Contributing to cancer research in your own way: three PhD candidates on their work within Oncode Accelerator
Accelerating the development of new cancer medicines by joining forces—that’s the mission of Oncode Accelerator, a Dutch consortium that recently welcomed three Leiden-based PhD candidates. Under the guidance of Gerard van Westen, Marc Boef, Remco van den Broek, and Lucina-May Nollen are exploring how artificial intelligence can assist in the development of cancer treatments.
Research with direct impact? Thanks to a unique collaboration between academic institutions and industry, researchers within Oncode Accelerator have influence on both policy and practical applications. ‘As young scientists, we often view policy as a side issue, but in the end, policy determines whether our research can make a difference,’ says PhD candidate Lucina-May Nollen.
Colleague Marc Boef sees the collaboration as an opportunity to bring out the best in both companies and universities. Supervisor Gerard van Westen adds: ‘It’s fantastic that we’re not only using AI for fundamental research but also to actually develop medicines.’
‘Exploring the unknown is the most exciting part’
Van Westen aims to channel the drive of his PhD candidates productively. ‘I want to provide them with a healthy and safe workplace where everyone can reach their full potential.’ He is also responsible for ensuring they function effectively within Oncode Accelerator’s various partnerships.
‘The science we’re doing is fascinating,’ Van Westen says of his collaboration with the three young researchers. ‘Exploring the uncharted together and finding new solutions that no one has discovered before—that’s what I enjoy most.’
Marc Boef – ‘Gain relevant work experience if you’re unsure about an academic career’
Waiting for the perfect PhD programme, which you then stumble upon on LinkedIn? For Boef, the wait was well worth it. ‘Before this, I worked as a bioinformatician for three and a half years, and after just one month, I can already say that academic research suits me very well.’ He advises those who are uncertain to gain work experience, especially in an environment aligned with their research interests.
Boef’s research focuses on understanding how medicines work and predicting patient responses. Using the chemical structures of medicines, he predicts their effectiveness and side effects, helping to accelerate the development of new cancer medicines and improve treatment options for patients.
Remco van den Broek – ‘Luckily, there’s a lot of flexibility to work remotely’
How do you combine a PhD in Leiden with a partner who’s also pursuing a PhD—but in Norway? ‘Fortunately, I can work remotely, and I was warmly welcomed into her research group,’ says Van den Broek. This even led to a new collaboration between their research groups.
Van den Broek explores how artificial intelligence can aid in the development of new cancer treatments. ‘Every cancer patient has a unique diagnosis. With our so-called “molecular generator”, we can quickly design new molecules tailored to specific diagnoses.’ He investigates the challenges faced by the industry in scaling up these innovations.
Lucina-May Nollen – ‘My theoretical and moral interests come together’
What do you learn from living in South Korea for a while? A completely new perspective on the world, says Nollen. ‘There are many ways to approach problems, each with its own ability to solve them.’ In her work, Nollen uses this broader perspective to remain open to what can be learned from other countries and research fields.
Nollen investigates how computational predictions can play a role in the drug approval process, helping safe new medicines become available to patients more quickly. Her work combines computational research, chemistry, and biology with societal relevance. ‘My theoretical and moral interests come together in this project.’
About Oncode Accelerator
Oncode Accelerator is a partnership of over thirty public and private partners with the goal of bringing new cancer medicines to patients faster. Thanks to Dutch expertise in patient cohorts, organoid models, and artificial intelligence, researchers can better predict how safe and effective new therapies will be for patients.
Oncode Accelerator is funded by the Dutch National Growth Fund (NGF).
More information can be found on the website of Oncode Accelerator.