The Swiss Federal Institute of Technology (ETH) in Zurich hands out the Spark Award to recognize the most innovative invention with the most commercial potential of the past year. This year’s award has gone to Helma Wennemers and Matthew Aronoff for their technology that makes tumors visible to surgeons.
According to an ETH Zurich press release, an uncontrolled amount of tissue often forms in fibrotic diseases or cancerous tumors. This process involves the enzyme LOX, which initiates the cross-linking of collagen proteins into tissue. The award-winning fluorescent marker that Wennemers and Aronoff have developed accumulates where LOX is active, which should allow surgeons to distinguish the tumor from healthy tissue during operations.
“Our innovation has now reached a level at which we can realistically hope that it will help patients in the future,” said Wennemers.
The two researchers hope to complete the key steps in the patent application process by the end of the year and are currently reviewing the possibility of founding a spin-off.
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