News & events

​Hugo Boutier, our Doctoral Candidate at the Helmholtz-Zentrum Dresden-Rossendorf (HZDR), has been honored with the ImmunoTools Special Award 2024. Each year, ImmunoTools GmbH recognizes researchers who make groundbreaking advancements in science through the use of antibodies, cytokines, ELISAs, and more. Hugo received this award for his research in the development of innovative target modules for FAP-targeting UniCAR T therapy.

• Date: September 12-20, 2024
• Venue: National Center for Biotechnology, Madrid, Spain
• Programme: Summer School 2024 & Consortium Meetings 2025​

OncoProTools celebrated the Summer School and Consortium Meeting in beautiful Madrid at the National Center for Biotechnology (CNB-CSIC).

During the Summer School 2024, the Doctoral Candidates (DCs) were captivated by insightful sessions on "Gender In Science" by senior scientists with long trajectories like Dr. Silvia Rueda Pascual, Dr. Lydia González Orta, and Prof. Capitolina Diaz Martinez. They also explored the latest advances and cutting-edge discussions on Artificial Intelligence, with valuable insights from colleagues at uc3m-Santander Big Data Institute. The DCs also dived deep into Open Science, learning the essential principles and the latest policies to ensure research reaches society—a session delivered by Dr. Pilar Rico Castro from FECYT. Furthermore, this 5-day training also focussed on an entrepreneurial mindset with a 1-day workshop given by Prof. Jordi Vinaixa, former senior professor of ESADE Business School. To conclude, the DCs had the chance to immerse themselves in cellular immunotherapy, cancer signaling pathways, and the fascinating world of proteases with master lectures by Dr. Juan José Sanz-Ezquerro and Dr. Ana Cuenda (CNB-CSIC), Prof. Ingrid De Meester (University of Antwerp) and Prof. Tanja Schirmeister (Johannes Gutenberg University of Mainz). 

The Summer School was followed by the Consortium Meeting, which allowed our DCs to present their progress, receive constructive feedback from our Supervisory and Advisory Board members, as well as to explore new collaboration opportunities within our team. The meeting also engaged discussions among the work-package teams, setting the stage for future collaborations and potential research visits within the network.

We thank the meeting hosts from CNB-CSIC, Dr. Ana Cuenda, Dr. Juan José Sanz Ezquerro, and Alberto Bigogno, and everyone who made this event a success—dedicated members, committed research teams, and an inspiring venue! We look very much forward to bringing the team together again in Antwerp in 2025.

Pint of Science 2024 (#Pint24) in Antwerp kicked off with an exciting lineup of talks by expert speakers from diverse scientific fields, including a representative from OncoProTools. This year's event, held from May 13^th to 15^th, offered the public a unique chance to explore the latest advancements in science and research in a relaxed, informal atmosphere.

Among the highlights was the session "Future Frontiers in Health: Tailoring Cancer Care and Innovating Malaria Prevention," with Prof. Pieter Van Der Veken, coordinator of OncoProTools, delivering an engaging talk on “Innovation in Tumor-Specific Therapies”. His presentation explored cutting-edge drug delivery strategies for cancer treatment and drew attendees to the Speciale Belge Taproom for a memorable night of science.

The event successfully bridged the gap between researchers and the general public, making complex topics like cancer drug targeting accessible to all. Over three days, attendees had the opportunity to learn from leading scientists while enjoying a drink and lively discussions. Thanks to the efforts of the organizers, volunteers, and speakers, this year’s Pint of Science was a success, reinforcing the value of making science open and enjoyable for everyone.15 

The Doctoral Candidates Hugo Boutier (OncoProTools) and Rutuja Gupte (TOLERATE), both from the Helmholtz-Zentrum Dresden-Rossendorf (HZDR) took center stage at the Science is Wonderful! 2024 event in Brussels, held on April 25-26. As part of their MSCA fellowships in the OncoProTools and TOLERATE Doctoral Networks, the duo presented their innovative research on CAR T-cells and immunotherapy with a booth titled “Upgrade Your Immune Arsenal: Bring Your T Cells to the Next Level”. Attendees, from children to teenagers, were invited to explore the fascinating world of immunology, learning how T-cells can be empowered for more effective cancer treatment. Their interactive booth captivated hundreds of primary and secondary school pupils, making complex scientific concepts educational and fun.

In addition to showcasing groundbreaking research, Rutuja and Hugo's interactive presentations helped raise awareness about cancer and autoimmunity in a playful and engaging way. By turning intricate scientific topics into hands-on learning experiences, the researchers inspired young minds, demonstrating the importance of immunology in tackling major health challenges. Their participation in Science is Wonderful! 2024 highlighted the impact of MSCA Doctoral Networks in bridging the gap between scientific research and the broader public, creating memorable learning experiences for future generations.

Did you know that certain vaccines can significantly reduce the risk of cancer? 

By stimulating the immune system, prophylactic vaccines can help prevent viral infections that cause certain types of cancer, such as the human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccine and the hepatitis B vaccine. Several studies have demonstrated that the HPV vaccine has a significant impact on HPV-related diseases including cervical, vaginal, vulvar, anal, penile, and some oral cancers [^1,2]. Other studies have shown that the hepatitis B vaccine plays a key role in the decrease in hepatitis-B-related liver cancers [³].

