Dutch Scientists Discover Cancer-Fighting CRISPR Tool in Compost Heap
Wageningen, Friday, 6 February 2026.
Wageningen University researchers received €150,000 in European funding to develop ThermoCas9, a revolutionary gene-editing tool originally found in bacteria from a university compost pile. This breakthrough CRISPR variant can distinguish between healthy and cancerous cells by detecting DNA methylation differences, potentially enabling precision cancer therapy that spares healthy tissue while targeting tumors from within.
Medical Innovation Category and Research Foundation
This development falls squarely within the medical technology and biotechnology innovation category, specifically advancing precision cancer treatment through gene-editing technology [1][2]. Professor John van der Oost, an emeritus professor of microbiology at Wageningen University & Research, received the European Research Council Proof of Concept grant on February 5, 2026 [1][2]. The €150,000 funding will support an 18-month research project conducted alongside postdoctoral researcher Christian Südfeld [1][2]. The initiative represents one of thirteen ERC Proof of Concept grants awarded to scientists affiliated with Dutch knowledge institutions this year [1][2].
Revolutionary Benefits and Therapeutic Advantages
The ThermoCas9 system offers transformative benefits for cancer treatment by exploiting fundamental differences in DNA methylation patterns between healthy and cancerous cells [1][2]. Van der Oost explains that “some tumour cells have far fewer methyl groups on their DNA than healthy cells, they form an ideal target for our ThermoCas9” [1][2]. Unlike conventional treatments such as chemotherapy and radiation that damage both healthy and cancerous tissues, this targeted approach minimizes collateral damage to healthy cells [1]. Laboratory experiments using human cells have demonstrated that the CRISPR system successfully damages DNA in cancer cells with abnormal methylation patterns while leaving healthy cells unharmed [1][2]. The therapy’s precision stems from ThermoCas9’s unique ability to distinguish between DNA with and without methyl groups, a capability that standard CRISPR tools lack [3].
Technical Mechanism and Delivery Strategy
The therapeutic approach centers on delivering ThermoCas9 components to target cells through nanoparticle-based delivery systems, with initial focus on liver cancer due to the organ’s natural role in processing blood-borne particles [1][2]. Van der Oost describes the mechanism: “The liver plays a key role in waste processing in our body. Nanoparticles in the bloodstream are naturally transported there for breakdown…Before the liver actually breaks down the nanoparticles, CRISPR has time to do its job” [2]. The research team has identified existing methods for delivering proteins and DNA packaged in nanoparticles to liver cells for experimental genetic therapies against liver cancer [1]. However, significant technical challenges remain, as ThermoCas9 naturally operates at approximately 60°C, requiring modification to function optimally at human body temperature [1][2]. The researchers plan to address this limitation using three-dimensional structural analysis, artificial intelligence, and laboratory evolution techniques [1][2].
Research Timeline and Future Collaboration Plans
The current phase will span the next 18 months, during which Südfeld will focus on optimizing the ThermoCas9 system for therapeutic applications [1][2]. The immediate objective involves increasing DNA damage in tumor cells to achieve cell death while maintaining selectivity for cancerous tissue [2]. The research team plans to establish collaborations with cancer specialists, potentially including researchers at the Netherlands Cancer Institute (NKI) [1][2]. Despite the promising preliminary results, clinical application remains distant due to the genetic variability inherent in tumors [2]. The project represents a crucial first step toward developing more precise and targeted cancer therapies, building upon the serendipitous discovery of ThermoCas9 in bacteria from a Wageningen University compost heap [1][2][3].