Small Proteins, Big Potential: New Approaches to Dementia & Cancer

Small Proteins, Big Potential: New Approaches to Dementia & Cancer – Zurich

How can tiny engineered proteins help medicines reach the brain, identify tumours and act precisely where they are needed most?

In partnership with the Swedish Swiss Chamber of Commerce, we’re inviting you to an evening at ETH Zürich exploring how protein engineering is creating new opportunities for the diagnosis and treatment of some of today’s most challenging diseases.

Professors Stefan Ståhl and John Löfblom from KTH Royal Institute of Technology will present their research on affibodies – small, highly stable engineered proteins that are approximately 4% of the size of monoclonal antibodies. Their compact structure enables excellent tissue penetration and precise targeting.

The lecture will explore affibody-based research in Alzheimer’s disease, Parkinson’s disease and frontotemporal dementia, including technologies designed to improve transport across the blood–brain barrier. It will also examine applications in cancer imaging and targeted treatment, where affibodies can guide radioisotopes or cytotoxic agents directly to tumour cells while potentially limiting effects on healthy tissue.

The evening will be hosted at ETH Zürich by Prof. Jörg Scheuermann and Prof. Dario Neri, who will provide a short introduction to ligand discovery and ligand-based drug delivery. The scientific programme will conclude with an open discussion, followed by a networking apéritif.

Introduction Speakers

Prof. Dr. Dario Neri
Lecturer at the Department of Chemistry and Applied Biosciences, EHT Zurich 

Prof. Dr. Jörg Scheuermann
Privatdozent am Departement Chemie und Angewandte Biowissenschaften, ETH

Speakers

Stefan Ståhl
Professor Molecular Biotechnology at KTH

John Löfblom
Professor, Protein Technology at KTH 

Fees

SFS members: CHF 0
Non-Members: CHF 80

In collaboration with

Swedish Swiss Chamber of Commerce