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Scientific minisymposia

Bridging the translational gap in cancer research: ​the POINTILLISM – VIB Grand Challenges case

Once a project nears its end, the VIB-GCP organizes minisymposia to ensure that this end is just the beginning of follow-on trajectories, crucial to solve the grand challenge at hand.

On October 22nd 2021, the first minisymposium of the VIB Grand Challenges Pointillism project project took place. Over 100 participants gathered virtually to discover to the results of this exciting project, discussed by 11 experts of different disciplines. The main aim of this minisymposium was to identify hurdles for translating research findings into the clinic, and to catalyze follow-on trajectories and future research collaborations. This minisymposium was made possible by the collaboration of project partners from KU Leuven, UZ Leuven and LKI, and external experts of EORTC and King Baudouin foundation.

A lot of excellent ideas are often stuck and never reach the other side of the translational valley of death
Erwin Sablon
VIB HQ

The concept of duo-presentations was introduced to allow both researchers and clinicians to share their view on the impact and the unique collaborations of this project. 

As clinician in the multidisciplinary breast cancer center, I am very thankful for all the collaborations with the colleagues at VIB. 5 years ago, I would have never believed that projects like these would have been possible here in Leuven, and now it has become reality.
Kevin Punie
medical oncologist at UZ Leuven

In parallel, the cutting-edge technologies applied and developed in the project were considered both in a research- and a clinical context.  

We indirectly profit from all the beautiful results of the Grand Challenge Pointillism project, because all the research partners have been able to improve their methodology, and learn new things while working on these samples. That is what we profit of, in different diseases
Sabine Tejpar
Sabine Tejpar
part-time digestive oncologist at UZ Leuven and part-time researcher at KU Leuven
It is work in progress and there is still a lot of work to translate research findings into the clinic, but we are very optimistic, thanks to the many people working on melanoma on this campus
Jean-Christophe Marine
Jean-Christophe Marine
Chris Marine, group leader and co-director at CCB-VIB

Independent experts of EORTC and the King Baudouin Foundation shed their light on examples and practical guidelines for a high-performance oncology research system with optimal patient value. 

The central question is: How can we be sure that the results allocated to oncology research may benefit more to cancer patients
Isabelle Nguyen
Project Manager, King Baudouin Foundation
One of our recommendations for a more optimal patient value is building capacity and capability to do holistic patient-centred research. This is the point where the Grand Challenges Program resonated big time with the vision that we developed in building this holistic research culture
Randy Mellaerts
Consultant at ILI

The afternoon was concluded with an interactive discussion, stressing the importance of collaborative research.  

New follow-on clinical trials will give patients access to innovative treatments: that is the true purpose of the Grand Challenges Program.
Diether Lambrechts
Diether Lambrechts
Group leader and co-director at CCB-VIB
The true purpose of the Grand Challenges Program is that we leverage the results, to make sure that we trigger potential future collaborations.
Sofie Bekaert
Sofie Bekaert
Manager translational program and outreach at VIB