Miha Rožič: PROTAC Molecules and the Development of New Therapeutic Agents

On Tuesday, February 11, ASEF, in collaboration with ŠCV Gimnazija Velenje, organized a popular science lecture as part of the ASEF Young Minds lecture series. The guest speaker, Miha Rožič, a student at the Faculty of Pharmacy and an ASEF Fellow of the 2024 generation, delivered a lecture on the research of PROTAC molecules and the development of new therapeutic agents.

The event was moderated by Gregor Puhar, an ASEF Fellow of the 2024 generation. At the beginning, he introduced the guest speaker and ASEF and invited professor and co-organizer of the event, Mag. Karmen Grabant from Gimnazija Velenje, to speak. She emphasized the importance of the lecture for students and expressed gratitude for the collaboration in organizing the event.

In Miha’s presentation the main topics were PROTAC molecules and the development of new therapeutic agents. A therapeutic agent is any substance that, even in relatively small amounts, affects biochemical or biophysical processes in the body and produces a specific pharmacological effect. In pharmaceutical form, the therapeutic agent is the carrier of a drug’s therapeutic effect. Miha emphasized: “Therapeutic agents are not just chemical structures; they serve as a bridge between science and health.”

The structure of Miha’s lecture was divided into six parts:

1. Introduction – He explained the basics of pharmacy, including what a therapeutic agent is, how pharmacological effects are achieved, what proteins are, and how therapeutic agents interact with them.
2. Basic Concept of Drug Development – In this section, he discussed how to prevent the formation of unwanted prostaglandins, the binding capabilities of molecules, and how to design an inhibitor.
3. PROTAC Molecules – He explained the limitations of inhibitors and how they could be replaced by a system for removing waste proteins from cells, including PROTAC molecules, and how these could aid in treating various diseases.
4. Research Visit to San Francisco – He shared his experiences working at the University of California, San Francisco, under the mentorship of Professor Andrej Šali and provided insights into daily life abroad.
5. Voluntary Work in Africa – He recounted his experience volunteering at the diagnostic laboratory at the national hospital in Gambia and highlighted the challenges patients face due to poor living conditions during treatment.
6. Open Discussion – He answered individual questions related to studying pharmacy, conducting research in laboratories, and living abroad. To conclude, he emphasized the importance of student years and finding joy in one’s work.

At the end of the lecture, Miha shared his final thoughts: “It was truly a pleasure to organize this lecture in collaboration with Gimnazija Velenje. I can say that the beginnings of my research and career path date back to my high school years at Gimnazija Velenje. During that time, I developed a passion for chemistry and a curiosity for research. I hope that today’s lecture has inspired some of the students to pursue the development of new therapeutic agents. Above all, I hope that my experiences from the ASEF research visit and volunteering in Africa have encouraged them to make the most of their upcoming student years.”

ASEF sincerely thanks all participants for an unforgettable evening that highlighted the importance of developing new therapeutic agents.

The project of disseminating the research work of young scientists at various locations across Slovenia, following an ASEF research visit abroad, is supported by the Office of the Republic of Slovenia for Youth and the Office for Slovenians Abroad.