Our group explores new drugs and biomarkers for children with cancer and other haematological conditions in a research program that goes from the laboratory bench to the patient’s bedside. We have 3 research laboratories: sarcomas, neural tumours and rare anaemias. Clinical research comprises a cancer precision medicine program, a clinical trials unit and research in haematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HSCT) and cellular/gene therapies. Regarding our scientific production, we are starting the phase 1 trial with ABTL0812 in children, a promising drug for neuroblastoma evaluated in our laboratory, which is now entering clinical development. The HSCT program has treated more than 1400 children and participated in several practice-changing studies, including a novel gene therapy for Fanconi anemia. In rare anaemias, our group leads the scientific direction of the ERN, EuroBloodNet and works developing clinical-decision tools to improve outcomes for children with sickle cell disease

Group Leader
Lucas Moreno Martín-Retortillo

Principal Investigator (PI)
M Mar Mañu, Josep Roma, Miguel F Segura, Aroa Soriano, María Cristina Díaz de Heredia

Researchers
María J Pérez, Gabriel Gallo-Oller, Patricia Zarzosa, Ariadna Boloix, Carlos Jimenez, Roberta Antonelli, Anna Llort, Anna Collado, Raquel Hladun, Lorena Valero, Pablo Velasco, Constantino Sábado, Luis Gros, Thais Murciano, Paula Pérez, Laura Murillo, Blanca Espinosa, Angela Menarguez, María Pérez-Lobato, Marina Ortiz, Laura Alonso, Maria Isabel Benítez, Luz Uria, Gabriela Guillen, Melissa Panesso, Marina Bonfill

PhD Students
Amira Idrizovic, Valeria Rizzuto, Marta Palau, Guillem Pons, Julia Sansa, Lia García, Adrià Molero

Lab Technicians
Ainara Magdaleno

Nursing and Technical Staff
Andrea Vilaplana, Maria de los Angeles Rodriguez, Claire Diout, Elena Andetta, Carlota Aguilera, Raquel Andreu, Raquel Anta, Anna Salo MD, Maria Oliveras BSc, Laura Romero, Sergio Manresa

47

PUBLICATIONS

63.8%

%Q1

454

IMPACT FACTOR

9.66

AVERAGE IMPACT FACTOR

SELECTED ARTICLES

Berlanga P, Pierron G, Lacroix L, Chicard M, Adam de Beaumais T, Marchais A, Harttrampf AC, Iddir Y, Larive A, Soriano Fernandez A, Hezam I, Chevassus C, Bernard V, Cotteret S, Scoazec JY, Gauthier A, Abbou S, Corradini N, Andre N, Aerts I, Thebaud E, Casanova M, Owens C, Hladun-Alvaro R, Michiels S, Delattre O, Vassal G, Schleiermacher G, Geoerger B.
The European MAPPYACTS trial: Precision Medicine Program in Pediatric and Adolescent Patients with Recurrent Malignancies.
Cancer Discov. 2022 May 2;12(5):1266-1281.
DOI: doi: 10.1158/2159-8290.
IF: 38.272

Jimenez C, Antonelli R, Nadal-Ribelles M, Devis-Jauregui L, Latorre P, Sole C, Masanas M, Molero-Valenzuela A, Soriano A, Sanchez de Toledo J, Llobet-Navas D, Roma J, Posas F, de Nadal E, Gallego S, Moreno L, Segura MF.
Structural disruption of BAF chromatin remodeller impairs neuroblastoma metastasis by reverting an invasiveness epigenomic program.
Mol Cancer. 2022 Sep 3;21(1):175.
DOI: doi: 10.1186/s12943-022-01643-4
IF: 41.444

Casado JA, Valeri A, Sanchez-Dominguez R, Vela P, Lopez A, Navarro S, Alberquilla O, Hanenberg H, Pujol R, Segovia JC, Minguillon J, Surralles J, Diaz-de-Heredia C, Sevilla J, Rio P, Bueren JA.
Upregulation of NKG2D ligands impairs hematopoietic stem cell function in Fanconi anemia.
J Clin Invest. 2022 Aug 1;132(15)
DOI: doi: 10.1172/JCI142842
IF: 19.456

Park JR, Villablanca JG, Hero B, Kushner BH, Wheatley K, Beiske KH, Ladenstein RL, Baruchel S, Macy ME, Moreno L, Seibel NL, Pearson AD, Matthay KK, Valteau-Couanet D.
Early-phase clinical trial eligibility and response evaluation criteria for refractory, relapsed, or progressive neuroblastoma: A consensus statement from the National Cancer Institute Clinical Trials Planning Meeting.
Cancer. 2022 Nov 1;128(21):3775-3783
DOI: doi: 10.1002/cncr.34445
IF: 6.921

Navarro N, Molist C, Sansa-Girona J, Zarzosa P, Gallo-Oller G, Pons G, Magdaleno A, Guillen G, Hladun R, Garrido M, Segura MF, Hontecillas-Prieto L, de Alava E, Ponsati B, Fernandez-Carneado J, Almazan-Moga A, Valles-Miret M, Farrera-Sinfreu J, de Toledo JS, Moreno L, Gallego S, Roma J.
Integrin alpha9 emerges as a key therapeutic target to reduce metastasis in rhabdomyosarcoma and neuroblastoma.
Cell Mol Life Sci. 2022 Oct 11;79(11):546
DOI: doi: 10.1007/s00018-022-04557-y
IF: 9.207

BEACON-BIO (ID: FKC2021/#16)
Principal Investigator: Lucas Moreno
Agency: Fight Kids' Cancer - European Science Foundation
Funding: 499,776 €
Period: 2022-2023

New nanotools for the treatment of metastatic neuroblastoma (ID: PI20/00530 )
Principal Investigator: Miguel F Segura
Agency: Instituto de Salud Carlos III
Funding: 208,120 €
Period: 2021-2023

Development of a new therapeutic target with high anti-oncogenic potential in childhood sarcomas: the pharmacological blockade of the Hedgehog co-receptor CDO (ID: PI21/00640)
Principal Investigator: Josep Roma
Agency: Instituto de Salud Carlos III
Funding: 120,000 €
Period: 2022-2024

A phase I trial of ABTL0812 in paediatric patients with advanced cancer enriched for neuroblastoma patients (ID: ICI21/00076)
Principal Investigator: Lucas Moreno
Agency: Instituto de Salud Carlos III
Funding: 826,760 €
Period: 2022-2025

Genomics and Personalized Medicine for all though Artificial Intelligence in Haematological Diseases
Principal Investigator: M Mañú Pereira
Agency: Ministerio de Ciencia e Innovación
Funding: 434,000 €
Period: 2021-2024

Compounds for use in preventing or treating cancer
Priority Number: PCT/EP2019/067557
Priority Date: 29/06/2018
Applicants: Vall Hebron Research Institute (VHIR)/LEITAT/SELABTEC

Peptides for the treatment of cancer and/or metastasis
Priority Number: EP19383084.1
Priority Date: 05/12/2019
Applicants: Vall Hebron Research Institute (VHIR)/BCN peptides.

Nanovesicles and its use for nucleic acid delivery.
Priority Number: PCT/EP2020/063195
Priority Date: 12/05/2020
Applicants: Vall Hebron Research Institute (VHIR) / CSIC / CIBER

A pharmaceutical combination for the treatment of cancer
Priority Number: WO2018EP62554
Priority Date: 09/08/2017
Applicants: Ability Pharmaceuticals S.L

eCOREs