Human Practices
At iGEM, we firmly believe that responsible synthetic biology innovation stems from a deep understanding of and response to real-world challenges. Our Human Practices journey is not merely a supplementary activity—it serves as the core engine and navigation system of our project. It guided us from a preliminary concept to a precisely engineered therapeutic strategy designed to address the critical issue of cancer drug resistance in Macao and beyond.
Our Human Practices efforts follow a clear, closed-loop cycle: Listening to Needs → Seeking Expert Guidance → Optimizing Technical Solutions → Giving Back to Society.
Listening to the Real World: Identifying Real Problems
Cancer is the second leading cause of death globally. According to statistics from the World Health Organization (WHO), there were over 20 million new cancer cases and approximately 10 million cancer-related deaths worldwide in 2022. Among these, breast cancer has become the most commonly diagnosed cancer, accounting for 11.7% of all new cases. As the Special Administrative Region of China with the highest population density, Macao exhibits distinct regional characteristics in its cancer incidence patterns.
Seeking Strategic Guidance – Conceptualizing a New Solution
To address the clinical challenges of resistance to trastuzumab and gemcitabine, and based on preliminary research findings, our project team invited Dr. Yuhao Fu, an expert in synthetic biology and antibody engineering, for an in-depth interview.
Overcoming Technical Bottlenecks – Optimizing the Implementation Pathway
During the early stages of bispecific antibody development, the project team encountered technical bottlenecks in the computational design phase. To overcome these critical technical barriers, we consulted with Dr. Yang Chen, an expert in computational biology.
Human Practices Forever
Driven by a profound commitment to addressing the critical challenge of drug resistance in cancer therapy—particularly resistance to commonly used agents such as trastuzumab and gemcitabine, which significantly impact patient outcomes—our team developed NanosphinX, a novel CD47/HER2 bispecific antibody.
Our Human Practice is an ongoing process. To date, we have completed the first three stages—from identifying societal needs, to seeking expert guidance, and finally achieving technical breakthroughs. We will now bring the preliminary research results of NanosphinX—such as binding data and in vitro activity data—back to the physicians who participated in the survey to gather their feedback.
We are committed to continually refining this innovative model of "societal needs-driven scientific research," ensuring that every investment of social resources yields maximum value. By establishing a sustainable collaborative mechanism that integrates industry, academia, research, and medicine, we aim to position Macao as a key hub for the development of innovative cancer therapies—contributing Macao's unique insights and expertise to the advancement of global health and well-being.