STEPUPIORS at the EACR-AstraZeneca Conference: Circulating Nucleic Acids (cfDNA/ctDNA) virtual conference

Dr Milena Cavic presented a flash talk “Employing widening EU funds to train the next generation of liquid biopsy researchers – example of the STEPUPIORS collaborative rectal cancer project” at the EACR-AstraZeneca Conference: Circulating Nucleic Acids (cfDNA/ctDNA): In use, in view and on the horizon, Virtual Event, held on Jan 28-29, 2025.
This study evaluated how collaborative widening funds might lead to sustainable strategies for liquid biopsy (LB) approaches, with a focus on countries with limited resources such as Serbia, using a pilot rectal cancer project.




STEPUPIORS Expert Lecture at the Center for Translational Cancer Research educational training

Dr Milena Cavic delivered a lecture: ‘Personalized Medicine and Molecular Diagnostics Approaches in Profiling of Solid Tumors in Serbia at the third session of the Research Training Program for Clinicians and Residents (RT-PCR): Women Pioneers in Oncology Research and Practice of the Centre for Translational Cancer Research (CTCR) A Joint Initiative by IISER-Pune and PCCM on Jan 30, 2025.

This session explored advancements in tumor profiling and personalized therapeutic approaches currently performed in Serbia, outlining challenges and ongoing national strategies. The contribution of scientific projects and multi-institutional/multinational collaborations as STEPUPIORS was highlighted as crucial for future initiatives in this field.




STEPUPIORS Expert Lecture at TargetedResponse project webinar

STEPUPIORS WP2 leader Dr Radmila Jankovic offered insights into molecular testing of solid tumors in Serbia at the final webinar of the project stakeholder TargetedResponse Project funded by the Science Fund of the Republic of Serbia, held on Jan 24, 2025.




STEPUPIORS at the 2024. Serbian Science Festival

Like thousands of lights of young hope, children and their teachers and families tirelessly visited the 17th annual Serbian Science Festival on December 12-14, 2024 in Belgrade. STEPUPIORS participants and students Miljana Tanić, Ana Đurić, Mladen Marinković, Marko Radulović, Aleksandra Stanojević, Vanja Stevanović, Kristina Živić, Katarina Živić, Valentina Karadžić, Miodrag Vuković and Milena Čavić enjoyed discussing healthy lifestyles, food, sports and the joy of being a scientist at the scientific booth of the Serbian Association for Cancer Research (SDIR).

It was an honor and a privilege to help build up a generation of healthy, happy and responsible young professionals in our country!




November 2024 Congress Activities

STEPUPIORS participants engaged in a variety of scientific and educational activities in November and December 2025.

Mladen Marinkovic attended the European School of Oncology Autumn Masterclass in Clinical Oncology and gave a lecture “The role of CEA and CA 19-9 tumor markers in predicting response to neoadjuvant radiochemotherapy in locally advanced rectal cancer” at the 3rd Serbian Radiation Oncology Congress.

Miljana Tanic participated as an invited lecturer at the HDIR-7 Congress of the Croatian Association for Cancer Research (HDIR) “Biobanking From Scratch: A Roadmap to Setup a Rectal Cancer Biobank Within the STEPUPIORS Project”

Radmila Jankovic, Jelena Spasic, Ana Krivokuca, Marija Đorđić Crnogorac, Mladen Marinkovic, Milan Kocic, Fedja Djordjevic participated as lecturers and panelists at the Cancer Week of the Serbian Medical Society Oncology Section. A special session was dedicated to genetic predisposition and management of colorectal cancer in Serbia.

In collaboration with the Serbian Society for Extracellular Vesicles, Miodrag Vukovic gave a lecture “Extracellular Vesicles and Cancer”.




One Health in Serbia Stakeholder Meeting

“One Health in Serbia – Stakeholder Meeting for Boosting Excellence in Research and Innovation Ecosystems in Serbia” was held on December 9, 2024, in the Science Technology Park in Belgrade, organized by 4 Horizon Europe projects, EINSTEIN (101136377), GrInShield (101079151), BIOLAWEB (101079234) and STEPUPIORS (101079217), which are focused on different aspects of global health.

The meeting brought together interested parties from the government, policy makers, NGOs, business and academic sectors in a comprehensive approach to use real-world scientific data to improve the health of people and the ecosystem in Serbia. The meeting was supported by the Ministry of Science, Technological Development and Innovation, Ministry of Health, Center for the 4th Industrial Revolution in Serbia and the EU delegation in Serbia during the opening session. Ninety-five registered participants came from 14 academic institutions, 10 business companies, 9 governmental institutions and 1 NGO.

As an outcome of the meeting, a set of specific recommendations was prepared for the policy makers on behalf of the projects and participants, gathering feedback from the vivid discussions. All participants united around one general conclusion, that inter-sectoral collaboration and swift, tangible actions will be crucial for creating a healthier environment for future generations in Serbia.

