Precision-BTC-Network

📊 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.

💡 Aynura shared: "Science lets us explore mysteries still unsolved. My visit to Germany deepened these questions & connected me with inspiring minds."

🔗 precision-btc.eu/repository/e...

Our next STSM highlight: meet Aynura Karimova 👋, who spent 2 weeks in Mannheim, Germany, working on iron oxide nanoparticles for cancer therapy.

Her project explored how PEG & PEG/Tween 80 coatings can boost nanoparticle stability, drug loading & cytotoxicity.

💡 Moyo shared: “The STSM was an incredible opportunity… I am very grateful to Prof. Raggi and her team for being such welcoming hosts and generous mentors.”

🔗 precision-btc.eu/repository/e...

Our next STSM highlight: meet Moyo Feyide 👋, who joined Prof Chiara Raggi’s team in Florence.

He explored the use of 3D models to study primary liver cancers and deepened his understanding of metabolism in cholangiocarcinoma.

💬 Hear from past participants: precision-btc.eu/post/alumni

🎥 Watch highlights from last year: youtu.be/5sJ8OYdMXPA

👉 Apply now & join the next generation of BTC research leaders.
Mentors form: forms.gle/MSSyPTWo6Vo7...

Mentees form: forms.gle/2r5N2kDjUDvX...

Registration is OPEN for the 2025/26 Mentorship Program!

The @precisionbtcnet.bsky.social/@CcaEns/@curecc
initiative connects mentors & mentees worldwide to share knowledge, build skills & foster collaboration in BTC research.

🔗Info & registration precision-btc.eu/info/mentorp...

🗓Deadline 1 Nov

💡 Lisa shared: “My STSM was enriching and inspiring… I truly enjoyed the scientific exchange & collaborative spirit, which opened new perspectives for future international collaborations.”

🔗 precision-btc.eu/repository/e...

Our next STSM highlight: meet Lisa Wende 👋, who joined Dr Tian Tian’s group at VHIO (Barcelona).

She gained hands-on expertise with PDX & PDO models for cholangiocarcinoma — skills that will be key for her PhD project.

YouTube video by Precision-BTC-Network Precision-BTC Network Mentorship Program | Growing Together

🌟New Mentorship Call Opens Oct 1🌟

The @precisionbtcnet.bsky.social Mentorship Program (with ENS-CCA & Cholangiocarcinoma Foundation) is back, connecting mentors & mentees to learn, share & grow!

🎥Watch highlights from last year’s edition youtu.be/5sJ8OYdMXPA

Ready to join? Applications open soon!

💡She said "It was a formative experience both on a professional and on a personal level", and that this opportunity has made her “a better doctor.”

🔗https://precision-btc.eu/repository/entry/mob2participation

Our next STSM grant highlight: meet Giulia Tesini👋, who spent some time in Prof Chiara Braconi' lab in Glasgow.

As a clinician, she stepped into the wet lab for the first time — gaining hands-on experience with translational research and how it can complement clinical work.

For our first VM grant highlight, meet João Gomes 👋

He carried out a systematic review on the health economics of biliary tract cancer, looking at treatment costs, reimbursement, and access to care.

💡 One striking finding: costs triple from first- to third-line therapy.