CHIMERNA (Cancer therapy hub based on smart nanoparticles for in situ Immune cell Engineering with mRNA)

Colorectal cancer (CRC) is the second leading cause of cancer-related deaths in Europe, affecting thousands annually.

Immunotherapy using engineered immune cells like dendritic cells (DCs) or cytolytic cells offers significant potential for treatment. This approach involves equipping immune cells with therapeutic programs to combat the disease. However, challenges such as delivery methods, cost, and suitable vectors remain.

CHIMERNA, a European research consortium spanning three countries, is working to develop an innovative and cost-effective platform for in situ immune cell engineering. The project integrates expertise from its partners in mRNA engineering, mRNA nanoformulation, and controlled-release hydrogels. The goal is to create a Hydrogel Immunomodulatory Therapy (HIT), an injectable lipid-based hydrogel. HIT attracts specific immune cells and uses polymeric nanoparticles loaded with optimized mRNA to program these cells with therapeutic functions.

Through seven work packages, CHIMERNA aims to deliver a proof-of-concept (PoC) for engineering DCs to create personalized neoantigen vaccines for CRC treatment. By leveraging genomic profiling and next-generation sequencing, the project will design and test tailored vaccines in a phase I clinical trial. By the project’s conclusion, CHIMERNA expects to demonstrate the effectiveness of DC vaccines for CRC, while the platform’s flexibility could enable applications in treating other diseases, such as autoimmunity and infectious diseases, broadening its impact on healthcare.