Employing widening EU funds to train the next generation of liquid biopsy researchers – example of the STEPUPIORS collaborative rectal cancer project

Search MY MEMBERSHIP (/members/) Donate (/donate) (/) Welcome to the European Association for Cancer Research Connecting cancer researchers together « Back Abstract detail Employing widening EU funds to train the next generation of liquid biopsy researchers - example of the STEPUPIORS collaborative rectal cancer project Milena Cavic , Ana Djuric , Mladen Marinkovic , Aleksandra Stanojevic , Miljana Tanic , Ana Damjanovic , Jelena Spasic , Snezana Bjelogrlic , Marija Djordjic Crnogorac , Ana Vuletic , Katarina Mirjacic Martinovic , Marko Radulovic , Suzana Stojanovic-Rundic , Ana Krivokuca , Miodrag Vukovic , Milan Kocic , Katarina Zivic , Valentina Karadzic , Vanja Stevanovic , Isidora Pantovic , Radmila Jankovic , Sergi Castellvi-Bel , Jerome Zoidakis , Evi Lianidou , Remond Fijneman Department of Experimental Oncology, Institute for Oncology and Radiology of Serbia , Belgrade, SERBIA, Clinic for Medical Oncology, Institute for Oncology and Radiology of Serbia, Belgrade, SERBIA, Clinic for Radiation Oncology and Diagnostics, Department of Radiation Oncology, Institute for Oncology and Radiology of Serbia, Belgrade, SERBIA, Clinic for Surgical Oncology, Institute for Oncology and Radiology of Serbia, Belgrade, SERBIA, Department of Biology, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, Athens, GREECE, Department of Biotechnology, Biomedical Research Foundation, Academy of Athens, Athens, GREECE, Department of Chemistry, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, Athens, GREECE, Department of Pathology, The Netherlands Cancer Institute Antoni van Leeuwenhoekziekenhuis, Amsterdam, NETHERLANDS, Faculty of Medicine, University of Belgrade, Belgrade, SERBIA, Fundació Clínic per la Recerca Biomèdica-Institut d’Investigacions Biomèdiques August Pi i Sunyer, Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red de Enfermedades Hepáticas y Digestivas, Hospital Clínic, University of Barcelona, Barcelona, SPAIN Introduction: A consortium dedicated to rectal cancer research was formed within the framework of the STEPUPIORS Horizon Europe project to explore predictive biomarkers to neoadjuvant chemoradiotherapy (nCRT) in locally advanced rectal cancer (LARC). This study evaluated whether employing collaborative widening funds might lead to sustainable strategies for liquid biopsy (LB) approaches, with a focus on countries with limited resources as Serbia, using a pilot rectal cancer project. Materials and Methods: The analysis was performed from Oct 01, 2022, to Oct 01, 2024, with a Serbian coordinating institution (Institute for Oncology and Radiology of Serbia, IORS) and partners from Spain, Greece, and the Netherlands as expert twinning centers. A comprehensive approach towards building human capacities on LB was developed through intensive training, expert visits and writing new project applications. Results: Twenty-one IORS researchers (81% female), were trained in LB through 5 visits to partner institutions, 2 expert visits, 5 trainings, and 2 dedicated workshops on omics and LB technologies (ctDNA and CTCs) in Athens, Greece. IORS also joined the European Liquid Biopsy Society as a new member in 2024. This led to 6 publications and 2 successful grant applications (1 COST Network, 1 HE Staff Exchange project – EXPAND-EV, 101182851) enabling the continuance of the training for another 4 years. Conclusion: Though the starting scientific aim was focused on rectal cancer, the project evolved into a larger training network setting a basis for establishing a pool of next generation LB researchers in Serbia. This example showed that when properly employed, EU widening funds might significantly change educational strategies enabling both better quality of patient care and researcher opportunities, thus lowering the disparities in health equity in Europe. Similar active collaborations within relevant LB stakeholders are needed in more countries to advance the scientific output and translation of LB results into clinical practice.  Acknowledgements: Horizon Europe Twinning Project STEPUPIORS (101079217). « Back Poster Click the poster to download/view: (/user_uploads/files/mesabstracts/ posters/677fdb47cbcd45.41234993.pdf) Poster #: 2 EACR-AstraZeneca Conference: Circulating Nucleic Acids (cfDNA/ ctDNA): In use, in view and on the horizon Virtual Event, Worldwide : 1 1 3,9 1 1 1 2 1 1 1 1 1 3,9 1 1 4 1 1 1 1 1 10 6,5 7 8 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 Industry Partners The EACR is grateful for the continued support of its Industry Partners (/industry-partners): ABOUT (/ABOUTUS) MEMBERSHIP (/MEMBERSHIP) EVENTS (/ALLCONFERENCES) MEMBER RESOURCES (/MEMBER-PACK) OPEN RESOURCES (/MAGAZINE) FUNDING & AWARDS (/EACR-FELLOWSHIPS) PARTNERSHIP (/INDUSTRYPARTNERS) CONTACT (/CONTACTUS) Digital Abstracts & Posters | EACR-AstraZeneca Conference: Circula... https://eacr.org/conference/circulatingnucleicacids2025/digital-abstrac... 1 of 2 2/5/2025, 5:48 PM Employing widening EU funds to train the next generation of liquid biopsy researchers - example of the STEPUPIORS collaborative rectal cancer project This study was funded by the Horizon Europe Twinning Project STEPUPIORS –101079217. The contents of this presentation do not necessarily reflect the position or opinion of the European Commission. Milena Cavic1, Ana Djuric1, Mladen Marinkovic2,3, Aleksandra Stanojević1, Miljana Tanic1, Ana Damjanovic1, Jelena Spasic4, Snezana Bjelogrlic1, Marija Djordjic Crnogorac1, Ana Vuletic1, Katarina Mirjacic Martinovic1, Marko Radulovic1, Suzana Stojanovic-Rundic2,3, Ana Krivokuca1, Miodrag Vukovic1, Katarina Zivic1, Milan Kocić5, Valentina Karadzic1, Vanja Stevanovic1, Isidora Pantović1, Radmila Jankovic1, Sergi Castellvi-Bel6, Jerome Zoidakis7,8, Evi Lianidou9, Remond J.A. Fijneman10 1Department of Experimental Oncology, Institute for Oncology and Radiology of Serbia (IORS), Belgrade, Serbia; 2Clinic for Radiation Oncology and Diagnostics, Department of Radiation Oncology, Institute for Oncology and Radiology of Serbia (IORS), Belgrade, Serbia; 3Faculty of Medicine, University of Belgrade, Belgrade, Serbia; 4Clinic for Medical Oncology, Institute for Oncology and Radiology of Serbia (IORS), Belgrade, Serbia; 5Clinic for Surgical Oncology, Institute for Oncology and Radiology of Serbia (IORS), Belgrade, Serbia; 6Gastroenterology Department, Fundació Clínic per la Recerca Biomèdica-Institut d’Investigacions Biomèdiques August Pi i Sunyer (FRCB-IDIBAPS), Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red de Enfermedades Hepáticas y Digestivas (CIBERehd), Hospital Clínic, University of Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain; 7Department of Biotechnology, Biomedical Research Foundation, Academy of Athens (BRFAA), Athens, Greece; 8Department of Biology, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, Greece; 9Department of Chemistry, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, Greece; 10Department of Pathology, The Netherlands Cancer Institute Antoni van Leeuwenhoekziekenhuis (NKI AVL), Amsterdam, the Netherlands MATERIAL AND METHODS The analysis was performed from Oct 01, 2022, to Oct 01, 2024, with a Serbian coordinating institution (Institute for Oncology and Radiology of Serbia, IORS) and partners from Spain, Greece, and the Netherlands as expert twinning centers. A comprehensive approach towards building human capacities on LB was developed through intensive training, expert visits and writing new project applications. INTRODUCTION A consortium dedicated to rectal cancer research was formed within the framework of the STEPUPIORS Horizon Europe project to explore predictive biomarkers to neoadjuvant chemoradiotherapy (nCRT) in locally advanced rectal cancer (LARC). This study evaluated whether employing collaborative widening funds might lead to sustainable strategies for liquid biopsy (LB) approaches, with a focus on countries with limited resources as Serbia, using a pilot rectal cancer project. RESULTS AND DISCUSSION Twenty-one IORS researchers (81% female), were trained in LB through 5 visits to partner institutions, 2 expert visits, 5 trainings, and 2 dedicated workshops on omics and LB technologies (ctDNA and CTCs) in Athens, Greece. IORS also joined the European Liquid Biopsy Society as a new member in 2024. This led to 6 publications and 2 successful grant applications (1 COST Network, 1 HE Staff Exchange project – EXPAND-EV, 101182851) enabling the continuance of the training for another 4 years. CONCLUSIONS Though the starting scientific aim was focused on rectal cancer, the project evolved into a larger training network setting a basis for establishing a pool of next generation LB researchers in Serbia. This example showed that when properly employed, EU widening funds might significantly change educational strategies enabling both better quality of patient care and researcher opportunities, thus lowering the disparities in health equity in Europe. Similar active collaborations within relevant LB stakeholders are needed in more countries to advance the scientific output and translation of LB results into clinical practice [email protected] Participant feedback: “The workshops and lectures, especially those related to circulating tumor DNA (ctDNA), were extremely comprehensive and informative, tailored to participants of various knowledge levels.” “From a scientific and clinical standpoint, this program was successful. It encouraged teamwork and the sharing of knowledge, insights, and experiences with colleagues from Spain, the Netherlands, and Greece. My participation in this school has stimulated creative ideas for upcoming projects and scientific and diagnostic research development.”