1.12.2009

PROFESSOR LANGER’S NEW TARGETS WITH PROSTATE AND OVARIAN CANCER

Professor Robert Langer visited at the Wellcome Trust in London in October 22, 2009, at the invitation of The Royal Academy of Engineering and the Technology Academy Foundation.

Langer discussed the development of fields such as controlled drug delivery and tissue engineering. Professor Langer also spoke of his laboratory's work in treating damaged vocal cords by means of a gel from a new type of polyethylene glycol polymer, which mimics the collagen and elastin proteins of the vocal cords.

Professor Langer's visit was jointly supported by The Royal Academy of Engineering and the Technology Academy Foundation which awards the Millennium Technology Prize. "Professor Langer exemplifies the mission of the Millennium Technology Prize as his technologies have saved and improved the lives of millions of people," said DrAinomaija Haarla, President and CEO of the Technology Academy Foundation of Finland.

Philip Greenish, CEO of The Royal Academy of Engineering, said: "Professor Langer has been a pivotal figure in bringing applied science and engineering together for the advancement of medical invention and his research will continue to have a major impact on the health and well being of society."

Professor Langer's major new project is delivering drugs to treat prostate cancer and possibly ovarian cancer by using nanoparticles. The method involves putting an approved cancer drug, docetaxel, in a nanoparticle that has a homing device to take it directly to the tumor.