Wageningen Researcher Receives €150,000 Grant for Revolutionary Cancer Treatment Using Gene-Editing Technology
Wageningen, Friday, 20 February 2026.
John van der Oost from Wageningen University secured European Research Council funding to develop ThermoCas9, a CRISPR variant that targets cancer cells while sparing healthy tissue. This breakthrough exploits differences in DNA methylation patterns between tumor and normal cells, potentially revolutionizing precision cancer therapy with minimal side effects.
Breakthrough Medical Innovation in Gene Editing
This development represents a significant advancement in medical technology, specifically in the field of gene therapy and precision medicine [GPT]. Microbiologist John van der Oost from Wageningen University has been awarded a European Research Council proof of concept grant worth €150,000 to advance his groundbreaking CRISPR research [1]. The funding will support a collaborative effort between van der Oost and researcher Christian Südfeld over the next 1.5 years to develop a revolutionary method that targets cancer cells from within while minimizing damage to healthy tissue [1]. This innovative approach addresses one of the most pressing challenges in oncology: developing treatments that can effectively eliminate malignant cells without causing substantial harm to normal, healthy cells [GPT].
The Science Behind ThermoCas9 Technology
The revolutionary therapy centers around ThermoCas9, a unique variant of the well-known CRISPR-Cas9 gene-editing system, which was originally discovered in bacteria from a compost heap in Wageningen [1]. What sets ThermoCas9 apart from conventional CRISPR systems is its remarkable ability to distinguish between DNA with and without methyl groups, a characteristic that proves crucial for targeting cancer cells [1]. As van der Oost explains, “Because some tumor cells have fewer methyl groups on their DNA than healthy cells, they form a perfect target for our ThermoCas9” [1]. The methylation differences between cancerous and healthy cells provide a molecular signature that the ThermoCas9 system can exploit to achieve unprecedented precision in cancer treatment [1]. Laboratory experiments using human cells have demonstrated that their CRISPR system successfully damages DNA in cancer cells with abnormal methylation patterns while leaving healthy cells largely unaffected [1].
Clinical Applications and Liver Cancer Focus
The initial research focus targets liver cancer, a strategic choice based on the liver’s unique physiological role in the human body [1]. Van der Oost notes that “The liver plays an important role in waste processing in our body,” and “Nanoparticles from the blood are sent there for destruction” [1]. This natural process creates an ideal delivery mechanism for the ThermoCas9 system, as the liver’s role in processing nanoparticles allows researchers to deliver the gene-editing components directly to the target organ [1]. The treatment approach involves using nanoparticles to transport CRISPR proteins and DNA to liver cells, where “Before the liver actually breaks down the nanoparticles, CRISPR can do its work” [1]. The current phase of research aims to increase the DNA damage inflicted on cancer cells to the point where tumor cells ultimately succumb to the treatment [1].
Technical Challenges and Future Development
Despite the promising early results, significant technical hurdles remain before this therapy can reach clinical application [GPT]. ThermoCas9 naturally operates at approximately 60 degrees Celsius, requiring substantial modifications to function optimally at normal human body temperature [1]. The research team plans to address this challenge using the protein’s three-dimensional structure, artificial intelligence, and laboratory evolution techniques to adapt the system for physiological conditions [1]. Van der Oost acknowledges that current treatments like chemotherapy and radiation therapy also affect healthy cells, highlighting the critical need for more targeted approaches [1]. Over the next 1.5 years, postdoc Christian Südfeld will focus on optimizing the CRISPR system, with plans to collaborate with cancer specialists, potentially including researchers at the Nederlands Kankerinstituut (NKI) [1]. Van der Oost, who serves as emeritus professor of Microbiology at Wageningen University, brings decades of expertise to this project, having been elected as a member of the European Molecular Biology Organization (EMBO) in 2013 and the Royal Netherlands Academy of Arts and Sciences (KNAW) in 2017 [3]. His pioneering work in CRISPR research includes co-authoring a groundbreaking 2008 Science article that described how bacteria use the CRISPR system to defend against viruses, establishing him as a key figure in the CRISPR revolution [3].