Apr 16, 2025
COMBAT-PDAC Kicks Off in Barcelona: New EU Project Targets Pancreatic Cancer
COMBAT-PDAC project team
The Paul Langerhans Institute Dresden (PLID) at TU Dresden is proud to announce its participation in the newly launched COMBAT-PDAC project, a European initiative dedicated to advancing the understanding and treatment of pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC), one of the most lethal and difficult to treat cancer types.
Funded with nearly €2 million from the European Partnership for Personalised Medicine (EP PerMed) and supported by the Free State of Saxony, COMBAT-PDAC brings together a multidisciplinary consortium of six leading research institutions across Germany, France, Italy, and Spain:
- TU Dresden – Dr. Michele Solimena
- Helmholtz-Zentrum Dresden-Rossendorf (HZDR) – Dr. Anja Feldmann
- Centre de Recherche en Cancérologie de Marseille / INSERM (CRCM/INSERM) – Dr. Nelson Dusetti
- European Institute of Oncology (IEO) – Dr. Gioacchino Natoli
- Institute for Research in Biomedicine (IRB Barcelona) – Dr. Direna Alonso Curbelo
- Vall d'Hebron Institute of Oncology (VHIO) – Dr. Teresa Macarulla
The project officially commenced with a kick-off meeting at the Vall d'Hebron Institute of Oncology (VHIO) in Barcelona, hosted by Dr. Teresa Macarulla. This initial gathering offered a valuable opportunity for all project partners to meet in person, present their research approaches, and align objectives for the months ahead.
“Coming from the field of pancreatic islet studies, I am particularly excited to join this outstanding team of investigators with long-standing expertise in oncology and pancreatic cancer—a disease frequently associated with altered glucose metabolism and diabetes,” said Michele Solimena. “This collaboration offers us a valuable opportunity to apply our tools and expertise to explore novel potential targets in the fight against this aggressive cancer.”
In addition to scientific exchange, the event set the tone for collaboration and coordination across teams based in Germany, France, Italy, and Spain. The meeting featured presentations, working group sessions, and strategic discussions on data integration and dissemination strategies.
The partners returned to their respective institutions with a shared commitment to confront PDAC through cross-disciplinary innovation and translational research.
More information about the COMBAT-PDAC project here.