Under the leadership of Josep Tabernero, the Vall d’Hebron Institute of Oncology (VHIO) has established itself as a comprehensive cancer center of excellence internationally and continues to grow from strength to strength. 

As the theme of this year’s VHIO Scientific Report suggests, 2023 has marked several exciting developments including the incorporation of eight new research groups. We warmly welcomed the arrival of leading investigators who have joined VHIO over the past 12 months, and celebrated many well-deserved promotions of renowned VHIO researchers and clinical investigators as leaders of other newly established groups. 

Based on our strategic plan, we have also continued to expand our suite of cutting-edge technologies, platforms and facilities. We have also fortified our research infrastructures, renovated the first floor of VHIO’s CELLEX Building, and opened a new building, the Saturnino Center. This new premises will strengthen innovation and technology at VHIO. As highlighted in our Director’s foreword to this report, we are now planning another new building that will also enable us to sustain, grow and pursue emerging areas in preclinical and translational research.

VHIO’s optimal organizational structure and multidisciplinary and translational research model allow us to anticipate and tackle the many challenges posed by this multifaceted, heterogeneous and hugely complex disease. We seamlessly bridge preclinical and clinical research in order to foster a continuous virtuous cycle of knowledge from bench-to-bedside and back. 

José Baselga, VHIO’s Founding Director, was a pioneer of translational cancer research. The legacy of José continues to inspire us all. Honoring his outstanding career and exceptional contributions to cancer research as well as the care of patients, we apply the same dedication and fight in beating this disease. 

The generous funding we receive from institutional supporters, including public and private institutions, companies, individual donors, as well as international and national competitive grants, provides vital support to VHIO’s research activities). 

We are especially thankful for the steadfast support of our dedicated Patrons: the Generalitat de Catalunya, Fundació Privada CELLEX, Fundación FERO, ”la Caixa” Foundation, and the Fundación BBVA. Their ongoing support is crucial in sustaining our mission and initiatives.

Some of their many contributions include the following:

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Our public Patron, the Generalitat de Catalunya (Government of Catalonia) – along with the Vall d’Hebron University Hospital (HUVH) – represented by its Departament de Salut (Department of Health), and Departament de Recerca i Universitats (Department of Research and Universities), has been backing VHIO’s cancer science and medicine endeavors from the very beginning.

As a devoted ambassador of VHIO and its diverse research programs, the Generalitat de Catalunya has provided both institutional and financial support since our inception, with the Catalan Minister of Health, Hon. Sr. Manel Balcells, serving as the President of our Board of Trustees.

VHIO’s translational and multidisciplinary approach to cancer research is greatly enhanced through the collaboration and connectivity with the wide range of oncology professionals at the Vall d’Hebron University Hospital (HUVH), the Vall d’Hebron Barcelona Hospital Campus, and the broader Catalan Public Health System.

The Departament de Salut has played a crucial role in integrating VHIO’s research activities into the Vall d'Hebron University Hospital (HUVH) and supporting VHIO's structural funds within the Vall d'Hebron Barcelona Hospital Campus. This partnership exemplifies successful collaboration between public and private sectors, benefiting science, patients and society at large.

We are also grateful for the continued support that we receive from the Institució CERCA–Centres de Recerca de Catalunya (CERCA, Institute of Research Centers of Catalonia). In 2023, VHIO achieved the highest rank from CERCA following a rigorous assessment by an international board, renewing our certification. The financial backing from the Departament de Recerca i Universitats has significantly contributed to VHIO’s structural funds, enabling us to focus on our core research activities. Additionally, various calls supported by the Generalitat de Catalunya further strengthen the research capabilities of our groups.

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One of our private patrons, the Fundació Privada CELLEX (CELLEX Private Foundation), has played a pivotal role in expanding our facilities, which have subsequently advanced our efforts in precision oncology and enhancing patient treatment and care.

For instance, thanks to the Foundation’s support, the Oncology Day Hospital and Outpatients Facility of the Vall d’Hebron University Hospital’s Oncology Department opened its doors in 2008, with subsequent enhancements completed in 2012. This strategic expansion and integration of various units and services have consolidated all specialties and disciplines involved in the treatment and care of our patients under one roof, fostering the translational and multidisciplinary research that VHIO is renowned for.

The Fundació Privada CELLEX also financed the construction of our state-of-the-art CELLEX CENTER, completed in 2015. This marked a new chapter for VHIO, providing ample space and amenities to expand our research activities and further foster multidisciplinary collaboration and exchange by bringing all VHIO research teams together.

The CELLEX CENTER has significantly enhanced our collaborations, accelerated our efforts in cancer research, and allowed us to strengthen our research structure. It has provided our teams with valuable space to grow, pursue emerging research areas, and strengthen our capabilities.

Additionally, thanks to the Foundation, VHIO shares a state-of-the-art Animal Facility (Laboratory Animal Service) with other colleagues across the Vall d'Hebron Barcelona Hospital Campus. This facility, equipped with advanced platforms and technologies, has positioned VHIO as a leader in preclinical cancer modelling.

The continued support of the Fundació Privada CELLEX in maintaining our building and infrastructures ensures that our teams collaborate closely to drive scientific breakthroughs in precision oncology. By financing the renovation of the first floor at CELLEX, fully completed this year, our eight new groups are now housed with the valuable space to grow and pursue emerging research areas.

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The support from the Fundación FERO (FERO Foundation), has been instrumental in fostering science of excellence at VHIO and nurturing the careers of emerging talents in oncology through annual research grants and fellowships.

For example, Josep Villanueva (VHIO’s Proteomics Group), Laura Soucek (co-Director of VHIO’s Preclinical and Translational Research at VHIO, Head of our Models of Cancer Therapies Group and an ICREA Research Professor), Violeta Serra (Head of VHIO’s Experimental Therapeutics Group), Joaquín Arribas (Head of our Growth Factors Group, also an ICREA Research Professor), Sandra Peiró (former Head of VHIO's Chromatin Dynamics Group), César Serrano (Group Leader of our Sarcoma and Translational Research Group) and Rodrigo Toledo (Head of our Biomarkers and Clonal Dynamics Group) have all expanded their labs and advanced pioneering research lines thanks to FERO’s support.

