Discovering the Materials of Tomorrow | Webinar 14 – Materials Research and Technologies at Uniwersytet Jagielloński w Krakowie

Join us for the fourteenth webinar in our series, where we explore materials research and technologies at Uniwersytet Jagielloński w Krakowie with Professor Joanna Loch, who will guide us through her research on discovering and engineering future therapeutic enzymes for improved L‑asparaginase variants for cancer treatment.

L-asparaginases constitute a key component of acute lymphoblastic leukemia therapy. However, the enzymes currently used in clinical practice are associated with significant limitations, including immunogenicity, off-target toxicity, and undesired L-glutaminase co-activity.

These challenges drive the search for novel enzyme variants with improved therapeutic properties. Research efforts concentrate on the discovery and engineering of next-generation L-asparaginases, especially the emerging and still underexplored type III enzymes, as well as the recently characterized type IV and V L-asparaginases.

The development of new therapeutic proteins relies on an integrative approach combining structural biology, bioinformatics, biochemistry, and in vitro biological studies, enabling the characterisation of novel enzymes and the assessment of their functional properties and preclinical potential.

Joanna Loch will present our recent advances in the discovery of novel L-asparaginases, as well as discuss the opportunities and limitations of various protein engineering strategies.

Joanna Loch is a Professor at the Faculty of Chemistry, Uniwersytet Jagielloński w Krakowie, where she heads the Biocrystallography Group. She is involved in structural and biochemical studies of proteins with therapeutic potential. Her work focuses on the structural characterisation of new enzymes and their engineered variants, as well as the design of proteins with improved functional properties for biomedical applications, including cancer therapy. These research interests integrate techniques from structural biology, bioinformatics, biochemistry, and biophysics to investigate protein structure-function relationships. Joanna Loch teaches courses related to medicinal chemistry, biological chemistry, molecular biology, protein biochemistry, and forensic sciences, contributing to both undergraduate and graduate education in chemical and life sciences at Uniwersytet Jagielloński w Krakowie.

Discover Una Europa's Future Materials and Technologies Focus Area with the 'Discovering the Materials of Tomorrow' Webinar Series.

Standing at the intersection of science, technology and innovation, Una Europa's Future Materials and Technologies Focus Area presents a webinar series dedicated to exploring solutions to global challenges through a multidisciplinary lens. The series will tackle issues including energy, the environment, and medical global challenges, bridging the gap between science, and society.

These interactive webinars provide a platform for participants to engage with experts from across Una Europa’s 11 partner universities, together delving into the latest research findings and asking necessary questions. The series encourages the exchange of ideas and the cultivation of novel approaches to tackle complex problems.

Embracing open knowledge sharing and adapting to emerging technologies are fundamental aspects driving these webinars. As a participant, you have the chance to be part of discussions on novel developments in Future Materials and Technologies, contributing to a collective pool of knowledge across diverse disciplines.