Mahzad Nasir Shalal:
KCT supports a new vesicle technology to help fight cancer
Background:
My name is Mahzad, and I am a Ph.D. researcher in the School of Natural Sciences with Professor Michelle Garrett and Professor Dan Mulvihill at the University of Kent. I was fortunate to receive a £5,000 grant from Kent Cancer Trust (KCT) to support my research on developing a novel targeted drug delivery system for bladder cancer treatment. My academic background includes a Master’s in Biomedicine from the University of Kent, alongside extensive research experience in molecular biology, cancer genetics, and bioinformatics.
I am passionate about advancing disease treatments by uncovering the genetic causes of diseases and harnessing innovative biotechnologies for more effective therapies. My research contributions include multiple published studies, available on PubMed, with a focus on gene mutation identification. My current work explores the use of synthetic vesicles to enhance drug delivery precision, reducing cellular toxicity and improving treatment effectiveness. With the generous support of KCT, I am working toward innovative solutions that could significantly enhance bladder cancer treatment and patient outcomes.
My research project:
Bladder cancer is the 11th most common cancer in the UK and has a significant impact on patients’ quality of life. One of the major challenges in bladder cancer treatment is that cancer cells often develop barriers that prevent drugs from reaching their target effectively. Many current treatments, including immunotherapies, are not effective for all patients due to cellular toxicity and drug resistance. This highlights the urgent need for more precise and efficient drug delivery methods.
My research aims to develop a new synthetic vesicle-based delivery system that can transport cancer drugs directly to bladder cancer cells. These vesicles, designed by Professor Daniel Mulvihill and patented by the University of Kent, will be modified by adding a special marker (PD-1) on their surface. This marker acts like a key that specifically binds to a "lock" (PD-L1) found on bladder cancer cells, ensuring that the treatment reaches the right target.
To test this system, I will first use fluorescent markers to track how these vesicles enter cancer cells in real time using live-cell microscopy. Once this proof of concept is established, we will replace the fluorescent markers with clinically relevant cancer drugs to evaluate their effectiveness. By improving drug targeting, this system has the potential to enhance current treatments and reduce side effects for patients. Importantly, this technology has the potential to be applied to the treatment of multiple cancers, making it a promising tool for improving cancer therapies more broadly.
What KCT’s support means to my research:
The funding from Kent Cancer Trust has been invaluable in advancing this project. It will allow me to carry out essential laboratory experiments, including designing and testing the synthetic vesicles, which are critical to proving this technology's effectiveness. More importantly, KCT’s support brings us one step closer to developing a new targeted therapy that could improve the lives of cancer patients. KCT’s investment in early-stage cancer research is crucial in driving scientific breakthroughs, and I am incredibly grateful to be part of this journey