Can Hekim, Senior Scientist, PhD, studies human and cancer biology to find new mechanisms to stop cancer tumour growth. The immuno-oncology team focuses on human immune cells – that is, how they could be taught to recognise and destroy cancer cells.
To illustrate the idea of immuno-oncology research, the human body can be seen as a city where defenders and “bad guys” are walking around."
To illustrate the idea of immuno-oncology research, the human body can be seen as a city where defenders – police officers and soldiers – and “bad guys” – members of the Mafia – are walking around. The city thrives when the defenders identify and eliminate the bad guys. If the defenders get used to the presence of the Mafia and no longer recognise its members, problems arise and a kind of anarchy takes over the city,” Hekim explains.
The same happens in the human body: a cancer tumour emerges and begins to grow uncontrollably if immune cells get used to the presence of cancer cells.
In fact, the immune defence system thinks cancer cells are its friends and therefore cannot destroy them."
“In fact, the immune defence system thinks cancer cells are its friends and therefore cannot destroy them. In immuno-oncology, we are looking for mechanisms to teach immune cells which cells to eliminate. This prevents the cancer tumour from growing, and the person can recover from the cancer,” Hekim says.
Immuno-oncology research aims for the development of new cancer drugs.
Hekim worked in basic immuno-oncology research at the Universities of Helsinki, Uppsala and Minnesota for a long time before joining Orion’s immuno-oncology research unit in Turku in 2019.
A pharmaceutical company offers the exciting prospect of seeing a research finding turn from an interesting idea into a cancer cure."
“I applied to work in a pharmaceutical company because of the exciting prospect of seeing a research finding turn from an interesting idea into a cancer cure. Universities carry out very important research, but I wanted to see this side as well,” says Hekim.
Hekim says that anyone at Orion can come up with an idea that will be acknowledged by colleagues, including Orion’s management. If the idea is found to be viable after evaluation, it is taken forward in the drug development pipeline.
As a researcher, I can also rejoice in failures because they mean that we are constantly learning more about the biology of cancer."
“Working in science often brings both joy and disappointment. Sometimes you may find yourself in a situation where you have been researching something for years, but the results point in the wrong direction and it’s not worth pursuing further research. It’s a shame, but as a researcher, I can also rejoice in failures because they mean that we are constantly learning more about the biology of cancer,” says Hekim.
New ideas take off in the workplace
Hekim is happy about his workplace community, which consists of distinguished immuno-oncology experts and skilled research assistants. Although Orion is a small pharmaceutical company in global comparison, it is in the same league as the big players in immuno-oncology research.
“Research is teamwork where we are inspired by ideas and work together to process them further. It feels great when we understand something new about human biology. When a finding or hypothesis proves to be correct as the research progresses, we have achieved something truly meaningful.”
The three best aspects of my job at Orion
- Working in science. It inspires, amazes and brings meaning to life.
- A workplace community that always supports you when you need help. My colleagues are efficient, professional and friendly.
- I’m part of a bigger community where we work together and can create a cancer drug that can save lives.
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