The Innovation Radar is a European Commission initiative, which identifies high-potential innovations in EU-funded research and innovation projects. 36 of the best EU-funded innovators were identified to compete in four categories for the Innovation Radar Prize 2019.

The project LUMIBLAST: A paradigm shift in cancer therapy – using mitochondria-powered chemiluminescence to non-invasively treat inaccessible tumours, won the first prize in the category “Innovative Science 2019”.

LUMIBLAST aims at the development of a groundbreaking therapy, which will treat, in a non-invasive manner, difficult to reach tumors, such as glioblastoma multiforme (brain cancer). This therapeutic approach will use the energy produced from the mitochondria of the cancer cells to enable their self-fueled destruction. The goal of the NKUA research team is to design and synthesize the innovative molecules which will enable this therapy.

Besides the research team of the Department of Chemistry of NKUA, with Principal Investigator Assistant Professor Georgios C. Vougioukalakis, the other LUMIBLAST research groups come from Oslo University Hospital (PI: Prof. K. Berg), Universitat Politècnica de València (PI: Prof. M. Miranda), University of Oslo – School of Pharmacy (PI: Prof. H. H. Tønnesen) and Knight Scientific Limited from UK (PI: Dr. J. Knight). The LUMIBLAST concept has been submitted for intellectual property protection, in a patent application with co-inventors researchers from NKUA, Oslo University Hospital, and Universitat Politècnica de València.

For more information on LUMIBLAST, refer to the project’s webpage http://www.lumiblast.eu/ and the webpage of the research group of Assistant Professor Georgios C. Vougioukalakis http://users.uoa.gr/~vougiouk