Development of CAIX-targeting radioligands to improve tumor retention

Theranostics is transforming precision oncology by integrating diagnosis and therapy in one molecular platform. While compounds such as [¹⁷⁷Lu]Lu-DOTATATE and [¹⁷⁷Lu]Lu-PSMA-617 have proven the potential of targeted radionuclide therapy, novel ligand scaffolds are needed to expand its reach across cancer types. 

This PhD project focuses on developing innovative small molecules targeting carbonic anhydrase IX (CAIX), a protein highly expressed in hypoxic tumors but largely absent from healthy tissues. The candidate will design and synthesize a library of CAIX-binding ligands guided by molecular modeling, optimize their structures for selectivity and tumor retention, and conjugate the most promising candidates to chelators for radiolabeling with ¹⁷⁷Lu or ¹⁶¹Tb. This chemistry-driven project offers an exciting opportunity to apply advanced organic synthesis and molecular design to the development of next-generation radiotheranostics.