elected ESR representatives from the appointed PhD and postdocs & an associate researcher. This board will prepare all formal documents including the SMARTdrugs data Management Plan, IP Rights management plan, etc.. The board will oversee global financial management, scientific and financial reporting, and issues related to exploitation or licensing of the results. The board will make final decisions on communication strategies. In conjunction with our respective legal entities, and with input from the Scientific Advisory Team and our industrial partners, the Board will handle […]
- [Meetings](https://smartdrugs2024.com/?page_id=475): – Kick-off Meeting and Symposium 22-23rd February 2024 @TUM. – 1st Annual Meeting 3-4th October 2024 @TUM – 2nd Annual Meeting 3-5th September 2025 @KCL 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 also […]
- [ Data Management Plan](https://smartdrugs2024.com/?page_id=430)
- [Poot Team - UMCU](https://smartdrugs2024.com/?page_id=381): Dr. Alex Poot Dr. Berend van der Wildt Berend van der Wildt obtained his PhD in Radiopharmaceutical Sciences in 2017 at the Amsterdam University Medical Center where he developed small molecule PET tracers targeting tissue transglutaminase. He continued his career at Stanford University as a post-doctoral researcher designing PET tracers for imaging of tumor associated macrophages in neuro-oncology. In 2019, after obtaining a VENI grant from the Dutch Research Council, Berend returned to the Amsterdam University Medical Center where he focused on developing PET tracers specific for anti-inflammatory microglia in neuro-oncology and neuroinflammation. Currently, Berend has a position at the […]
- [Publications](https://smartdrugs2024.com/?page_id=344): Proudly powered by WordPress
- [Witney Team - KCL](https://smartdrugs2024.com/?page_id=200): Prof. Dr. Tim Witney Rosie Lewis (PhD candidate) Rosie Lewis is a PhD student involved in the biological characterisation of SMARTdrugs in non-small cell lung cancer models. She obtained her bachelor’s degree from the University of Bath which included a year in the Molecular Pharmacology team at Bicycle Therapeutics. Her role in the Witney lab includes PET imaging of novel radiotheranostics to chatacterise their capabilities as emerging technologies for the diagnosis and treatment of lung cancer. Much of this screening work will be done in ovo utilising the chickCAM model to be able to identify the most promising SMARTdrugs to be taken […]
- [Llop Team - CICbiomaGUNE](https://smartdrugs2024.com/?page_id=195): Dr. Jordi Llop Dr. Vanessa Gómez-Vallejo Dr. V. Gómez-Vallejo, chemist and Chemical Engineer, did her PhD on the development of labelling strategies using short-lived positron emitters. Between 2005 and 2007 she worked as Quality Control Responsible in the Radiopharmaceutical Laboratory at IAT-PRBB, where she was involved in preclinical and clinical studies sponsored by research institutions and pharmaceutical companies. Since October 2007, Dr. Vanessa Gómez-Vallejo is the Platform Manager in Radiochemistry at CIC biomaGUNE, where she is providing support to internal and external researchers and  coordinates training and maintenance activities. During the last 10 years, Dr. Gómez-Vallejo has led the implementation […]
- [Holland Team - UZH](https://smartdrugs2024.com/?page_id=176): Prof. Dr. Jason P. Holland Dr. Cesare Berton ( Funded by SMARTdrugs) Cesare is from Bassano del Grappa, Italy. He obtained his bachelor’s and master’s degrees in the University of Padova under the supervision of Prof. Cristiano Zonta working on molecular recognition events, organic synthesis and spectroscopy. The following step in his pathway was the Ph.D. in Chemistry and Chemical Engineering obtained at EPFL under the joint supervision of Prof. Kay Severin from the Laboratoire de Chimie Supramoléculaire and Dr. Cristian Pezzato. During the doctoral times, he investigated the synthesis and the aqueous photochemistry of merocyanine photoacids, with particular emphasis […]
- [Casini Team - TUM](https://smartdrugs2024.com/?page_id=165): Prof. Dr. Angela Casini Dr. Claudia Schmidt (Senior research associate) Dr. Guillermo Moreno-Alcántar (Funded by SMARTdrugs) Guillermo got his PhD in Chemistry at Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México in 2018 under the supervision of Prof. Dr. Hugo Torrens, working in the study of supramolecular interactions and photophysical properties of gold(I) and silver(I) compounds. From 2018 to 2020, as a Postdoctoral Fellow in the group of Prof. Luisa De Cola at the Institut de Science et d’Ingénierie Supramoléculaires in Strasbourg, France, he studied the possibilities of controlling self-assembly processes of luminescent platinum-based coordination compounds by using tangential agents such as the […]
- [Our Network](https://smartdrugs2024.com/?page_id=103): Prof. Dr. Angela Casini Prof. Dr. Jason P. Holland Dr. Jordi Llop Dr. Alex Poot Prof. Dr. Tim Witney Proudly powered by WordPress
- [Research](https://smartdrugs2024.com/?page_id=102): WP – 1 Supramolecular and Radiopharmaceutical Chemistry (TUM, UZH, CIC) WP – 2 Biochemical testing in vitro & in vivo (CIC, TUM, UZH, UMCU, KCL) WP – 3 Comparative radiotheranostic studies (UMCU, KCL, CIC) Proudly powered by WordPress
- [Contact Us](https://smartdrugs2024.com/?page_id=101): Technical University of Munich (TUM)School of Natural SciencesDepartment of ChemistryLichtenbergstr. 485748 Garching b. MünchenGermany contact@smartdrugs2024.com @SMARTdrugs_ #SMARTdrugs_ SMARTdrugs Proudly powered by WordPress
- [SMARTdrugs](https://smartdrugs2024.com/): From diagnostic applications in the quantification and characterisation of biomarker expression in cancer patients, through to molecularly targeted radionuclide therapy, radiopharmaceuticals are at the frontline of modern personalised medicine. The radical long-term vision of SMARTdrugs is to harness the untapped potential of supramolecular chemistry to create a new class of therapies – radiotheranostics – which combine both diagnostic and therapeutic radionuclides in one compound. By using the self-assembly of host-guest supramolecular coordination complexes and molecularly interlocked molecules as scaffolds for creating supramolecular radiotheranostic drugs, new methods for radiotheranostic synthesis that break away from conventional medicinal chemistry concept will be introduced. […]


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