The Spanish Association Against Cancer in Barcelona held the presentation event for the 2025 AECC Grants at the MGS Auditorium in Barcelona. Among the selected projects are four initiatives led by researchers from the Vall d’Hebron Research Institute (VHIR), addressing key challenges in cancer treatment and diagnosis.

Overall, VHIR has secured funding in the AECC Researcher, AECC Barcelona Predoctoral, AECC Synergies, and Summer Laboratory Internship Program categories.

New diagnostic platforms in triple-negative breast cancer

In the AECC Researcher 2025 category, Joaquín Seras, principal investigator of the Clinical Biochemistry, Drug Delivery and Therapy Group at VHIR, received a €220,000 grant for a project focused on triple-negative breast cancer, one of the most aggressive subtypes with the poorest prognosis.

The research focuses on the role of tumor-derived extracellular vesicles, particularly those secreted by cancer stem cells, which are responsible for treatment resistance and relapse. The project will explore the use of single-domain antibody libraries to specifically identify these vesicles using rapid biosensors, aiming to develop new non-invasive diagnostic and monitoring tools based on liquid biopsy.

Nanoparticles to overcome the blood–brain barrier in glioblastoma

In the AECC Barcelona Predoctoral 2025 category, Júlia German, a predoctoral researcher in the Clinical Biochemistry, Drug Delivery and Therapy Group at VHIR, received €110,660 to develop her doctoral thesis over four years.

The project addresses glioblastoma multiforme, one of the deadliest brain tumors, with a mortality rate exceeding 90%. One of the main therapeutic challenges is the blood–brain barrier, which prevents many drugs from reaching the tumor. The research proposes the design of a new lipid nanoparticle system with enhanced capacity to cross this barrier, compared to polymer-based systems previously validated by the group.

These nanoparticles will be modified with anti-CD147 peptides to facilitate brain entry and will be validated using innovative blood–brain barrier organ-on-a-chip models, as well as 2D and 3D cellular models, and subsequently in preclinical in vivo models. The ultimate goal is to generate a scalable and safe platform to help prevent relapse and improve patient survival.

Innovative therapeutic combinations in endometrial cancer

In the AECC Synergies 2025 category, Valeria Tubita, principal investigator of the Biomedical Research in Gynecology Group at VHIR, leads a collaborative project with Fundación MD Anderson Madrid, which received total funding of €19,999.84 (€8,539.84 allocated to VHIR).

The project will evaluate the antitumor effect of combining HER2-targeted therapies with PARP inhibitors in patient-derived models of HER2-positive endometrial cancer. Although these drugs are already approved for other tumors, their combination has not been explored in this context. Using patient-derived organoids and xenograft models, both efficacy and the molecular mechanisms underlying therapeutic response will be studied, with the aim of accelerating potential clinical implementation.

Practical training in oncology research

Finally, Helena Marina Rodrigo has been awarded a Summer Laboratory Internship Program AECC 2025 grant of €1,022.14 to complete a two-month placement in the Translational Molecular Pathology Group at VHIR.

During this period, she will deepen her knowledge of the in vitro characterization of new anticancer treatments, from understanding drug mechanisms of action to experimental planning, data analysis, and interpretation of results. This program contributes to fostering scientific vocations and promoting the training of young researchers in oncology.