Teams 2026
Mitosis Therapeutics
Mitosis Therapeutics is developing radiotherapy-enhancing strategies designed to improve cancer treatment without increasing damage to surrounding healthy tissues.
The ENRICH technology is based an orally available drug that temporarily traps dividing tumor cells in a highly radiation-sensitive phase of the cell cycle. By carefully timing administration before radiotherapy, tumors become more vulnerable to radiation, increasing treatment efficacy while minimizing additional toxicity to normal tissues. Unlike conventional radiotherapy enhancers that inhibit DNA repair, the ENRICH approach specifically targets actively dividing cells and is therefore expected to provide a more selective therapeutic benefit.
The concept was initially developed for glioblastoma, an aggressive brain cancer with limited treatment options. Preclinical studies demonstrated promising results, and a first clinical trial in glioblastoma is currently in preparation.
During the Venture Challenge, the team will explore expansion of the ENRICH platform toward sarcoma, a rare group of cancers in which radiotherapy plays an important role prior to surgery. Because preservation of surrounding healthy tissue is critical for these patients, sarcoma may represent an ideal setting for this targeted radiation-enhancement strategy.
Involved institute: NKI
Amnis
Despite successful surgical removal of their tumor, a significant proportion of patients diagnosed with early-stage melanoma remain at risk of recurrence of this aggressive skin cancer type. Conventional intravenously administered immunotherapies are often deemed unsuitable in this setting due to the risk of chronic toxicity. Clinical studies conducted at Amsterdam UMC have demonstrated that a single injection of a particular immune-stimulatory agent can induce effective immunity against melanoma without serious side effects and can significantly reduce the risk of recurrence. The aim of this project is the repurposing of this agent as locally administered (mono)therapy for patients with early-stage melanoma.
Institute: Amsterdam UMC | Cancer Center Amsterdam and Immunotherapy Center
M-VaD team
The M-VaD team aims to repurpose an already existing drug with a safe profile of use in the patients to treat and prevent vascular dementia (VaD). In Europe, nearly 14.3 million people are expected to live with dementia by 2050, with vascular dementia being a significant contributor. In the Netherlands alone, around 300,000 individuals are affected. Research shows that this drug can improve vascular health and reduce vascular aging, both of which are significant contributors to VaD. With strong preclinical evidence and epidemiological support from their studies, the M-VaD team aims to offer safe and cost-effective prevention/treatment for VaD. However, large-scale clinical trials are required to confirm its efficacy in this new indication, and funding is needed for marketing and commercializing the product.
Institute: Erasmus MC
CHOCOLAD: cholesterol conversion for late onset AD
Alzheimer’s disease affects around 50 million people worldwide and is one of the leading causes of disability and healthcare burden in ageing populations. Despite major advances in research, disease-modifying treatments that can prevent, stop or revert Alzheimer’s disease do currently not exist. Growing evidence suggests that disrupted cholesterol and lipid metabolism in the brain plays a key role in Alzheimer’s disease. Our research has identified a promising opportunity to repurpose the HIV drug efavirenz for Alzheimer’s disease. We discovered that efavirenz can restore cholesterol balance in human brain cells and reduce key Alzheimer’s-related changes, and we have initiated clincial trials with this drug. If successful, our treatment could become the first brain cholesterol-targeting therapy for Alzheimer’s disease, offering a potentially affordable way to prevent, delay, or slow disease progression.
Institute: Amsterdam UMC