This week Dutch Cancer Society (KWF Kankerbestrijding) awarded € 2,7 million to facilitate four fundamental research projects at Cancer Center Amsterdam. The studies have been awarded within the KWF second funding round of 2023, totaling € 14,7 million for 23 new research projects at Dutch institutions. The focus of this funding round is to find out how cancer cells work, what are cancer’s biological weak spots, and how to exploit these through innovative therapies?

The four funded projects at Cancer Center Amsterdam:

  • Breaking the interaction of multiple myeloma cells with the bone marrow microenvironment as new therapy. Research team of principal investigator Dr. Marcel Spaargaren. Funding: € 783,879.00
  • Deregulated HORMA-signaling as a therapeutic causative agent genomic instability [in breast cancer]. Research team of principal investigator Dr. Gerben Vader. Funding: € 552,518.50
  • Unmasking GARP as a biomarker in head and neck tumors. Research team of principal investigator Dr. Rieneke van der Ven. Funding: € 718,480.45
  • Bugging chemoresistance”: Bench-to-bedside studies to investigate the mechanisms underlying bacteria-induced chemoresistance in pancreatic cancer. Research team of principal investigator Dr. Elisa Giovannetti. Funding:€ 624,775.90

Fundamental knowledge is essential for realizing new breakthroughs in the prevention, detection, and treatment of cancer. The better we understand cancer, the better we can fight the disease.
Carla van Gils,
Director of the Dutch Cancer Society

Cancer Center Amsterdam congratulates the principal investigators and their research team members on their successful research proposals and is looking forward to supporting these innovative projects in our shared mission to cure cancer.

For more: information contact Cancer Center Amsterdam, or read the press release on the website of KWF Kankerbestrijding (in Dutch).

People involved at Cancer Center Amsterdam – Amsterdam UMC:

Dr. Marcel Spaargaren

Dr. Gerben Vader

Dr. Rieneke van der Ven

Dr. Elisa Giovannetti

Text adapted and translated from ‘Ruim 14 miljoen voor fundamenteel inzicht in (de zwakke plekken van) kanker’, KWF Kankerbestrijding.