Matthew Groves partner in the SNN-JTF funded project DELPHI

We are happy to announce that the RUG/UMCG spin-off Protyon is coordinating the €1.8 million DELPHI project, a collaboration between the University of Groningen, UMCG, Protyon, and Health-Ecore, aimed at advancing personalized oncology. This funding has been awarded by the Samenwerkingsverband Noord-Nederland (SNN) - Just Transition Fund (JTF).

The DELPHI project seeks to revolutionise lung cancer treatment through cutting-edge molecular modeling and computational analysis. Building on established collaborations between UMCG, the University of Groningen, and regional SMEs, namely, Health-Ecore and Protyon, the initiative aims to deliver personalised treatment recommendations by utilising molecular fingerprints and advanced tools to create detailed 3D models of cancer-driving proteins in patients.

Lung cancer remains the most common type of cancer globally and the leading cause of cancer-related mortality, with approximately 2 million new diagnoses and 1.8 million deaths annually. Europe and North America, in particular, face a high prevalence of this disease, making it the most frequently diagnosed cancer among both men and women. In the Netherlands, lung cancer ranks among the top causes of cancer-related deaths, with about 13,000 new cases diagnosed each year.

Protyon is pioneering advancements in personalized medicine by harnessing molecular modeling to address the challenges of non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) among others. Through this innovative approach, Protyon aims to deliver patient-specific treatment strategies that not only improve outcomes but also drive down healthcare costs by fostering collaboration and cutting-edge solutions.

The UMCG Innovation Center expertise and support were crucial for Protyon’s success, already from the ideation stage. The collaboration between Protyon and UMCG MTB is currently supported by the Health Holland TKI/PPP scheme. The consortium is looking forward to embarking on the next step of this exciting journey together, bringing cutting edge solutions to the patients and creating impact for society.
People involved - RUG (Matthew Groves), UMCG (Craig Grove, Anthonie van der Wekken and Anke van den Berg), as well as Health-Ecore BV (Simon van der Pol) and Protyon (Rositsa Jordanova)