Capitalizing on Europe’s Research Connections to Tackle Cancer

For Dr. Pavla Bouchalová, a cancer researcher in the biochemistry department at Masaryk University, Czechia, exploring complex questions about colorectal tumors necessitates access to data, samples, and analytical tools beyond a single lab. An EU-supported initiative, canSERV, provided Bouchalová’s team with colorectal cancer tissue samples and testing services that propelled their research.

“Without canSERV, we couldn’t have done DNA sequencing, RNA sequencing, or AI-assisted analysis, which we’ve been working on with the Netherlands,” Bouchalová said. Her team is now assessing the data before preparing publications.

Her experience highlights the broader challenge and opportunity in European cancer research. Approximately 2.7 million people in Europe are diagnosed with cancer annually, potentially rising to 3.2 million by 2040 as populations age and lifestyle risks persist, necessitating urgent improvements in prevention, treatment, and care.

“Reducing fragmentation benefits not only researchers but European society as a whole,” stated Professor Jens Habermann of BBMRI-ERIC.

Cancer research in Europe is advancing quickly with innovations like RNA-based treatments targeting cancer cells and personalized medicine improving outcomes. However, the oncology research landscape remains fragmented as scientists often work in separate networks with limited access to shared facilities or data, slowing progress and hindering collaboration.

To address this, canSERV was established in 2022, linking cancer researchers and research services from nine EU countries and the UK, consolidating knowledge, technologies, and expertise.

Through canSERV, researchers can access a wide array of advanced services from partner institutions across Europe. The platform serves as a single-entry point offering tools, technologies, and data from research infrastructure in different countries, enabling scientists to conduct more ambitious studies and speed up discoveries.

“It’s a virtual European core facility for cancer research, where you can pick what you need for your project,” said Professor Jens Habermann, director general of BBMRI-ERIC, which leads the canSERV collaboration. “The idea crystallized to defragment the European cancer research landscape,” Habermann added.

canSERV’s services benefit not only academic teams but also European biotech companies developing new therapies. Aptadel Therapeutics, a biotech firm in Barcelona, is working on RNA-based cancer treatments targeting tumor cells more precisely. Through canSERV, Aptadel gained insights into how specific drugs affect tumor cells on a molecular level.

“We knew that tumor cells could be killed by interfering with known oncogenic pathways but lacked fine molecular detail,” said Dr. Adrian Torres, chief scientific officer at Aptadel. With support from canSERV partners in Czechia, Italy, and Germany, the company utilized multiomics analyses, combining genomic and protein data to reveal how genes and proteins in cancer cells respond to treatment.

“These services gave us a picture of cancer cells during drug treatments across genes and proteins,” Torres explained. Collaborating with expert groups enabled Aptadel to obtain large datasets efficiently.

The findings are refining therapies that could be less toxic and more effective than chemotherapy. Aptadel plans to share data widely to support further cancer research.

For Habermann, examples spanning university labs to biotech firms demonstrate canSERV’s purpose. “Reducing fragmentation benefits researchers and European society,” he noted. While some regions have advanced in personalized medicine, others lag behind. Providing accessible research services helps close this gap.

The platform is designed for ease of use by research teams. “We discussed the best scientific approach, prepared samples, shipped them to facilities where partners processed samples and delivered data,” Torres explained.

Habermann likens canSERV to shared transport infrastructure. “If each airline needed its own airport, it wouldn’t work. Sometimes the airport isn’t there, and canSERV is building infrastructure for cancer research.”

Over 150 researchers from 25 countries have utilized canSERV’s support, and organizers hope to extend services beyond August 2026. Connections fostered through the project are paving the way for new partnerships across Europe’s cancer research community.

“The canSERV program allowed us to explore key scientific aspects of our compounds’ functions,” Torres said. “We’re generating new data to make it available for all the scientific community.”

By making cutting-edge research infrastructures accessible across borders, canSERV aids Europe’s scientists in working together more effectively, bringing better cancer treatments closer to fruition.

Research in this article was funded by the EU’s Horizon Programme. Interviewee views do not necessarily reflect those of the European Commission. If you liked this article, please consider sharing it on social media.