FERO has also contributed to the expansion of our facilities, sponsoring initiatives like our Breast Cancer Center Endavant i de Cara, along with a personal donation received from Maria Àngels Sanahuja.

As one of our Institutional Programs, FERO’s Institutional Advanced Molecular Diagnostics Program (DIAMAV), catalyzes precision medicine at VHIO by supporting our Molecular Prescreening Program. This program focuses on the clinical implementation of advanced molecular diagnostics to optimize therapy selection for patients candidates for enrolment in clinical trials and provides continued medical education on emerging cancer biomarkers for precision cancer therapy. 

In 2023, our investigators performed the molecular profiling of 1,968 patients’ tumors, as potential candidates for inclusion in our phase I clinical trials at our Research Unit for Molecular Therapy of Cancer (UITM) – CaixaResearch, directed by Elena Garralda. Patient eligibility for specific clinical studies is assessed based on individual genomic profile and pathological features. 

Furthermore, FERO’s Annual Awards for Translational Research in Oncology have recognized several of our investigators: Laura Soucek (2011), Héctor G. Palmer (2012), Ibrahim Yasir – formerly an investigator of VHIO’s Experimental Therapeutics Group directed by Violeta Serra (2013), César Serrano (2015), Beatriz Morancho (2016), María Abad (2017), Alena Gros (2018), Joaquin Mateo, Violeta Serra and Judith Balmaña through the first FERO-ghd funded project (2019), Raquel Perez-Lopez, Cristina Saura and Miriam Sansó – the second annual FERO-ghd award (2020), Nicolás Herranz (2021), José A. Seoane, and Tian Tian (2022).

This year, Francisco Martínez Jiménez, Head of VHIO's Computational Immunogenomics Group, received the XXIV FERO Award for Translational Research in Oncology, supported by the Fundación Ramón Areces. His project aims to understand how genomic alterations affect responses to immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICI).

Additionally, Marcos Malumbres (co-Director of Preclinical and Translational Research at VHIO, Head of our Cancer Cell Cycle Group and an ICREA Research Professor) received the V FERO-MANGO Award for Breast Cancer Research, sponsored by MANGO, for his project focused on unveiling resistance mechanisms to current treatments in breast cancer patients.

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Thanks to the generous support from the ”la Caixa” Foundation, VHIO’s Research Unit for Molecular Therapies of Cancer (UITM) – CaixaResearch , was established in 2010 to pioneer early drug discovery and clinical studies tailored to the specificities of individual patients. This Unit has contributed to the development of several targeted therapies and is currently focused on advancing immune-based treatment strategies, including new cytokines, bispecific antibodies, intratumoral agents, immunomodulatory checkpoint inhibitors, and combination therapies.

The UITM – CaixaResearch, under the direction of Elena Garralda, co-Director of VHIO’s Clinical Research Program and Principal Investigator of our Early Clinical Drug Development Group, has become a leading reference in developing novel therapies based on tumor molecular profiles and optimizing treatment strategies through innovative clinical trial designs, such as multi-modular basket studies and umbrella trials. 

VHIO continues to expand its portfolio of early phase clinical studies. In 2023, our unit participated in 249 phase I and 25 Basket trials with active recruitment at some time in the year. Thanks to our multidisciplinary team, we have continued to expand our portfolio of phase I and Basket trials, with 608 patients enrolled. This year, we opened 55 new studies, treated over 1,250 patients throughout the year and performed over 600 first visits. We also advance clinical trial study design to address challenges in global oncology research and emerging health technologies. Notably, VHIO's participation in the Cancer Core Europe Building Data Rich Clinical Trials – CCE-DART project, aims to deliver novel methods for the design and implementation of newer, more efficient and effective clinical trials in oncology. CCE-DART has received funding from the European Union's Horizon 2020 research and innovation programme. 

In addition to supporting VHIO groups and projects through various grants, ”la Caixa” Foundation sponsors VHIO’s CaixaResearch Advanced Oncology Research Program 2020-2025. This program, accelerates the development of novel anti-cancer medicines, fortifies existing research lines, and spurs new projects in precision oncology.

Through this program, VHIO conducts clinical trials targeting specific molecular alterations, including mutations in genes such as AKT1, EGFR, IDH1, ALK, ROS1, BRAF, NRAS, KRAS, FGFR1 and 2, MET, HER2, HER3, RET; ATM; BRCA, amplifications in HER2, AKT 1, 2, and 3, FGFR1, MET, NOTCH1-4, and rearrangements in NTRK1-3 ROS1, ALK, BRAF, RSPO2/3, RET, NRG and FGFR1-3.

In 2022, the UNIQUE CaixaResearch Platform - UNderstanding cancer through sIngle cell sequencing was launched with the support from the ”la Caixa” Foundation. This initiative is a strategic addition that will provide valuable insights into tumor heterogeneity and complex biological processes at unprecedented resolution, fostering new collaborations, innovation and technology transfer activities at VHIO.

Moreover, the ”la Caixa” Foundation supported the expansion of VHIO’s Clinical Research Hemato-Oncology Pharmacy Unit, led by Isabel Cidoncha’s team, enhancing pharmaceutical care quality, regulatory standards and services.

Finally, VHIO – CaixaResearch Scientific Seminars Series , managed by VHIO’s Academy, continues to host internationally renowned researchers and clinical investigators to share insights and discuss the latest advances in oncology with students, postdocs and faculty. In 2023, 18 seminars were held, promoting continuous opportunities for learning and collaboration in oncology. 

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Driving VHIO’s cutting-edge translational research in precision oncology, the Fundación BBVA financed our Tumor Biomarkers Research Program in 2011. This five-year framework agreement enabled collaborative science focused on developing personalized cancer therapies through biomarker research.

Building on this success, we launched our first BBVA-VHIO Institutional Program: the Fundación BBVA Comprehensive Program of Cancer Immunotherapy & Immunology – CAIMI. In 2023, this first program concluded, marking the start of its second edition. CAIMI-II, prioritizes developing therapies that target immune checkpoint regulation, advancing our understanding of resistance and response mechanisms, and accelerating the clinical development of novel therapies. CAIMI also supports various research lines across other VHIO groups.

CAIMI aims to deepen our understanding of natural T-cell responses to cancer and leverage these insights to develop more effective, personalized immune-based strategies against various tumor types. This work is also carried out in collaboration with VHIO’s Molecular Prescreening Program, supported by the Fundación FERO’s Advanced Molecular Diagnostics Program – DIAMAV.

In 2023, inspired by research conducted in cell therapy products, we organized the inaugural VHIO-BBVA Foundation International Symposium on Cell-Based Therapies. This event showcased high-quality research and marked an important milestone within CAIMI’s educational program, supporting physician-scientists advancing their training through international internships. Successful clinical exchanges at institutions like the Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center and University College London, were facilitated by the Mobility Fellowships for IO Medical Researchers program. Additionally, the International Secondment Fellowships for clinical residents and doctoral researchers, and the Undergraduate Fellowships program in the field of immunology are made possible through CAIMI funds.

Research highlights from CAIMI include promising findings on combined LIF-blocking antibodies and immune checkpoint inhibitors for cervical cancer treatment, and identifying poor nutritional status as a prognostic marker for immunotherapy outcomes in head and neck squamous cell carcinoma patients. VHIO researchers also validated an immune gene-expression signature for classifying solid tumors based on adaptive immune response genes, offering a valuable tool for patient selection for immunotherapy.

Additionally, personalized minimally-invasive T-cell therapies were explored through whole-exome sequencing (WES) of circulating free DNA (cfDNA) in patients to identify neoantigens. TCR gene-engineered T cells proved successful in identifying T cells recognizing specific mutations, highlighting the therapeutic potential of non-canonical tumor antigens.

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Selected highlights 2023

The VHIO team is made up of almost 700 people, including preclinical and clinical researchers, oncologists, nursing staff and research support professionals. Distributed between the VHIO and the Vall d’Hebron University Hospital – HUVH, our groups and units work in a coordinated way to develop effective new diagnostic tools and therapeutics for cancer patients.

Located within the Vall d’Hebron Barcelona Hospital Campus, our researchers and clinical investigators work together as multidisciplinary teams. Also carried out in collaboration with other professionals as well as disciplines in oncology, we are devoted to advancing cancer care through transformative team science.

We also firmly believe in combining strengths through cross-border collaborations and national and international consortia of excellence. These partnerships also enable us to accelerate progress in life-saving cancer research.

Main research focus

• Precision Oncology
• Development of sophisticated preclinical humanized models
• Mechanisms/signatures of sensitivity, primary and secondary resistance to Oncology treatments
• Big Data (molecular, clinical, RWD)
• Early drug development/clinical trials with innovative agents
• Immune therapeutics (including cell therapies), radiomics, microbiome, machine learning - AI, single cell seq studies, cell dormancy, senescence, computational biology, cancer prevention, etc.

Strengthening team science at VHIO

In 2023, we welcomed four new group leaders who joined our Preclinical and Translational Research Program, co-directed by lead VHIO investigators and ICREA Research Professors, Joan Seoane and Laura Soucek, and now, Marcos Malumbres. As noted in last year’s scientific report, Marcos joined us in January this year to also lead his Cancer Cell Cycle Group. We are also delighted to announce several well-deserved promotions of established VHIO investigators as leaders of new groups across our preclinical, translational and clinical research programs.

Co-directed by Enriqueta Felip and Elena Garralda, our Clinical Research Program expanded with the formation of three new groups spearheaded by VHIO Clinical Investigators and Senior Medical Oncologists at the Vall d’Hebron University Hospital’s Medical Oncology Department, who are all established leaders in their respective fields.

Preclinical and Translational Research Program

New Group	Group Leader
Aging and Cancer Group	Mate Maus
Cancer Cell Cycle Group	Marcos Malumbres
Cancer Genome Engineering Group	Francisco Barriga
Computational and Immunogenomics Group	Francisco Martínez Jiménez
Promotion and consolidation
New Group	Group Leader
Biomarkers and Clonal Dynamics Group	Rodrigo A. Toledo

Clinical Research Program

Promotion and consolidation
New Group	Group Leader
Colorectal Cancer Group	Elena Élez
Head and Neck Cancer Group	Irene Braña
Melanoma and Other Cutaneous Tumors Research Group	Eva Muñoz

Reflecting our firm belief in advancing cancer treatment and care as rapidly as possible, this strategic expansion will help us strengthen our activities and further pursue cutting-edge research in precision oncology.

To discover more about these newly established groups, please refer to the fold out section opening this year’s report and browse the corresponding program pages.

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The amazing support that we receive from our institutional supporters and Patrons, Institutional Programs, and many other supporters, funding entities, agencies, individuals, and institutional awards, also enable us to expand our research in some of the most promising and emerging fields in precision oncology.

Illustrative of the additional institutional support that we receive from other funding bodies, in 2023, the AstraZeneca José Baselga Innovative Disruption (J-BID) Program provided new funding to four VHIO groups with great potential for groundbreaking discovery. Honoring his outstanding career and exceptional contributions to cancer research, as well as the care of patients the world over, this program embodies the spirit of disruptive innovation that epitomized José’s work and extraordinary vision.

Scientific productivity in 2023: translational cancer science and clinical research

In 2023, 435 scientific articles were published by VHIO researchers and clinical investigators as corresponding, senior or co-authors. To read about some of these contributions to translational cancer science and clinical research, please see our Director's foreword to this report.

To view each group leader’s ‘Paper Pick 2023’ (highlighting a maximum of for selected contributions in 2023), please refer to their corresponding group pages.

Supporting our strategy to beat cancer

Based on our strategy, we have also been busy expanding other VHIO Areas, including Business Development, Innovations and Systems, and VHIO Communication, directed by Carlos López and Bianca Pont, respectively.

To foster VHIO’s research operations, Carlos’ Area has incorporated three new units in 2023. The Information Systems Unit led by Alfred Gutiérrez coordinates and manages VHIO’s IT infrastructure, cybersecurity and data processing platforms. To optimize the use of data generated at VHIO, this unit has a strong focus on automating processes and implementing new tools. The Innovation Unit, headed by Mario de la Cuesta, defines and establishes technology transfer pathways of our research results and collaborates with our research groups to identify, assess and follow-up the required actions to deliver innovation centered on improving patient outcomes.

Finally, to expand VHIO’s research capabilities, we have also created our High Technology Unit. Led by Elena Serrano, this unit provides support to VHIO research groups in advanced technologies in the areas of microscopy, cytometry and single-cell gene expression analysis. We have incorporated high-throughput microscopy, circulating tumor cell (CTC) isolation equipment, a cell sorter, and single-cell and spatial transcriptomics technologies. This unit also provides support in the use of these technologies in translational research, toward harnessing the potential of these novel applications in guiding individualized patient care.

This year, our VHIO Communication Area welcomed three new talents to promote the areas of patronage, communication of European projects and scientific dissemination coordinated by Irene Coll, Maialen Fernández, and Carmen Escudero, respectively. Together with the content organization and digital communication, managed by Arantxa Mena and Blanca Ramos, respectively, these areas represent the strategic pillars of the department.

New Builds

As highlighted in our Director’s foreword to this report, 2023 celebrated the expansion of valuable space that will enable us to grow and further pursue emerging research areas.

First, thanks to the unwavering support that we receive from the Fundació Privada CELLEX (CELLEX Private Foundation), one of our equally amazing institutional supporters and devoted Patrons, we have renovated the first floor of our state-of-the-art CELLEX Building. Fully completed this year, this space is home to our eight new groups.

As this report goes to print, we have opened our new building, the Saturnino Center. This premises provides 900.5 m² new space and is equipped with cutting-edge facilities. Dedicated to strengthening innovation and technology at VHIO, this building represents a thriving new hub in the realm of bioinformatics and computational sciences. Our Academic CRO teams, Bioinformatics Unit, Cancer Computational Biology, Computational Immunogenomics, Oncology Data Science (OdysSey), and Radiomics Groups have already moved in.

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Another exciting development in 2023 has been the purchase of land for a new VHIO build. This plot, spanning 1,400 m², is situated adjacent to our CELLEX Building. Delivering on future priorities and action points set out in our strategic plan, this space will also enable us to sustain our growth in preclinical and translational research.

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Development and application of cutting-edge platforms and empowering technologies in precision oncology

VHIO’s Core Technologies Program, led by Paolo Nuciforo, Head of our Molecular Oncology Group, accelerates progress against cancer by developing and validating novel tumor biomarkers, implementing transformative technologies and advancing the treatment and care of cancer patients through dynamic approaches and novel diagnostic tools.

As an example, our institute was the first academic test center to incorporate in-house BEAMing liquid biopsy RAS biomarker technology in 2015. As highlighted throughout this scientific report, VHIO’s Cancer Genomics Group directed by Ana Vivancos, in collaboration with our other core technology teams, continue to make important progress in developing liquid biopsy technologies for the less invasive capturing and tracking of tumor evolution and clinical outcomes during cancer therapy. 

Among the many highlights and developments this year, we have implemented for the first time the VHIO360 panel in partnership with Guardant Health, that allows tumor molecular profiling from blood samples. Through our Molecular Prescreening Program, powered by the FERO Foundation’s Institutional Advanced Molecular Diagnostic Program (DIAMAV), our growing efforts to better characterize tumors have resulted in the molecular profiling of 1,968 cancer patients’ tumors, representing a significant increase over previous year.

A key component of our CaixaResearch Advanced Oncology Research Program, supported by funding received from the ”la Caixa” Foundation, is our new transversal platform, UNIQUE – UNderstanding cancer through sIngle cell seQUEncing. Integrating three state-of-the-art single-cell technologies, UNIQUE represents a powerful too that will help us to unravel complex biological processes in cancer, develop new therapies and biomarkers. Designed to explore gene expression in tumor tissue and blood samples, enabling the characterization of expression patterns in individual cells, this platform will consolidate VHIO as a reference hub in single cell analysis and create new opportunities for advancing the clinical management of cancer patients. 

Thanks to the funding received through our BBVA Foundation Comprehensive Program of Cancer Immunotherapy and Immunology (CAIMI-II), another important development has been the preliminary validation of our VIGex gene expression signature as a tool for classifying solid tumors. Based on the expression level of genes involved in the adaptive immune response, this panel could serve as a predictor of response to immunotherapy and a tool for refining patient selection for early-phase immunotherapy clinical trials.

VHIO is accredited as a Severo Ochoa Center of Excellence (2022 – 2026). As one of our Institutional Programs, this award further strengthens our various research programs and teams in driving important advances in cancer discovery and precision medicine in oncology. The new cross-cutting Severo Ochoa Digitalization Unit (SOUND) is at the nexus of digital health and data science for research, clinical applications and patient-centered medicine. Since it was established in 2022, SOUND has launched the cVHIO portal for cancer genomics adapted to research data at VHIO.

The Asociación Española Contra el Cáncer – AECC Excellence Program – Advanced Therapies Accelerator Program has now launched as one of our Institutional Programs. The support we receive from this program will help to establish VHIO as an international reference in the creation of new gene and cell therapy products, advance existing ones in our pipeline, and increase Europe’s prominence in this emerging field. Aimed at accelerating the development of academic gene and cell therapy products, we are planning the construction of our Advanced Therapies Accelerator Unit’s clean room. Envisaged in 2024, this facility will speed up the efficient development of new products, and upon successful evaluation, their transfer to centers for larger-scale production.

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Molecular Prescreening Program: catalyzing precision medicine at VHIO

VHIO’s Molecular Prescreening Program, supported by FERO’s Institutional Advanced Molecular Diagnostics Program – DIAMAV, catalyzes precision medicine at VHIO. Over the last decade, this program has provided access to advanced molecular diagnostics to more than 10,000 cancer patients, and is critical in matching targeted therapeutic approaches with hundreds of clinical trial opportunities.

These efforts count on the support and expertise provided through our Research Unit for Molecular Therapy of Cancer (UITM) – CaixaResearch, and is co-led by Ana Vivancos, Paolo Nuciforo, Elena Garralda (also Director of the UITM), and Rodrigo Dienstmann, who lead our Cancer Genomics, Molecular Oncology, Early Clinical Drug Development, and Oncology Data Science – OdysSey  Groups, respectively. This program is coordinated by Susana Aguilar, Head of our VHIOTECA Unit, in collaboration with Jenifer González, Research Support Technician.

Molecular prescreening at VHIO focuses on the clinical implementation of advanced molecular diagnostics to optimize therapy selection for patient candidates for enrolment clinical trials, and provides continued medical education on the interpretation next-generation sequencing tests and emerging biomarkers. 

Our program guides clinicians in the selection of both standard-of-care and investigational therapies, and accelerates clinical-molecular correlative research at VHIO. Diagnostic tests are developed and validated in-house for the cost-effective and streamlined identification of tumor molecular alterations of major interest in drug development.

In 2023, we performed the molecular profiling of 1,968 cancer patients as potential candidates for inclusion in our early phase clinical trials conducted at the UITM - CaixaResearch, directed by Elena Garralda. Patient eligibility for specific clinical studies is assessed based on individual genomic profile and pathological features.   

This year, we have also implemented for the first time the VHIO360 panel, our liquid biopsy technology in partnership with Guardant Health, that allows tumor molecular profiling from blood samples.

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VHIO’s Research Unit for Molecular Therapy of Cancer (UITM) – Caixa Research: pioneering early drug discovery and clinical studies tailored to the specificities of individual patients

Thanks to the generous support from the ”la Caixa” Foundation, VHIO’s Research Unit for Molecular Therapies of Cancer (UITM) – CaixaResearch, directed by Elena Garralda, was established in 2010 to pioneer early drug discovery and clinical studies tailored to the specificities of individual patients. 

Research at our  UITM – CaixaResearch  is led by VHIO’s Early Clinical Drug Development Group, also headed by Elena Garralda, in collaboration with several other VHIO groups and teams. This Unit has become a leading reference in developing novel therapies based on tumor profiles and optimizing treatment strategies through innovative clinical trial designs, such as multi-modular basket studies and umbrella trials. Early phase clinical trials conducted at the UITM have played a pivotal role in advancing precision medicine in oncology, leading to the approval of over 30 anti-cancer agents by regulatory bodies such as the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and the European Medicines Agency (EMA). 

We continue to expand our portfolio of early phase clinical studies in oncology. In 2023, UITM-CaixaResearch participated in a total of 249 phase I clinical trials and Basket studies with active recruitment at some time during the year, with 608 patients enrolled. This year, we opened 55 new studies, treated over 1,250 patients throughout the year and performed over 600 first visits. In addition to our clinical trials in oncology, in 2023 our Unit also participated in a total of 27 phase I and II clinical trials in hematology with active rectruitment at some point during the year, and opened 4 new phase I studies. We treated a total of 52 hematology patients throughout the year.  

UITM – CaixaResearch is also dedicated to advancing clinical trial study design to address challenges in global oncology research and emerging health technologies. As examples, we coordinate the Cancer Core Europe consortium’s EU-funded project: Building Data Rich Clinical Trials (CCE-DART), which aims to accelerate the design and development of a new generation of data rich, dynamic studies in oncology. 

This year, our investigators have also successfully expanded the CCE’s academic Basket of Baskets (BoB) study, by including a new treatment arm and study module. This innovative study integrates flexible molecular prescreening of patients with the development of new diagnostic tests, and enables us to evaluate novel targeted therapies in patients diagnosed with tumors harboring specific molecular alterations who have a high probability of deriving benefit from matched therapies. 

We have also expanded our research aimed at advancing immune-based treatment strategies, including new cytokines, bispecific antibodies, intratumoral agents, immunomodulatory checkpoint inhibitors, and combination therapies. Illustrative of these efforts, in collaboration with Alena Gros’ Tumor Immunology and Immunotherapy Group, we have implemented our own academic program to develop tumor infiltrating lymphocytes (TIL) therapy and, initiated this year, we are coordinating the EU-funded PragmaTIL project. 

These projects and contributions are only possible through our collaboration with other programs at VHIO including our CaixaResearch Advanced Oncology Research Program, also supported by the  ”la Caixa” Foundation, Molecular Prescreening Program coordinated by Susana Aguilar, which we co-lead, and by working with many other VHIO groups including Cancer Genomics, directed by Ana Vivancos. 

Optimal patient treatment and care and research at UITM-Caixa Research would not be possible without the essential collaboration of many other teams of oncology professionals. They include our Clinical Research Oncology Nurses, directed by Mª Ángeles Peñuelas and supervised by Laura Bascuñana, pathologists at the Vall d’Hebron University Hospital’s Molecular Pathology Department, radiologists and interventional radiologists at Vall d’Hebron, our Clinical Trials Office directed by Cristina Pérez, this Unit’s Database Managers, Clinical Research Oncology Pharmacy Unit headed by Isabel Cidoncha, our Academic CRO and Quality & Processes Unit directed by Susana Muñoz and Gemma Sala respectively, as well as many other healthcare specialists including dermatologists, cardiologists, and ophthalmologists.

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VHIO is an active member of the American Association for Cancer Research (AACR) Project Genomics Evidence Neoplasia Information Exchange (GENIE). AACR Project GENIE® brings together twenty-one partners, with VHIO as the only one from Spain. 

This project is a publicly accessible cancer registry of real-world clinico-genomic data assembled through data sharing between 19 leading international cancer centers. Through the efforts of GENIE's two strategic partners, Sage Bionetworks and cBioPortal, the registry aggregates, harmonizes, and links clinical-grade, next-generation cancer genomic sequencing data with clinical outcomes obtained during routine medical practice from cancer patients treated at these institutions.

As this scientific report goes to print, ACCR announced the fifteenth public data release (GENIE 15.0). The registry now contains more than 198,000 sequenced samples from 172,000+ patients, making the AACR Project GENIE registry among the largest fully public cancer genomic data sets released to date. 

VHIO was invited to join this project in 2018, and our participation is led by Rodrigo Dienstmann, Head of our Oncology Data Science (ODySey) Group .

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Institutional recognitions and awards in 2023

VHIO is located within the Vall d’Hebron Barcelona Hospital Campus, which is also home to our Vall d’Hebron University Hospital (HUVH) and two other research institutes of international reference; the Vall d’Hebron Institute of Research (VHIR), and the Multiple Sclerosis Centre of Catalonia (Cemcat). Our hospital affords VHIO direct access to patients as well as the entire spectrum of oncology professionals who care for them.

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This year, in recognition of multidisciplinary integrated cancer care, translational and clinical cancer research of excellence, VHIO, VHIR, Vall d’Hebron and the Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona (UAB) have been accredited by the Organisation of European Cancer Institutes (OECI) as a Comprehensive Cancer Centre through its Accreditation and Designation (A&D) Programme. 

Following an exhaustive external evaluation, having successfully complied with 85 standards and 343 sub-standards—both qualitative and quantitative—Vall d’Hebron is the first to receive this level of OECI accreditation in Spain. This accreditation also recognizes the specialized, continuing and tailored oncology training that Vall d'Hebron provides its professionals, as well as the undergraduate and postgraduate academic training in oncology developed through the UAB and other institutions.

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In 2023, Vall d’Hebron obtained significant funding as part of the CERTERA (Consorcio Estatal en Red para el desarollo de Medicamentos de Terapias Avanzadas) national network for Advanced Therapy Medicinal Products (ATMPs), and through the FORTALECE program as an accredited Health Research Institute (IIS IR-HUVH) by the Instituto de Salud Carlos III – ISCIII (Carlos III Health Institute). 

The CERTERA consortium, set within the framework of the Strategic Project for Economic Transformation and Recovery (known as PERTE) for Cutting-Edge Healthcare, promotes collaboration between research centers, including Vall d’Hebron, with VHIO and VHIR as project partners. At VHIO, this funding will further strengthen our efforts aimed at developing academic gene and cell therapy products, supported by the Associación Española Contra el Cáncer – AECC Excellence Program – Advanced Therapies Accelerator Program.

The goal of the FORTALECE program is to strengthen pre-existing lines of research and innovation and promote the generation of cutting-edge scientific knowledge to improve health and tackle the main health challenges in society. Our Vall d’Hebron University Hospital obtained significant funding from this program in 2023. The awarded project—TACTIC: TACkling healthcare challenges through disruptive science, novel Therapies and systems medICine —is now underway and co-led by consolidated groups at VHIO and VHIR to develop new perspectives for personalized medicine in cancer, cardiovascular and neurological disorders —from childhood to adulthood. 

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In addition to all our newly funded research lines and programs in 2023, VHIO investigators and research teams have been recognized through several other prizes, awards, and institutional recognitions.

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Consortia and partnerships of excellence across borders

At VHIO we are dedicated to fostering, developing and (co) leading multi-center collaborations that combine the necessary expertise and resources to accelerate research against cancer. These national and international partnerships enable us to collectively advance cancer care through transformative team science.

We currently (co) lead and participate in a large number other national and international consortia of excellence. Among these, several new projects launched in 2023. 

Among the many important developments this year, VHIO's Director Josep Tabernero was appointed as the new Chair of the Cancer Core Europe (CCE) consortium’s Board of Directors. Illustrative of his standing as a renowned world leader in cancer research and precision oncology, this new appointment was officially announced in October 2023, when Emile Voest from the Netherlands Cancer Institute (NKI) passed the reins over to Josep after four years’ outstanding leadership.

CCE was founded in 2014 to accelerate the development of innovative cancer therapies through close collaboration in translational and clinical research. 

This consortium is led by seven founding partners and European comprehensive cancer centers of excellence, the Gustave Roussy Cancer Campus Grand Paris (Villejuif, France), Cambridge Cancer Centre (Cambridge, UK), Karolinska Institute (Stockholm, Sweden), Netherlands Cancer Institute – NKI (Amsterdam, The Netherlands), National Center for Tumor Diseases – DKFZ-NCT (Heidelberg, Germany), The National Cancer Institute of Milan (Italy), and VHIO.

Its members share a common vision to reshape the cancer research model to ultimately increase the European Union’s competitiveness as an arena to conduct cutting-edge research that is rapidly translated to the clinic to deliver on the promise of precision medicine in oncology.

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In terms of leadership of EU projects & consortia, besides our Director picking up the baton as the new Chair of Cancer Core Europe, we take this opportunity to highlight our leadership of the EU PragmaTIL trial (aiming to optimize treatment of cancer patients with Tumour-Infiltrating Lymphocytes Adoptive Cell Therapy -TIL-ACT), the coordination of strategic WPs in UNCAN, CCI4EU and JOIN4ATMP. This year we have also taken the lead of the EuroPDX Consortium, an EU initiative which mutualizes efforts and allows exchanging patient derived tumour xenografts (PDXs) and other preclinical models through academic and non-academic collaborations.

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The shaping of European oncopolicy

Implementation plans of two convergent European initiatives, the Horizon Europe’s Mission on Cancer and the Europe’s Beating Cancer Plan, spur for a European Initiative to UNderstand CANcer (UNCAN.eu). This initiative is one of the 13 specific objectives of the Mission on Cancer and one of the ten flagships of the Europe’s Cancer Beating plan. The Coordination and Support Action (CSA), 4.UNCAN.eu, is generating a blueprint for UNCAN.eu. 

Illustrative of our Director’s unwavering commitment to improving patient outcomes, Josep Tabernero is a member of Horizon Europe’s Mission on Cancer Assembly, and also leads one of the six work packages of the 4.UNCAN.eu CSA: Identification of cancer research challenges to address future EU priorities and research policies. 

This ambitious project, aims to guide policymakers regarding research that will most likely improve the lives of cancer patients, create a European cancer research data hub, and improve cancer survivorship. 

Besides the strategic participation of our VHIO leaders in high-level meetings with members of the EU parliament and other EU stakeholders, we want to highlight our active involvement as members of the Spanish Cancer Mirror Group in actions driven by the Spanish Ministries of Health and Science and Innovation, through the Spanish Foundation for Science and Technology (FECYT), the Institute of Health Carlos III (ISCIII) and the Centre for the Development of Technology and Innovation (CDTI). This year, these actions included high-level meetings at Palacio de Pedralbes (Barcelona, 31 August) and at the Príncipe Felipe Research Center Foundation (CIPF) (Valencia, 3-6 Oct), to discuss with national and international experts on the current challenges and opportunities in cancer care at the European level.

These examples reflect our engagement in strengthening oncopolicy in Europe toward addressing the regional inequalities in cancer research, access to optimal treatment and care, and disease prevention.

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VHIO’s spin-off successes

Co-founded back in 2014 by Laura Soucek, an ICREA Research Professor and co-Director of Preclinical and Translational Research at VHIO, the VHIO and ICREA-born spin-off Peptomyc received approval in 2021 to initiate the first-in-human Phase I/IIa clinical trial with its first Omomyc-derived compound (OMO-103), a disruptive MYC inhibitor.

Building on the proven preclinical efficacy and safety of their Omomyc cell-penetrating mini-protein in mouse models and Peptomyc’s development of anti-MYC peptides for the treatment of several tumor types, this milestone represented a greatly anticipated leap into the clinical research setting and an important step forward in becoming the first ever clinically viable and direct inhibitor of MYC – a protein implicated in the formation of most tumor types.

OMO-103 successfully completed a phase I clinical trial in October 2022, becoming officially the first direct MYC inhibitor to have successfully passed stage I of clinical development. On the basis of this success, a Phase Ib trial was initiated in 2023 with OMO-103 as first-line treatment in metastatic pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma in combination with standard of care chemotherapy. Led by Teresa Macarulla, Head of VHIO’s Upper Gastrointestinal and Endocrine Tumors Group, this study is sponsored by Peptomyc and performed in 4 Spanish hospitals including the Vall d’Hebron University Hospital – HUVH (Vall d’Hebron Barcelona Hospital Campus).

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VHIO’s Joan Seoane and his Gene Expression and Cancer Group previously established the role of LIF in oncogenesis as a promoter of cancer progression by regulating the tumor microenvironment and inducing self-renewal in tumor-initiating cells. This research culminated in the development of MSC-1, a therapeutic LIF neutralizing antibody. 

Joan Seoane, an ICREA Research Professor and co-Director of VHIO’s Preclinical and Translational Research Program, co-founded VHIO-born spin-off Mosaic Biomedicals in 2012 for the design and development of this novel compound. In 2016, Mosaic collaborated with Northern Biologics Inc. (Toronto, Canada) to develop the phase I clinical trial of MSC-1. The clinical-stage MSC-1 (now AZD0171) was acquired by MedImmune/AstraZeneca in 2020.

The preclinical characteristics and mechanism of action of MSC1 were reported this year (Hallett et al. 2023), with Joan Seoane as corresponding author. A phase II study designed to evaluate this compound in metastatic pancreatic adenocarcinoma completed recruitment in 2023 (NCT04999969). In addition, a new clinical trial testing AZD0171 in non-small cell lung cancer opened in 2023 and is actively recruiting patients (NCT05061550).

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Created in 2021, ONIRIA Therapeutics was co-founded by VHIO, the Universidad de Barcelona (UB), and the ICREA Catalan Institution for Research, and had been mainly funded by the ”la Caixa” Foundation, Asociación Española Contra el Cáncer – AECC (Spanish Association Against Cancer), and the Instituto de Salud Carlos III – ISCIII (Institute of Health Carlos III), prior to its incorporation.

By modulating cell dormancy to overcome cancer persistence, this spin-off is developing innovative therapies that modulate cell dormancy as a new strategy to fight cancer. Among various ongoing projects, ONIRIA’s most advanced agent is a first-in-class molecule, ONR-001, that allosterically activates the TET2 master epigenetic enzyme causing tumor cells to enter a dormant state and even die.

ONIRIA has already secured patent protection for its TET2 modulators and demonstrated efficacy in preclinical animal models by showing that ONR-001 promotes and sustains cancer cell dormancy and even causes cell death upon prolonged treatment with high tolerability in mice. The investigators are now evaluating the efficacy of ONR-001 in several hematologic and solid cancers and its targeting of hypermethylated tumors as a consequence of TET2 loss-of-function. This spin-off has now successfully raised its seed funding round.

This project has also been possible thanks to the additional support received from the Agència de Gestió d’Ajuts Universitaris i de Recerca – AGAUR (Agency for Management of University and Research Grants), Fundación FERO, and the Fundació Privada CELLEX Since it was officially established, ONIRIA has also received support from the Torres y Quevedo Program – Ministerio de Ciencia e Innovación (Spanish Ministry of Science and Innovation), and a Start-Up Capital Grant from the Agencia para la Competitividad de la Empresa - ACCIÓ (Catalan Regional Government’s Agency for Business Competitiveness).

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REVEAL GENOMICS S.L. is a spin-off company of the Hospital Clínic de Barcelona, August Pi I Sunyer Biomedical Research Institute (IDIBAPS), University of Barcelona (UB), and VHIO. Its HER2DX® assay is a new diagnostic tool for early-stage HER2-positive breast cancer. Brought to market this year, it featured among TIME magazine’s listing of Best Inventions of 2022 under the category of Medical Care.

Co-developed by VHIO with third parties, the RAD51 predictive test to identify patients who could benefit from treatment with PARP inhibitors is now being used in a prospective clinical trial to predict olaparib sensitivity in patients with metastatic HER2-negative breast cancer. 

The VHIO360 test for liquid biopsy has been Implemented and validated by our Cancer Genomics Group, directed by Ana Vivancos, and the Guardant Health 360® DX test breakthrough liquid biopsy technology has been incorporated at VHIO. VHIO was the first cancer research center in Europe to incorporate this avant-garde platform. Aimed at overcoming the limitations associated with traditional tissue biopsy, this technology provides complete genomic results in all solid tumors from a simple blood draw in seven days.

Based on genome-wide RNA seq and array-based Nanostring technologies, Ana’s team has now developed the VIGex predictive pan cancer platform to help guide patient selection for personalized immune-based therapies.

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Excellence in education and training

Headed by Imma Falero, the mission of the VHIO Academy is to attract and train the next generation of scientific leaders in oncology. Since its creation in 2021, it has achieved several highlights including the launch of international Academic Programs (Bachelor, Master, PhD calls), the implementation of a structured international PhD Program and the deployment of an Advanced Training Program. 

In addition to coordinating the VHIO – CaixaResearch Scientific Seminars Series, in 2023 the VHIO Academy managed thirty-nine academic programs, twenty-seven scientific and transferable skills trainings, four workshops on professional development skills for clinicians, and one Cancer Core Europe (CCE) educational activity. 

Launched in 2019 and supported by the ”la Caixa” Foundation, our VHIO – CaixaResearch Scientific Seminars Series educational program welcomes internationally renowned researchers and clinical investigators to VHIO to share their latest research findings and to meet with VHIO investigators. Coordinated by the VHIO Academy, these sessions take place in the auditorium at our CELLEX Building, and are chaired by each respective VHIO host. A total of eighteen seminars took place this year.

Marking the end of the first BBVA Foundation Comprehensive Program of Cancer Immunotherapy and Immunology (CAIMI) and the start of its second edition, CAIMI-II, the 1^st VHIO-BBVA Foundation International Symposium on Cell-based Therapies in Oncology, 29-30 November, 2023, provided an outstanding forum to present the very latest developments in the field of advanced cell therapies, and to foster collaboration among leading, international experts. 

Celebrated at the Ateneu Barcelonés cultural center in Barcelona, this event was organized by VHIO's Scientific Management Area, directed by Alejandro Piris, and co-chaired by Alena Gros, Head of VHIO’s Tumor Immunology and Immunotherapy and Sònia Guedan Group Leader of Cellular Immunotherapies for Cancer at the Clínic Barcelona - August Pi i Sunyer Biomedical Research Institute (IDIBAPS). 

Established in 2016, our Benchstorming Seminars, represent an excellent opportunity for young researchers to present and discuss their research interests with other VHIO groups. Not only do our young researchers learn more about their colleagues and respective research lines, but they can also share their thoughts on each seminar topic. The informal format of these meetings further promotes interaction between speakers and participants. In 2023, a total of 16 seminars took place.

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Ad-Hoc Courses and Workshops

Focused on specific, cutting-edge aspects of cancer research and treatment, we also organize and host several ad-hoc events throughout the year. A total of 44 ad-hoc courses, workshops, preceptorships and observerships took place in 2023.

For more information about all these events and programs, please refer to the Education and Training section of this report. 

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Fundraising, public outreach and patient engagement activities

VHIO supports and organizes activities to increase public interest in cancer research and promote the important advances reported by our scientists and clinical investigators. These efforts are aimed at patients and non-specialized audiences to enrich scientific culture as well as promote science as a stimulating career path for young people – the future of our research. Importantly, some of these initiatives have resulted in considerable funding for research at VHIO.

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In addition to the many fundraising highlights and public outreach activities in 2023, we organized ten VHIO Talks and the second annual VHIO Research Day for breast cancer advocacy groups and associations. As a Severo Ochoa Center of Excellence (2022-2026), these patient engagement activities are part of our PAtient and CiTIzen InvolvemENT Program (PATIENT) to bring research closer to the public and strengthen patient involvement in oncology research.

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VHIO’s communication channels & platforms

VHIO has continued to develop a communication strategy based on bringing science to the street, generating content adapted to different audiences and focusing on outreach activities in which patients play an important role, as well as preclinical and clinical researchers. The aim is to explain what we do, raise awareness of the importance of supporting research and involve society in what we do.

In 2023, VHIO sent 28 press releases that had 2,235 impacts in the media, participated in or organized 36 outreach activities with more than 1,400 participants, and has a community of almost 44,000 followers in the different social networks in which it is present (X, Facebook, LinkedIn, Instagram, YouTube).

To discover what we are excited about, our latest news, and other developments that are catching our attention elsewhere, we invite you to follow us, and join in on our ‘conversation’ today: