Title of the project: Adaptive and acquired resistance in gastrointestinal cancers-contemporary and emerging resolutions (AdResCanCER)

Principal investigator: Luka Bočkor, PhD

Funding body: European Cooperation in Science and Technology (COST)

Duration: 2025 – 2025

Summary:

Gastrointestinal (GI) cancers (oesophageal cancer, gastric cancer, colorectal cancer, pancreatic cancer and liver cancer) are a group of diseases with high incidence and mortality, whose management is impeded by the development of chemoresistance. The exact mechanism of adaptive changes underlying chemoresistance in GI cancers remains elusive although different intrinsic and extrinsic factors may play a role in this process. Proposed action AdResCanCER will serve as a platform for bringing together for the first time researchers, young investigators, clinicians and SMEs working in the field of GI related to basic and clinical oncology, molecular biology, drug discovery and development and computer science to boost research excellence in understanding and overcoming chemoresistance in GI cancers, to enable the generation of advanced knowledge, skills and technology transfer, to promote high level of training for young researches and to facilitate the development of novel clinically relevant therapeutic solutions and monitoring tools for recurrent GI cancers. Main aims of AdResCanCER include: 1) creating a platform to bring together scientists from different disciplines, clinicians, regulatory bodies and society; 2) optimizing and standardizing generation and use of research data, clinical data and various -OMICS analytical workflows; 3) providing rational design, development and evaluation of novel medicines and compounds targeting the resistance phenotype; and 4) actively engage with regulatory bodies, policy makers and patient organizations in framing the activities to promote the proper approach at the right time in the GI cancer management.

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