Outsmarting Cancer, Impacting lives

Oncode Institute spin-off Omivera, built around the CellEKT chemical proteomics platform, has secured a seed investment from UNIIQ, an investment fund focused on the proof-of-concept phase, aiming to bring innovations to the market faster. 

Cancer research often advances through ideas that are complex, and require sustained effort over time - driven by people with a strong sense of purpose. In this interview, Madelon Maurice, professor of molecular cell biology at University Medical Centre Utrecht (UMC Utrecht) and Oncode Institute investigator, and Maureen Spit, Vice President of Research at Laigo Bio, reflect on what motivates them as scientists and why they chose to focus on one of the most persistent challenges in oncology: how to target cancer-driving proteins that remain beyond the reach of current therapies.

The Alpe d’HuZes/KWF Fund will invest €4.5 million in Oncode Institute over the next two years. Made possible by the participants of Alpe d’HuZes, this funding accelerates innovative cancer research and enables promising ideas to more quickly develop into applications for patients. The investment supports multiple innovative research projects and aligns with the Alpe d’HuZes research themes: understanding, detection, and cure.