Radosveta Gencheva: SelenoResist
Radosveta Gencheva is a molecular biologist studying new anticancer drugs. She completed her PhD with Prof. Elias Arnér at Karolinska Institutet, where she gained world-class expertise in redox biochemistry and created a strong network with the leading scientists in the field. She studied the mechanism of action of novel, highly selective inhibitors of key antioxidant proteins down to the molecular level. Her research has helped us gain a better understanding of the anticancer activities of these new inhibitors.
For her MSCA PF at the University of Vienna, Radosveta is joining the team of David Konrad, where she will work closely with medicinal chemists and molecular biologists. Her project, SelenoResist, aims to tackle treatment-resistant Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer (NSCLC) which remains the most prevalent cancer diagnosis and the leading cause of cancer-related deaths in much of the Western world. Selenocysteine, a non-canonical amino acid, is essential for cells to produce antioxidant enzymes and control oxidative stress. Controlling selenium metabolism and thereby the antioxidant defense, is an emerging but still poorly studied cancer adaptive mechanism. Radosveta aims to use novel molecules synthesized by the Konrad group to inhibit a key regulator in selenium metabolism and reverse lung cancer treatment resistance. She will combine powerful redox-informed omics methods with molecular biology functional studies to create a detailed map of the effects of these novel molecules on cancer cells. Since the team hypothesizes these novel molecules selectively bind the oxidized state of the active protein, this project will result in the development of a new class of inhibitors. Their detailed characterization will provide a path towards further drug development and generate predictive biomarkers of the dependency of lung cancers on selenium metabolism.
"I very much look forward to this new chapter of my career in Vienna, surrounded by excellent scientists and infrastructure, which will help me to hit the ground running with the start of my project. I strongly believe that together with the Konrad group, we can drive anticancer drug development innovation and bring a fresh perspective on the dependencies of difficult-to-treat lung cancers.", says Radosveta Gencheva.
Andreia Peixoto: GlycoIMPACT
Andreia Peixoto is a biomedical researcher joining from the IPO-Porto Research Center (CI-IPOP) in Portugal. She completed her PhD investigating cancer-associated protein glycosylation in bladder tumors to identify novel theragnostic biomarkers. Throughout her career, she has collaborated with international institutions such as Utrecht University and INSERM (CIPHE) to expand her expertise in advanced proteomics and high-throughput immunology. Her research combines glycobiology, immuno-oncology, and gene-editing technologies to design glycoengineered pre-clinical models, with a focus on developing and testing glycan-based cancer vaccines.
Traditional cancer therapies often overlook the complex carbohydrate structures (glycans) that coat tumor cells. During her MSCA PF, her project, GlycoIMPACT, will integrate advanced computational biology, nanomedicine, and immunology to deliver a novel liposome-based vaccine platform targeting glycoepitopes on aggressive cancer cells. By targeting the unique glycan signatures that tumors use to drive cancer aggressiveness, this project shifts the focus toward precise, glycan-based therapeutic interventions, aiming to address a critical unmet clinical need in cancer immunotherapy.
"By understanding how tumors use complex sugars to promote aggressiveness and evade our immune system, we unlock an entirely new frontier in cancer treatment," explains Andreia Peixoto. "My goal with this MSCA fellowship is to transform these scientific discoveries into tangible, glycan-based cancer vaccines that can improve patient outcomes. Collaborating with the University of Vienna and the University of La Rioja will be instrumental in helping me learn the antigen synthesis and biotechnological aspects of lipid carriers needed for this work. Most of all, this is an invaluable opportunity to broaden my expertise and a fantastic chance to learn and collaborate with outstanding researchers."
About the Marie Skłodowska-Curie Postdoctoral Fellowship
The European Commission’s Marie Skłodowska-Curie Postdoctoral Fellowship Program awards 2-year postdoctoral fellowships to outstanding scientists working in research institutions in EU member states, to support their careers and foster excellence in research.
The selection process evaluates the applicant's achievements and the scientific quality of the project and the host laboratory. The process is highly competitive, with less than 15 percent of applicants receiving a fellowship. On top of a monthly stipend, the fellowship provides research and travel allowances, and the program organizes a yearly meeting.
Learn more:
