Setting the Stage for Tomorrow
Personal motivations are key to propel us forward in our ambitious, collaborative effort to make a positive impact on the lives of cancer patients.
In the editorial of the first issue of Oncode Accelerator Magazine in April, we touched upon our definition of success for the Oncode Accelerator program, apart from ‘reaching our goals’. We concluded that there are multiple ways to look at this, and that it can be different depending on who you ask. This is emphasized in this issue by patient advocate Pauline Evers, who states that she will consider the program to be successful ‘when at least half of the projects are focused on rare cancers’, which are neglected in many research initiatives.
Perspective matters, and these personal motivations are key to propel us forward in our ambitious, collaborative effort to make a positive impact on the lives of cancer patients.
However, one key aspect contributing to our success is not open for different interpretations. These are our drug development projects, or as we call them our Demonstrator Projects, and since April we have come a long way. ‘Demonstrator Projects are a testament to the potential of academic research when given the right support’, says our business developer Bastiaan Bijl in an interview in this magazine. His statement reflects our ambition to make a difference by speeding up the process of cancer therapy development. Demonstrator Projects are key to achieving this.
Validating our approach will ensure a long-term, lasting impact on patient’s perspectives and the Dutch economy.
Since the opening of the Demonstrator Project call in April, 20 applications have been received. 18 of them are still in the process, managed by our growing team of project managers and business developers, and 6 of them are close to expert review. The first call remains open until September 2025, so any interested party will still have the opportunity to access to our unique cancer research network and infrastructure, comprising state-of-the-art equipment, world-class research institutes and industry, top scientists, and a dedicated team to manage the process from start to finish.
As Liesbeth de Vries, chair of the Demonstrator Advisory Board, states in this issue: ‘Take advantage of the connections within the Oncode Accelerator network across workstreams and platforms. Collectively, Oncode Accelerator wants to make sure that your project funding has maximum impact.’ However, it is important to realize that Demonstrator Projects not only bring promising leads to the next stage in preclinical drug development, but they also validate our innovative infrastructure, as explained in the article on the intersection of the Patient Cohorts and the Organoids platforms. Validating our approach through Demonstrator Projects will ensure a long-term, lasting impact on patients’ perspectives and the Dutch economy. So, Oncode Accelerator is not only about what we are achieving today – it is also about setting the stage for tomorrow.
Chief Operating Officer
Friso Smit
Involved in Oncode Accelerator Foundation’s Board of Directors since the start, Friso is now COO. He will be responsible for the operational delivery within the program.
Chief Executive Officer
Arnoud Huisman
As CEO of the Oncode Accelerator Foundation and chairman of the board, Arnoud will focus on the acquisition of demonstrator projects and co-funding. He is driven by translating science into value, both for patients and society.
Chief Scientific Officer
Mark Krul
In his role as CSO of the Oncode Accelerator Foundation, Mark will oversee the scientific quality of demonstrator projects. In parallel, Mark is director for Aglaia Oncology Funds, Inthera Bioscience and Sapreme Technologies as well.
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