Precision-BTC-Network

Cholangiocarcinoma 2026: status quo, unmet needs and priorities - Nature Reviews Gastroenterology & Hepatology In this Consensus Statement, an international panel of experts present an overview of the latest developments in the field of cholangiocarcinoma. A set of consensus recommendations and research priori...

Coordinated by Chiara Braconi, Jesus M. Bañales, and
Pedro M. Rodrigues, this consensus reflects the expertise of 147 leaders from 35 countries, defining the priorities for the future of BTC research🤝

📖 Full article here: www.nature.com/articles/s41...

📣We are proud to announce the new International Consensus on CCA, now published in @natrevgastrohep.nature.com !🧬

This landmark update, led by @ENSCCA and @precisionbtcnet.bsky.social , provides a global roadmap for #CCA research and clinical care🌍

🔗 Read more: precision-btc.eu/news/99

Read the full update here:
precision-btc.eu/news/98

📢 Supporting the next generation of BTC researchers!

In our 3rd call we’ve awarded 12 grants (8 STSMs, 2 VM, 2 YRI) with 90% going to Young Researchers & 50% to ITCs 🌍

Plus, 45 trainees are joining our March Training Schools and 12 pairs have started the Mentoring Programme! 🚀

📢 Update: BTC Training School

The “Biliary Tract Cancers: Practical Approaches in Challenging Environments” Training School has two key changes:

📍 New venue: Hospital Clínic de Barcelona
🗓️ Deadline extended: 3 Dec 2025

📋 Apply: docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1F...

Featuring expert talks from:

Prof. Joaquin Arribas (VHIO)
Dr. Funda Meric-Bernstam (MD Anderson Cancer Center)

Chaired by:

Prof. Juan Valle (CCF; Precision-BTC Network)
Dr. Anna Saborowski (Hannover Medical School; Precision-BTC Network)

Register now to secure your spot!

📣 Upcoming Webinar!

Join the next ICRN / Precision-BTC Network webinar on Translating HER2-Directed Therapy in Biliary Tract Cancer!

🗓️ December 9, 2025
⏰ 09:00 ET / 15:00 CET

Don't miss this expert discussion!

cholangiocarcinoma-org.zoom.us/meeting/regi...

Not sure which grant fits you best?

Explore what past grantees achieved — from wet-lab exchanges to virtual collaborations and conference presentations.

💡 Mobility Grant Participation: precision-btc.eu/repository/e...

If you’re planning to apply, now’s the moment. Good luck! 🌟

🔗 STSM: precision-btc.eu/thirdCallSTSM
🔗 VM: precision-btc.eu/thirdCallVM
🔗 YRICG: precision-btc.eu/thirdCallYRI

🚀3rd Call for Mobility Grants is OPEN!

Apply now for STSMs, Virtual Mobility, or YRI Conference Grants — great chances to build skills, expand collaborations, and grow within the Precision-BTC Network.

🗓Deadlines:
• STSM & VM: 20 Dic 2025
• YRI Grants: 20 Jul 2026

💡 During her STSM, Bengi designed & characterised the nanoflowers, gained hands-on training in advanced imaging, and strengthened international collaboration — all within one of the world’s most iconic scientific labs!

🔗 precision-btc.eu/repository/e...

STSM highlight: meet Dr Bengi Ozkahraman 👋, who travelled from Turkey to London to work in the Faraday Lab at The Royal Institution under Prof Nguyễn T. K. Thanh.

Her project focused on HA-modified liposomal Zn-doped iron oxide nanoflowers for targeted cisplatin delivery.

📊 60 PDX models + 40 PDO cultures — growing by ~30 new models each year!

The database fosters collaboration, data sharing & standardised drug testing across centres.

➡️ Explore this and other registries: precision-btc.eu/info/profreg...
💬 Contact leads for access or to contribute.

🧬 The new Multi-institutional BTC PDX Database is tackling one of the biggest gaps in BTC research, the lack of representative pre-clinical models.

Led by Dr Anna Saborowski & Lisa Wende, it brings together PDXs and organoids from across Europe.

🔗 precision-btc.eu/news/80

She led a Europe-wide questionnaire (25 countries, 83 responses) to map current practice & identify barriers, opportunities and priorities for integration, aiming to strengthen multidisciplinary care!

🔗Learn about our Mobility Grants: precision-btc.eu/repository/e...

Our next Virtual Mobility highlight: meet Gemma Iserte Fort 👋, Hepatic Oncology Advanced Practice Nurse at Hospital Clínic de Barcelona.

Her VM project focused on how nurses across Europe can play a stronger role in cholangiocarcinoma care.

🌟 Deadline Extended! 🌟

There’s still time to apply for the @PrecisionBTCnet / @CcaEns / @curecc Mentorship Program — a unique opportunity to learn, connect & grow in BTC research.

🗓️ New deadline: Nov 7, 2025

👩‍🏫 Mentor: forms.gle/BtHBxxgtLxCT...
🧑‍🎓 Mentee: forms.gle/9we2jokL9pee...

💡 Esma shared: “This Virtual Mobility Grant helped us build international collaborations, rapidly advance our project, share knowledge, and lay the groundwork for new projects.”

She connected research teams across Türkiye 🇹🇷 and Spain 🇪🇸, fostering lasting cross-border partnerships.

Our next Mobility Grant highlight 🌍 Meet Esma Gökçe 👋, recipient of a Virtual Mobility Grant!

Her project explored quality of life, anxiety, and depression in patients with cholangiocarcinoma through a prospective cohort study, aiming to improve patient-centred care.

📢Applications are OPEN for our next Training School!

'Biliary Tract Cancers: Practical Approaches in Challenging Environments.'

📍 Tbilisi, Georgia
🗓 March 21–22, 2026

Gain insights on BTC diagnosis, management & care centralization.

📋Apply by Nov 7 docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1F...

💡Kevin shared: “This STSM in Edinburgh was an enriching and eye-opening experience. It allowed me to grow both as a researcher and as a person, gaining valuable insights that will stay with me throughout my career.”

🔗Learn about our Mobility Grants: precision-btc.eu/repository/e...

Our next STSM highlight: meet Kevin Delgado 👋, who joined Dr Luke Boulter’s lab at the University of Edinburgh.

During his stay, Kevin explored 3D in vitro and in vivo models to study how tumour microenvironments contribute to chemoresistance in CCA.

📢Applications are OPEN for our upcoming Training School!

Advanced Preclinical Models for Biliary Tract Cancers

📍University of Florence, Italy
🗓March 26–27, 2026

Gain hands-on experience with BTC models — from organoids to GEMMs.

📋Apply by Nov 4: forms.gle/ALfKSte3vArX...

🌟Calling all Young Researchers & Investigators!

Applications are still open for our Mentorship Program — a chance to connect with experts, gain guidance & grow your career!

💬Past mentees: precision-btc.eu/post/alumni 📋Apply: precision-btc.eu/info/mentorp...

🗓Deadline: 1/11/2025

💬Paraskevi shared “My experience in this STSM was truly enriching. It allowed me to collaborate with inspiring researchers, exchange ideas, and gain new perspectives that will shape my future work.”

🔗 Learn more about our Mobility Grants: precision-btc.eu/repository/e...

STSM highlight: meet Paraskevi Manoli👋, who travelled from the University of Patras 🇬🇷 to the University of Salamanca 🇪🇸

Her mission focused on evaluating BBR-based hybrid compounds in CCA cells, strengthening interdisciplinary collaboration across the Precision-BTC Network.

💡Michele shared: “This STSM has been a truly inspiring and formative experience. Working in Dr Affò’s lab allowed me to explore new ideas and approaches to model the iCCA microenvironment.”

🔗 precision-btc.eu/repository/e...

STSM highlight: meet @michelezanoni.bsky.social 👋, postdoctoral researcher at IRST Dino Amadori (Italy), who joined Dr Silvia Affò’s lab at IDIBAPS (Barcelona).

His mission: developing advanced 3D and in vivo models of the iCCA TME to improve biological understanding and drug screening.

💡 Jan shared: “My STSM experience brought fresh perspectives and inspiring encounters, fuelling both professional and personal growth.”

🔗 Learn more about our Mobility Grants: precision-btc.eu/repository/e...

Our next STSM highlight: meet Jan Caira👋, PhD student from iMed (Lisbon) who joined Prof Jesús Banales’ group in San Sebastián.

Her project explored the pharmacological activation of ferroptosis as a way to eliminate cholangiocarcinoma — from bioinformatics to in vitro assays.