Wageningen Researcher Receives EU Grant for Revolutionary Cancer-Fighting CRISPR Technology
Wageningen, Thursday, 29 January 2026.
Emeritus professor John van der Oost secured €150,000 from the European Research Council to develop ThermoCas9, a groundbreaking CRISPR variant that targets liver cancer cells while sparing healthy tissue. The innovative approach exploits differences in DNA methylation patterns between cancerous and normal cells, offering hope for more precise cancer treatments with fewer side effects than traditional chemotherapy and radiation.
Medical Innovation Classification and Breakthrough Potential
This development represents a significant advancement in healthtech and medical biotechnology, specifically within the rapidly evolving field of precision oncology [GPT]. Van der Oost’s research targets hepatocellular carcinoma, commonly known as liver cancer, using a novel CRISPR-based approach that promises to revolutionize how cancerous cells are eliminated [1][2][3]. The innovation’s primary benefit lies in its ability to distinguish between healthy and malignant cells based on their distinct DNA methylation patterns, potentially reducing the collateral damage typically associated with conventional cancer treatments [1]. Unlike traditional chemotherapy and radiation therapy that affect both healthy and cancerous tissue, this targeted approach could minimize systemic toxicity while maximizing therapeutic efficacy [2].
The Science Behind ThermoCas9 Technology
The breakthrough centers on ThermoCas9, a specialized variant of the well-known CRISPR-Cas9 gene-editing system that was originally discovered in bacteria from a compost heap in Wageningen [1][2]. This unique enzyme can target and cleave DNA specifically in cancer cells due to the absence of methyl groups at binding sites, while leaving healthy cells completely intact [3]. Van der Oost explains the mechanism: “Because some tumour cells have far fewer methyl groups on their DNA than healthy cells, they form an ideal target for our ThermoCas9” [2]. Laboratory experiments conducted prior to January 2026 have already demonstrated the technique’s effectiveness in human cell cultures, showing that the CRISPR system damages DNA in cancer cells with aberrant methylation patterns while sparing normal tissue [1][2]. The process works by creating targeted DNA damage that can result in genetic scarring, rendering the cancer cell’s genetic code unreadable and ultimately leading to cell death [1].
Strategic Focus on Liver Cancer Treatment
The research team has strategically chosen to focus initially on liver cancer due to the organ’s unique biological properties that make it particularly suitable for this innovative approach [1][2][3]. Van der Oost notes that “the liver plays a key role in waste processing in our body” and that “nanoparticles in the bloodstream are naturally transported there for breakdown” [2]. This natural biological pathway provides an ideal delivery mechanism for the therapeutic system. The liver’s role in processing blood-borne particles means that nanoparticles containing the CRISPR components can be efficiently directed to liver cells, where the ThermoCas9 enzyme can perform its targeted function before the liver’s normal detoxification processes begin [1]. Furthermore, established methods already exist for delivering proteins and DNA to liver cells using nanoparticles, providing a proven foundation for experimental genetic therapies targeting hepatocellular carcinoma [1][2].
Research Team and Institutional Base
The project is being led by John van der Oost, an emeritus professor of Microbiology at Wageningen University & Research (WUR) in the Netherlands, who officially retired in summer 2025 but continues his groundbreaking research [2][3]. Working alongside van der Oost is postdoctoral researcher Christian Südfeld, who will spend the next 18 months further optimizing the CRISPR system using the €150,000 European Research Council Proof of Concept grant awarded in January 2026 [1][2][3]. The funding period extends for 18 months, with the project deadline set for July 28, 2027 [1]. Van der Oost’s enthusiasm for the continued research is evident in his statement: “Microbiology is my hobby and I see a lot of potential in this technique, so I’m more than happy to work on projects like this for the next few years” [3]. The team plans to establish collaborations with cancer specialists, potentially including researchers at the Netherlands Cancer Institute (NKI), as they work toward clinical applications [1][2].
Technical Challenges and Future Development
The research faces several technical hurdles that must be overcome before clinical application becomes feasible [2][3]. The ThermoCas9 enzyme naturally functions at approximately 60 degrees Celsius, requiring significant modification to operate optimally at normal body temperature of 37 degrees Celsius [1][2]. The team plans to address this challenge using recently obtained three-dimensional protein structures, artificial intelligence algorithms, and laboratory evolution techniques to engineer a more suitable variant [1][2]. Van der Oost acknowledges the long-term nature of the endeavor, stating “It’s a long-term endeavour, but if you don’t try, you’ll never get there” and noting that “at least now we have convinced the jury assessing this grant application that the concept is worth trying out” [3]. The researchers plan to progress from current human cell culture experiments to testing on live mice, followed eventually by clinical trials in humans, though clinical application remains years away [3].