ABOUT THE PROGRAM
Hemato-oncology has long been at the forefront of cancer research, driving fundamental discoveries and accelerating therapeutic innovation. Breakthroughs from leukemia and lymphoma research, including the first chemotherapies, cell-based therapies, targeted inhibitors, and more recently CAR-T immunotherapies, have repeatedly shaped cancer treatment across tumor types. Despite representing a modest fraction of overall cancer incidence, research in hematological malignancies continues to drive advances in precision medicine with broad impact across oncology.
ACHILLES will train a new generation of leaders in this critical field by providing comprehensive knowledge and skills to translate fundamental discoveries into innovative therapeutic strategies and diagnostic tools. Through this integrated approach, the program will equip its trainees to drive advances that directly impact the treatment and management of leukemia and lymphoma patients.
RESEARCH OBJECTIVES
ACHILLES is built around three main scientific objectives that aim to tackle critical issues in hemato-oncology research:
Objective 1 – To generate novel experimental models and advanced analytical methods in hemato-oncology
Advances in biomedical research are driven by the development of technical and analytical tools that enable new discoveries. In hemato-oncology, however, progress is currently limited by two major challenges. First, there is a scarcity of reliable preclinical models that accurately reflect the pathophysiology of diverse leukemia and lymphoma types. Second, existing analytical tools often struggle to keep up with the increasing complexity of multifactorial datasets generated in modern research. This capacity-building objective aims to strengthen the hemato-oncology field by providing innovative experimental models and advanced analytical tools to explore key oncogenic mechanisms, assess novel therapeutic strategies, and enhance patient diagnosis and stratification.
Objective 2 – To investigate the oncogenic mechanisms underlying lymphoma and leukemia development, progression, and treatment response/resistance
While some types of leukemia and lymphoma have achieved significant cure rates with current treatments, others still show low survival and high relapse rates. Moreover, these treatments are often highly aggressive, putting patients at risk of serious side effects or treatment-related complications. This knowledge-generation objective aims to deepen our understanding of the molecular mechanisms driving tumor development, progression, and response/resistance to therapy. These insights will support the identification of novel biomarkers and therapeutic targets to improve diagnosis, prognostic assessment, and treatment decisions, while opening new avenues for drug discovery and advanced therapies.
Objective 3 – To design, develop and validate new therapies for the treatment of hematologic malignancies
A major bottleneck in hemato-oncology research is translating scientific discoveries into practical innovations that can directly benefit patients. This challenge is especially pronounced in children, where leukemia is the most common cancer and presents unique biological and clinical features compared with adults. Emphasizing a patient-centered approach, this technology-transfer objective aims to develop novel targeted drugs and advanced therapies that provide personalized treatment strategies for both adult and pediatric patients with hematological malignancies, prioritizing not only safety and efficacy but also the affordability and future accessibility of these therapies in real-world clinical settings.
SCIENTIFIC EXCELLENCE
Supported by leading experts in hemato-oncology and experimental therapeutics, ACHILLES brings together a broad spectrum of expertise, including basic research to identify novel biomarkers and therapeutic targets, mathematical and computational modeling to predict disease progression and therapy response, the design and validation of innovative therapies, and their preclinical and clinical evaluation. This rich environment will provide ACHILLES Doctoral Candidates (DCs) with a comprehensive understanding of the full translational pathway, from fundamental discoveries to the development of new therapeutic strategies and diagnostic tools that directly benefit patients with leukemia and lymphoma.
The ACHILLES commitment includes:
1. To foster a collaborative environment among DCs and other ACHILLES participants by supporting research projects that transcend national, sectoral, and disciplinary boundaries, broadening the relevance and impact of the findings.
2. To provide DCs with cutting-edge training in essential competence areas, equipping them with both scientific knowledge and transferable skills, ultimately shaping them into well-rounded researchers in hemato-oncology.
3. To establish a vibrant community that fosters the dissemination, communication, and practical application of research findings, while cultivating an entrepreneurial spirit to maximize the impact of ACHILLES.
4. To enhance the global visibility of European research by positioning the ACHILLES network as a leader in hemato-oncology therapeutics.