This World Immunization Week, April 24^th - 30^th,  let's raise awareness about the importance of vaccines in preventing infections that can lead to cancer. Take a step towards protecting yourself and your loved ones by learning more about vaccination options. 

1. Patel et al. 2018, The impact of 10 years of human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccination in Australia: what additional disease burden will a nonavalent vaccine prevent? 
2. Falcaro et al. 2021, The effects of the national HPV vaccination programme in England, UK, on cervical cancer and grade 3 cervical intraepithelial neoplasia incidence: a register-based observational study 
3. Flores et al. 2022, The Global Impact of Hepatitis B Vaccination on Hepatocellular Carcinoma​

• Date: March 22-24
• Location: Santiago de Chile, Chile
• Programme: https://www.theranostics-world-congress.org/ 

We have rare opportunities to gather such a relevant delegation of senior scientists from the OncoProTools Doctoral Network at one venue. This became a reality thanks to the 7th Theranostics World Congress (TWC2024) in Santiago de Chile on 22-24 March 2024. The TWC is the leading international conference uniting top experts from across the globe in the field of theranostics. With Prof. Dr. Frank Rösch - from the Johannes Gutenberg University Mainz and SCV Special Chemicals Distribution GmbH - among the congress chairs, the TWC serves as a platform for researchers, students, clinicians, and industry professionals to exchange insights and discuss the latest advancements in this dynamic field.  

Prof. Dr. Michael Bachmann (TU Dresden and Helmholtz-Zentrum Dresden-Rossendorf (HZDR)), Prof. Dr. Pieter Van der Veken (OncoProTools coordinator), Prof. Dr. Matthias Herth (University of Copenhagen), and Dr. Eleni Gourni (Insel Gruppe) delivered keynote talks framed in the sessions on ‘Combination Therapies’, ‘Tumor microenvironment (TME) Diagnostics’, ‘Novel Targets & Chemistry’, and ‘Prostate Cancer’ respectively. Prof. Dr. Ralf Bergmann also contributed to the congress with his expertise. 

This definitely was an exceptional congress and look very much forward to the next edition.

• Date: September 9-15, 2023
• Venue: Faculty of Pharmacy of University of Lisbon
• Programme: Summer School 2023 &  Consortium Meetings 2023

The Faculty of Pharmacy of the University of Lisbon (FFUL) in the vibrant city of Lisbon proved to be the perfect venue to host the OncoProTools Summer School 2023 followed by the Mid-Term Check and the Consortium Meeting 2023. This scenario provided a perfect setting for consolidating this collaboration.

Throuout the Summer School, the Doctoral Candidates (DCs) could benefit from excellent practical workshops and scientific lectures. This immersive experience, not only enriched their knowledge and skills in intercultural communication and science for policymakers but also deepened their understanding of patient-centered oncotherapy and diagnostics.

The subsequent Mid-Term Check and the Consortium Meeting marked a significant milestone in the OncoProTools journey, making visible the collective efforts of our highly engaged group of principal scientists and DCs, who demonstrated a strong commitment to evolving into the leaders of tomorrow's research in patient-centered oncotherapy and diagnostics. The collaborative spirit was palpable in Lisbon fostering an excellent atmosphere for meaningful discussions and insights sharing. The success of these events revealed that the OncoProTools project is on track. Now it is time to keep working hard and eagerly await next year's event in another exciting venue: the city of Madrid! 

• Date: March 10^th, 2023 (13:00 CET)
• Venue: Held on Ms Teams
• Agenda
  

​Last March 10^th, OncoProTools held a virtual "Meet & Greet" to give the 10 selected Doctoral Candidates (DCs) a first opportunity to introduce their research to all the network. The session was opened by the coordinator, Prof. Pieter Van der Veken. A presentation by the project manager followed to introduce the OncoProTools training programme and essential aspects to ensure compliance with the REA regulations. The "Meet & Greet" concluded with scientific presentations by the 10 DCs, which allowed identifying future research interactions between team members. 

This first online consortium meeting successfully met the goal of braking the ice between DCs and supervisors, as well as laying the groundwork for a fruitful research collaboration.

• Date: October 6th-7th, 2022
• Location: University of Antwerp (Belgium)
• Agenda
• Presentation

On October 6^th, the OncoProTools consortium organized a recruitment event held in the Grauwzusters Cloister of the University of Antwerp. In total, 20 candidates from 13 nationalities were interviewed for a final selection of 10 Doctoral Candidate positions. The agenda of the event not only consisted of several interview sessions but also included a closing “Cocktails & Appetizers” Workshop to allow interaction between the candidates and the supervisors in a less formal atmosphere. The recruitment event was a success and in the coming days, the Supervisory Board will make the selection of the 10 candidates joining OncoProTools to benefit from this international, interdisciplinary, and intersectoral network.

The day after the recruitment event, on October 7^th, the Supervisory Board celebrated the official Kick-off Meeting, which was held in the historic building of the University of Antwerp Hof Van Liere. The discussions focused on the operational aspects of the network, the training programme, and the scientific work plan. The consortium concluded the events with real confidence that the OncoProTools project got off to a good start.