The meeting was promoted at EuroNews Serbia portal:

https://www.euronews.rs/biznis/biznis-vesti/149200/naucni-skup-brze-reakcije-su-kljucne-za-poboljsanje-zdravlja-ljudi-i-zivotne-sredine-u-srbiji/vest




STEPUPIORS at the 2024 European Liquid Biopsy Society (ELBS) General Assembly

STEPUPIORS participants Remond Fijneman, Paul van der Leest and Carmen Rubio Alarcón from NKI-AVL and Ana Djuric and Milena Cavic from IORS attended the European Liquid Biopsy Society (ELBS) General Assembly in Barcelona on Nov 26-27, 2024 contributing to the vivid discussions of this vibrant community.
IORS was introduced as a new member in the ELBS network. Paul van der Leest gave a lecture on the challenges and opportunities to bring circulating tumor DNA-based molecular testing to routine implementation deriving conclusions from the COIN consortium. During the reimbursement workshop, Remond Fijneman gave a crucial lecture pointing to the potential path to reimbursement and the role of ELBS in the journey. Milena Cavic offered insights on liquid biopsy reimbursement issues from a non-EU European country. Specific strategies for advancement of liquid biopsy in Europe will be sought by the next meeting in 2025.




IORS and NKI-AVL researchers visit FRCB-IDIBAPS

STEPUPIORS participants Ana Djuric and Milena Cavic from the Institute for Oncology and Radiology of Serbia and Remond Fijneman from the Netherlands Cancer Institute visited the partner institution FRCB-IDIBAPS and met with hosts Sergi Castellvi-Bel and Teresa Botta-Orfila on Nov 25, 2024 in Barcelona.

Experiences in biobank database management were exchanged, discussing key aspects related to annotating data for multiple samples from donors with oncological diseases under clinical follow-up. This allowed us to delve into highly relevant details and continue improving the biobanking processes in both institutions, which is a great step forward in strengthening data management and fostering collaboration in the biomedical field. Potential new collaborations and grant applications in the field of colorectal cancer biomarkers research were explored with FRCB-IDIBAPS and Hospital Clínic de Barcelona scientists Jordi Camps and Meritxell Gironella.

https://www.clinicbarcelona.org/en/idibaps/core-facilities/biobank




October 2024 Congress activities

STEPUPIORS project members had a productive October 2024 season presenting latest results at various meetings, paving the way towards a long term impact of the project in the last project year.

Dr Milena Cavic participated at the second annual meeting of the EPIBOOST project funded by the European Research Executive Agency (REA) within the Focus Group on Twinning Actions management, on Oct 02, 2024.

Miodrag Vukovic and Dr Milena Cavic participated at the 2nd MOVE Congress organized by the Serbian Society for Extracellular Vesicles on Oct 08-10, 2024 in Belgrade, Serbia.

Dr Milena Cavic gave a lecture at the Targeted Response Project workshop funded by the Science Fund of the Republic of Serbia coordinated by Milica Pesic on October 21, 2024, at the University of Belgrade, Faculty of Medicine.

Dr Miljana Tanic participated as a panelist at the Screening for Breakthroughs: The Power of Genetic Data Session of the AI_4_LIFE: Biotech Future Forum organized by the C4IR Srbija in cooperation with the World Economic Forum and the United Nations Development Programme, in Belgrade, Serbia, on Oct 24-25, 2024. Dr Ana Djuric and Dr Milena Cavic participated at the EIT Health Morning Health Talks Session of the AI_4_LIFE: Biotech Future Forum.

Dr Suzana Stojanovic-Rundic, Dr Radmila Jankovic and Dr Mladen Marinkovic participated as lecturers and moderators at the “2nd Open Balkan Digestive Oncology Expert Meeting Innovation & Artificial Intelligence” organized by the Association of Digestive Oncology of Serbia in Belgrade, Serbia, on Oct 25-26, 2024.




STEPUPIORS SUMMER SCHOOL “LIQUID BIOPSY TECHNOLOGIES”

“Liquid biopsy technologies  ” STEPUPIORS summer school organized from September 30 to October 04, 2024, at Analysis of Circulating Tumor Cells Laboratory (ACTC) lab, Dept. of Chemistry, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens (NKUA), Athens, Greece. The course on liquid biopsies was organized in the form of lectures that were held on the first day of the course and “hands-on” demonstrations of liquid biopsy techniques were held inhttp://en.actc-lab.chem.uoa.gr/ laboratory settings for the next 3 days.
Participant feedback:
“The workshops and lectures, especially those related to circulating tumor DNA (ctDNA), were extremely comprehensive and informative, tailored to participants of various knowledge levels.”
“From a scientific and clinical standpoint, this program was successful. It encouraged teamwork and the sharing of knowledge, insights, and experiences with colleagues from Spain, the Netherlands, and Greece. My participation in this school has stimulated creative ideas for upcoming projects and scientific and diagnostic research development.”