European Doctoral Network to Improve Leukaemia and Lymphoma Therapies
The i3S is one of the institutions forming part of the Doctoral Network “ACHILLES - Advancing the Challenge of Improving Survival in Lymphoma and Leukaemia", recently funded by the European Commission with over €4 million under the HORIZON Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions (MSCA) call. The aim is to train the next generation of leaders in haemato-oncology, with a focus on developing novel therapeutic solutions for haematological malignancies. i3S will receive approximately €280,000 to train one doctoral student.
Coordinated by the Josep Carreras Leukaemia Research Institute in Spain, this doctoral network brings together 14 institutions from 10 European Union countries and one associated state, alongside partners from the biotechnology and drug discovery sectors, including two leading European policy bodies in haematology: the European Hematology Association (EHA) and the European School of Haematology (ESH).
For Nuno Rodrigues dos Santos, the i3S researcher coordinating the Institute’s participation in this initiative, the “opportunity to be part of a European haemato-oncology research network allows us to strengthen existing collaborations and forge new ones that will enable the development of the scientific and technological know-how of our research team".
The project to be developed at i3S, entitled “Determining the long-lasting impacts of T-cell leukaemia and lymphoma on haematopoietic niches", will focus on studying the “molecular mechanisms underlying immune dysfunction in leukaemia survivors and provide a rational basis for revealing new therapeutic targets with the aim of improving immune recovery and the well-being of leukaemia survivors", explains Nuno Rodrigues dos Santos.
The ACHILLES programme will train 16 doctoral candidates with essential skills in experimental haemato-oncology, including the design, development, and pre-clinical validation of innovative therapies. This network is structured around three main scientific objectives: creating new experimental models and analytical methods; exploring the oncogenic mechanisms of malignant haematological tumours; and developing and validating new therapies, particularly targeted treatments for leukaemia and lymphoma. To generate improved diagnostic tools, predict treatment responses, and optimise therapeutic strategies, it will employ cutting-edge technologies such as AI, multi-omics, and computational modelling.
With a patient-centred approach, ACHILLES aims to foster academic and industrial collaboration, bridging the gaps between scientific research and clinical application. This initiative aligns with the European Union’s Cancer Plan, with a particular emphasis on improving survival rates and access to treatment, especially in countries undergoing enlargement. Through strong academic-industrial partnerships, ACHILLES will help create a sustainable impact in the field of haemato-oncology, advancing research, therapies, and ultimately, the health outcomes of patients with leukaemia and lymphoma worldwide.
About the Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions (MSCA) Doctoral Networks
Under this Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions (MSCA) call, the European Commission awarded €608.6 million to 149 excellent doctoral programmes designed to train and develop the skills of over 1,800 doctoral candidates within and outside academia.
Of the 149 approved programmes, 133 are standard doctoral programmes, eight are industrial doctoral programmes aimed at training doctoral candidates and developing their skills outside academia, particularly in industry and businesses, and the remaining eight are designated joint doctoral programmes, as they promote joint selection, training, and supervision leading to joint or multiple doctoral degrees.
The objective of these networks is to implement doctoral programmes through partnerships of organisations from different sectors across Europe and beyond, to train highly skilled doctoral candidates, stimulate their creativity, enhance their innovation capacities, and boost their long-term employability.
The Research Executive Agency (REA) received 1,417 applications, with a success rate of 10.6 per cent.