Modulating, Not Depleting: Engineered Bacteria for the Collagen Barrier in Solid Tumors

Thursday, 16 July 2026, 12.15pm to 1.15pm

The dense, collagen-rich extracellular matrix (ECM) of solid tumors, a hallmark it shares with fibrotic disease. obstructs the transport of drugs, nanomedicine, and immune cells, and correlates with poor therapeutic response. I will present our strategy to overcome this barrier not by depleting the ECM, but by locally modulating it with engineered tumor-targeting bacteria. Our collagenase-secreting Nanoscale Bacteria-Enabled Autonomous Delivery System (NanoBEADS) penetrates 1.6-fold deeper in collagen-rich tumors and improves chemotherapy response by 1.5-fold relative to chemotherapy alone — all while preserving collagen architecture and without promoting tumor cell out-migration. Altogether, these results position localized matrix modulation as a safer alternative to depletion, with implications for treating solid tumors and fibrosis.

Speaker(s): Prof. Bahareh Behkam (Virginia Tech)

Series: Kennedy Institute of Rheumatology External Seminar Series

Venue: Kennedy Institute of Rheumatology - Kennedy Lecture Theatre
Kennedy Lecture Theatre Kennedy Institute of Rheumatology Headington Oxford Oxfordshire OX3 7FY United Kingdom
Venue details: Kennedy Lecture Theatre

Department: Kennedy Institute of Rheumatology (Unit)

Organiser: Tess Lawless

Host: Dr Nan Yang