Oncode Accelerator News

Oncode Accelerator and Oncode Institute are joining forces with the AI4Health initiative to make healthcare more personalized, sustainable, and innovative by developing, validating, and implementing trustworthy artificial intelligence (AI) solutions across the care system.

A group of international researchers has discovered 1,700 new proteins. The research data they collected has been made accessible to other researchers. These are small proteins that may play an important role in cells, for example in the development of diseases such as (childhood) cancer. The researchers hope to quickly learn more about the role of these newly discovered micro‑proteins in the so‑called dark proteome, which they call peptideins. These proteins may offer new leads for future treatments.

Paul van Rijn was only 49 years old when he was diagnosed with colorectal cancer. Now, 6 years later, Paul has gone through treatment, participated in the Dutch National Prospective colorectal cancer patient cohort (PLCRC), and become a volunteer with Stichting Darmkanker, the Dutch Foundation for colorectal cancer patients. This is Paul’s story. 

Using new and innovative technologies can help scientists to develop better therapies, faster. However, new models, tools, and strategies do not always fit within existing regulatory pathways. If we want innovations to be used in therapy development, sometimes we also need to innovate in how they are regulated. Otherwise, promising discoveries may linger in the lab. This is where regulatory innovation becomes essential in Oncode Accelerator’s mission to optimize and accelerate the development of ​new cancer therapies for the benefit of patients of all ages. To explore this challenge, we spoke with Jarno Hoekman, Professor in Science Studies for Sustainability at Utrecht University, and Marlous Kooijman, Program Manager of the Oncode Accelerator Regulatory Innovation Workstream.

As a partner of Oncode Accelerator, TNO brings world-class translational technology and AI-driven insights to the oncology ecosystem. We spoke with Principal Scientist Wouter Vaes and Senior Scientist Jennifer McCormack-Venhorst to explore how TNO’s unique mix of tech and knowledge can enable safer, faster and more predictive cancer drug development so that better therapies reach patients sooner. 

On 9th April, Oncode Accelerator announced a new Demonstrator Project supporting innovative research from the Antibody Therapy Group at University Medical Center (UMC) Utrecht and JJP Biologics, a Polish biotechnology company. The international team will leverage Oncode Accelerator’s innovation Platforms – Artificial Intelligence (AI), Patient Cohorts, and Organoids – to develop a novel bispecific antibody therapy.

When a drug screen in organoids pointed them towards a new drug combination against a subtype of colorectal cancer, researchers from University Medical Center Utrecht (UMC Utrecht) wanted to test it in patients. The journey from lab to clinic took ten years, three disciplines, and a risk-tolerant funding model. It led to an unexpected destination.

Today, the Oncode Accelerator Foundation announced that Arnoud Huisman will step down as CEO and Chair of the Board of Directors as of 1 April. To further strengthen strategic alignment with Oncode Institute, Bertholt Leeftink, Managing Director of Oncode Institute, has been appointed as the new CEO and Chair of the Board of Directors of the Oncode Accelerator Foundation. Going forward, Bertholt will lead both organizations, which have distinct focus areas within a shared mission.

As a partner of Oncode Accelerator, TNO brings world-class translational technology and AI-driven insights to the oncology ecosystem. We spoke with Principal Scientist Wouter Vaes and Senior Scientist Jennifer McCormack-Venhorst to explore how TNO’s unique mix of tech and knowledge can enable safer, faster and more predictive cancer drug development so that better therapies reach patients sooner.

Chief Development Officer Clare Doris and Executive in Residence Tilly Bingham of Cumulus Oncology each have over 20 years of experience working across different areas of drug discovery and development. During their career trajectories spanning big pharma, global CROs, and biotech start-ups, they’ve seen what it takes to develop a successful therapy. When it comes to developing a drug that can bring meaningful impact for patients, Clare and Tilly know that promising cancer drugs can falter if patient selection — identifying which patients will benefit — is addressed too late. This awareness, and their ambition to do better, is what led Cumulus Oncology to partner with Oncode Accelerator.

On February 26th, Oncode Accelerator announced two new Demonstrator Projects supporting women-led biotech companies developing innovative cancer therapies. Loma Therapeutics (Denmark) is advancing a promising immunotherapy against human papilloma virus (HPV)-caused cancers, while Cumulus Oncology (Scotland) is developing a novel small molecule therapy for colorectal cancer.

Omivera, a spin-off company built around the CellEKT chemical proteomics platform, has secured a seed investment from UNIIQ: an investment fund focused on supporting the proof-of-concept phase to help young companies bring their product or technology to market. The CellEKT technology was developed by Omivera CEO Joel Rüegger (Leiden University, Oncode Institute) and colleagues in the lab of Mario van der Stelt (Leiden University, Oncode Institute) in collaboration with Roche, with support from Oncode Accelerator. The seed investment from UNIIQ will support Omivera in continued platform development and commercial rollout, as a newly launched CRO serving pharma and biotech companies worldwide.

During a working visit from the Dutch National Growth Fund to Oncode Accelerator, which took place at Leiden University Medical Center, one central theme emerged: how do we translate investments in innovation and infrastructure in oncology into impact for the economy, science, as well as society?

Symeres is a transatlantic CRO/CDMO with expertise spanning early discovery to GMP drug substance and drug product capabilities. The company also has deep experience in the development of small molecule-based therapeutics. In the context of cancer therapies, Rutger Folmer, Director Medicinal Chemistry at Symeres, is no stranger to the complexities and long timelines involved in bringing a drug from an early-stage idea all the way to clinical trials. By sharing his expertise as a partner within the Oncode Accelerator cancer research and development ecosystem, Rutger hopes to help scientists overcome those challenges.

Jeanine Roodhart, Medical Oncologist and Associate Professor at UMC Utrecht, is the lead of Oncode Accelerator’s Patient Cohorts Platform since mid-2025. She is driven by one guiding principle: learning from every patient to improve cancer care and preclinical therapy development for all.