During 2025, the AECC awarded IDIBAPS the following grants:
- Why pancreatic cancer is appearing earlier: molecular and environmental keys to better detection and treatment. AECC 2025 Collaborative General Projects Grant.
This project aims to identify the biological and environmental causes of early-onset pancreatic cancer to improve early detection, personalize treatments, and increase survival and quality of life for young patients. It has a budget of nearly €600,000 and is led by Teresa Macarulla, head of the Translational Oncology of Upper Gastrointestinal Cancer research group.
- Genomic and spatial identification to guide heterogeneous trajectories in chronic lymphocytic leukemia. AECC Talent 2025 Support.
The three-year project will analyze the mechanisms that regulate the progression and aggressive transformation of chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL) into Richter transformation, integrating genomic and transcriptomic data. The interaction of tumor cells with the microenvironment will be studied, and in vitro functional assays will be performed to understand the heterogeneity of CLL and guide more precise therapeutic strategies. The study, funded with €259,200, is coordinated by Zala Manon, a postdoctoral researcher in the Molecular Pathology in Lymphoid Neoplasms research group.
- IDIBAPS has been recognized as an accredited center by the AECC Scientific Foundation.
The Spanish Association Against Cancer (AECC) has created its own accreditation system for research centers to "promote excellence in these centers, strengthening their national and international standing in cancer research." The accreditation indicates that "this is an institution where cutting-edge cancer research is conducted, supported by excellent institutional management, which is a key component of that research." This recognition comes with €200,000 in funding. Click here for more information.
- Intratumoral heterogeneity and clinical impact in early HER2-positive and triple-negative breast cancer. Junior Clinical Territory AECC 2025 Grant.
This study is led by Víctor Albarrán, from the Translational Genomics and Targeted Therapies in Solid Tumors research group. The project has a budget of €154,000.
- How "living" tumor models from patients are accelerating the discovery of more effective and personalized treatments. TRANSCAN 3 is helping.
This project aims to develop more effective therapies for bile duct cancers using personalized, patient-derived models. It will identify drug combinations that overcome resistance, improving clinical outcomes and offering more precise and longer-lasting treatments for patients. It has a budget of €50,000 and will be led by Tian Tian, currently Head of the Translational Team at the Upper Gastrointestinal Cancer Unit of VHIO, who will soon join IDIBAPS to co-lead the Translational Oncology group in Upper Gastrointestinal Cancer.
- AECC 2025 Clinical Training Program Grants for Students
These grants aim to train healthcare professionals in different areas of oncology. Three professionals from IDIBAPS have received this funding: Daniel Fernando Pilco (Parkinson's disease and other neurodegenerative movement disorders: clinical and experimental research, €2,250), Juan Muñoz (resident in the Pathology Department at the Hospital Clínic of Barcelona, €7,100), and Marta Fortuny (Liver Oncology, BCLC, €7,100).
- AECC 2025 Academic Year Laboratory Practice Program
These grants bring the reality of biomedical research closer to university students and allow them to complete their training by undertaking internships in cancer research laboratories. Recipient: Ana Sanz (€3,496.56)
At Clínic-IDIBAPS, there are 26 research groups addressing the main challenges in oncology, from developing new treatments and diagnostic tests to understanding the biological mechanisms of cancer. These groups include experts in clinical oncology, translational research, and basic sciences, and they work in a coordinated manner to ensure a real impact on patients. Each year, the research groups at Clínic-IDIBAPS publish around 530 scientific articles about cancer. They also lead important national and international projects on the subject. You can find more information by clicking here.
Furthermore, IDIBAPS plays a leading role in the new Clínic Barcelona Comprehensive Cancer Center, a multidisciplinary organizational structure that leads to a comprehensive approach to cancer, guaranteeing personalized care based on the best scientific evidence. It also facilitates the rapid integration of innovations and new diagnostic tests, while promoting the development of new therapies, including cellular immunotherapies, and training programs for current and future professionals.
