#IAmAndIWill: EIT Community's innovative solutions to fight cancer

On World Cancer Day, meet a few of the EIT Community entrepreneurs that are fighting cancer with their innovations. 

World Cancer Day is the global uniting initiative led by the Union for International Cancer Control (UICC). By raising worldwide awareness, improving education and catalysing personal, collective and governmental action, they work together to reimagine a world where millions of people are saved from preventable cancer and access to life-saving cancer treatment and care is equal for all. 

Through life changing innovations, the EIT Community is taking part in tackling this challenge. Discover two of our EIT Award winners and how they are fighting cancer. 

Laura Soucek - Peptomyc 

The protein Myc is found in most human cancers and plays a significant role in the growth of new tumours. It is difficult to attack with drugs due to its location in the nuclei of the cells and its role in the division of healthy cells. 

Peptomyc relies on peptides, another fundamental component of the cell, to create therapeutics able to fight these Myc proteins. Peptomyc's peptide-based solution is a new treatment option for cancer options. The treatment is non-toxic, does not cause resistance, improves life-expectancy among patients, and can be used in combination with standard chemotherapy or immunotherapy. 

In 2018, Laura Soucek won the first EIT Public Award. Peptomyc has received support through three different EIT Health programmes. The company had access to a vast network of support, which provided the company with funding and helped their innovation advance into clinical testing.

Martin Steinberg - Stockholm3

The Stockholm3 test is a blood test that increases the detection of aggressive cancers by 20% and, at the same time, reduces the number of unnecessary biopsies by 50% compared to current clinical practice. Stockholm3 also identifies men with aggressive prostate cancer with low PSA values, which is crucial for early detection. By reducing unnecessary biopsies and treatment by more than 50% and mortality by up to 20%, Stockholm3 has a significant positive effect on society by reducing individual harm from over-diagnosis, mortality and overall healthcare costs. 

EIT Health has played a key role in accelerating the development and implementation of Stockholm3. They helped accelerate the uptake and acceptance of the concept, and also supported Stockholm3 with funding. In 2017, Martin Steinberg won the EIT Innovators Award.