For Drug Developers
Demonstrator Projects
Stronger data. Smarter development. Lower risk.
Demonstrator Projects are collaborative, co-funded early-stage drug discovery and development projects that use our innovative infrastructure. We focus on four therapeutic modalities represented by our Workstreams: small molecules, biologics, cell & gene therapies, and therapeutic vaccines. To de-risk and accelerate early-stage development innovations from our Platforms: artificial intelligence (AI), organoid models and organ-on-a-chip technology, and well-defined data and materials from our patient cohorts can be integrated into our state-of-the-art drug development pipelines.
Through Demonstrator Projects, we provide drug developers with a winning recipe. We offer rigorous multi-disciplinary scientific expertise, top-notch technology and infrastructure, non-dilutive co-investment, and project management support to move candidates closer to clinical readiness.
Join us in Outsmarting Cancer
The strongest oncology research and development pipelines are not built in isolation. We have built a high-impact public-private network to connect oncology drug developers with world-class academic researchers, investors, and infrastructure from day one.
Drug developers from academia or industry, located anywhere in the world, can apply for Demonstrator Projects.
Project Execution Within Our Oncology Ecosystem
Demonstrator Projects are executed within our oncology ecosystem, by selected partners from our Workstreams and/or our Platforms. For each Demonstrator Project, we also provide a dedicated project manager.
Demonstrator Project Eligibility
The focus of our Demonstrator Projects is to advance the development of a small molecule, biologic, cell & gene therapy, or therapeutic vaccine to the next stage of development. Demonstrator Projects may make use of capabilities from one of our Workstreams, one or more Platforms, or a combination of a Workstream with one or more Platforms.
A Demonstrator Project typically addresses a specific stage of the preclinical drug discovery and development process, such as lead discovery, lead optimization, preclinical development, or clinical candidate nomination. The minimum entry point for a Demonstrator Project is a validated target or validated hit.
In specific cases, Demonstrator Projects may also support activities in early clinical development, up to and including Phase 2a clinical trials.
Available Infrastructure and Services
Click to learn more about the available services that can be applied within a Demonstrator Project, depending on the therapeutic modality you wish to progress.
Using Innovative Technologies to De-Risk and Accelerate Cancer Therapy Development
Demonstrating the added benefit of the innovative infrastructure built within our Workstreams and innovation Platforms is essential to change the status quo. By executing Demonstrator Projects, we aim to demonstrate that by using innovative technology, we can develop better cancer drugs, faster.
Once applicants have prepared a Demonstrator Project full proposal in collaboration with our expert partners who will execute the project using our infrastructure, it is sent to an independent Demonstrator Advisory Board for assessment on predefined selection criteria. The Demonstrator Advisory Board consists of several independent members across academia, industry and patient representatives. Collectively, they have extensive expertise in various disciplines relevant to oncology drug development.
During the year, there are four opportunities to submit the full proposal, which are aligned with the dates for the review by the Demonstrator Advisory Board. The final deadlines for the next submitting rounds are:
- Thursday, 14 January 2027
- Thursday, 22 April 2027
- Friday, 23 July 2027
- Wednesday, 6 October 2027
Up to €1.5 Million Project Co-Funding
For each Demonstrator Project, Oncode Accelerator offers co-funding of up to €1.5 million in eligible project costs, in accordance with applicable state aid rules and regulations. The remaining funds to cover 100% of the total project costs need to be matched by an in-cash contribution of the applicant. The exact amount that each party contributes depends on the project's scope, and its stage in the development pipeline.
Get Started
Your asset is ready. So are we. Let’s accelerate it together.
If you have an idea that you believe can be applied in a Demonstrator Project, contact our Business Developers today.
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Advancing Therapeutic Vaccines for Pediatric Sarcomas
Therapeutic Vaccines, Organoids
Aim: to identify, characterize, and validate neoantigens in pediatric sarcomas.
Stage: Antigen discovery and validation -
TEIPP Vaccine Against Immune-Escaped Tumors
Therapeutic Vaccines, Patient Cohorts
Aim: Identify and validate T cell epitopes associated with impaired peptide processing (TEIPPs) for development of a therapeutic cancer vaccine.
Stage: Antigen discovery and validation -
Bridging Vaccine Platform to Clinical Trials
Therapeutic Vaccines, Organoids
Aim: Assess treatment response, mechanism of action, efficacy, and immune responses of proprietary vaccine delivery platform.
Stage: Therapeutic vaccine development and validation -
Eradication of peritoneal metastases in colorectal cancer
Small Molecules, Organoids
Aim: optimize combination therapy and delivery platform to enable prolonged intraperitoneal drug exposure.
Stage: Lead optimization
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Targeted Immunotherapy against HPV-associated cancer
Therapeutic Vaccines, Patient Cohorts
Aim: Target validation and therapy development for a therapeutic cancer vaccine against human papilloma virus positive oropharyngeal cancer
Stage: Therapeutic vaccine development and validation -
Novel Small Molecule Therapy for Colorectal Cancer
Small Molecules, Organoids
Aim: lead optimization and candidate nomination for drug development program focused on a novel cancer target (GPR68)
Stage: Lead optimization -
Novel Bispecific Antibody Therapy Against Neuroblastoma
Biologics, Organoids, Patient Cohorts, Artificial Intelligence
Aim: lead finding, optimization, and candidate nomination for a next-generation bispecific antibody therapy targeting GD2
Stage: Lead optimization