CINNAMON is a COST Action (European Cooperation in Science and Technology), a program that promotes interdisciplinary research networks at a European scale. Over the next four years, the project will work to establish a collaborative network of academic centers aimed at standardizing, expanding, and optimizing expertise in CAR-T therapy, an innovative strategy that has revolutionized the treatment of certain types of cancer, particularly lymphoid neoplasms.
Despite the advances, CAR-T therapy still faces significant challenges: limited accessibility, high costs, and disparities in the distribution of expertise and infrastructure among European countries. CINNAMON aims to address these challenges by creating an ecosystem that promotes equitable access, knowledge transfer, and specialized training for scientists, clinicians, and innovators, with particular attention to countries identified as Inclusiveness Target Countries (ITC), which have fewer opportunities to participate in European programs.
The project, coordinated by Julio Delgado, head of the Oncoimmunotherapy Unit at Hospital Clínic and researcher in the Lymphoid Neoplasms group at IDIBAPS, within the framework of the Clínic Barcelona Comprehensive Cancer Centre, already brings together 150 members from 29 countries, including 15 ITCs and several neighboring countries such as Jordan, Lebanon, and Egypt. In addition, 28 of the participants are Young Researchers and Innovators (YRI), which reinforces the project’s commitment to training and visibility for the new generations.
During the kick-off meeting, the strategic lines and working groups were defined to address key aspects such as decentralized manufacturing, regulation, clinical research, and public awareness. Planned activities include workshops, conferences, training schools, and short-term scientific missions, with the goal of building a cohesive scientific community prepared to tackle the challenges of advanced therapies.
The COST Action CINNAMON is open to anyone who wishes to participate. Registration can be done through the official COST website: https://www.cost.eu/actions/CA24115/.
