Mac4Me

We are skilling a new generation of scientists to move beyond "thinking in boxes," empowering them to integrate data with the social and human complexities of cancer.

What we do: 🔹 Investigating macrophage interactions and tumor invasion in the brain, bone, and liver. 🔹 Using Organ-on-Chip and AI to create simulations of metastasis. 🔹 Training 18 Doctoral Candidates in PPI (Patient and Public Involvement) so they can integrate patient perspectives.

Today is #WorldCancerDay 2026. This year's #UnitedbyUnique initiative calls for "people-centered care"—a shift from treating just the disease to treating the unique person behind it.

Mac4Me translates this vision into research for metastatic neuroblastoma, prostate, and breast cancers. 🧬

A purple ribbon, symbolising cancer awareness, surrounded by floral designs, with the text "World Cancer Day" written above in bold blue letters. The Council logo is displayed in the bottom-right corner.

On #WorldCancerDay, we stand with cancer warriors, survivors, and their families.

The EU is working to improve access to:
🚫 Prevention
🔍 Diagnosis
💊 Treatment
🏥 Care

More info 👉 link.europa.eu/P4kWyr

YouTube video by Mac4Me Sidney van der Zande

Mac4Me is a European doctoral network aiming to provide new treatment options for metastatic neuroblastoma, prostate and breast tumours.
Meet Sidney van der Zande, one of the 18 @mac4me.bsky.social doctoral candidates, supervised by Teijo Pellinen at FIMM:
📽️ www.youtube.com/watch?v=ficq...

🥂 Happy New Year from Mac4Me!

We’re celebrating the power of international collaboration in the fight against metastatic cancer. Looking forward to a year of bold questions and shared milestones.

Here’s to a year of discovery, collaboration, and scientific progress!! 🚀

🚀 The first Mac4Me Newsletter is here!

Catch up on our latest research updates in metastatic neuroblastoma, prostate, and breast cancer.

📖 Read the first issue: mac4me.eu/newsletter-a...

📩 Subscribe: mac4me.us22.list-manage.com/subscribe?u=...

During #ScienceWeek we introduced our Doctoral Candidates (DC) through short videos! 🔬🎬

🔗 Watch them on our YouTube Channel: www.youtube.com/watch?v=ward...

Get to know our DCs and learn about their work in metastatic cancer research! ✨

Online seminar series November 2025 - Mac4me The European doctoral network Mac4Me (Macrophage Targets for Metastatic Treatment) launched with a virtual meeting on 12 February 2025. Simultaneously, it also launched its digital and social media pr...

📢 The Mac4Me Doctoral Network is opening up some of our specialized online training modules (originally for our doctoral candidates) to the public! 🔬

We invite all interested researchers, students, and professionals to join us!

🗓️ Check the program and register here: mac4me.eu/online-semin...

Our researcher survey confirms that OA publishing is the accepted norm within the network. We're now focusing our training to convert the "would like to" segment into active sharers. We're committed to making research on metastatic cancer public and accessible to all. 🔬

#OAweek #OpenScience

International Open Access Week International Open Access Week is held annually to inspire global momentum toward the open sharing of knowledge in order to address important social issues affecting people around the world. Open Acce...

"Who Owns Our Knowledge?" is the theme for Open Access (OA) Week 💡 (www.openaccessweek.org)

This is the right question for a time of disruption. Who controls the research produced by the community?

Our doctoral network aligns with Open Science.

While prevention and early detection are vital, the Mac4Me Doctoral Network focuses on
researching the critical, complex challenge that follows: metastasis 🔬.

#InternationalDayAgainstBreastCancer #BreastCancerResearch #Mac4Me

In the context of Breast Cancer Awareness Month 🎀, October 19th marks the International Day against Breast Cancer🎗.
It is a moment to stand in solidarity with the millions worldwide affected by this disease. We acknowledge the resilience of patients and those navigating life after diagnosis.

Our science is patient-centric by design. We incorporate Patient and Public Involvement (PPI) to ensure that our outcomes and communication align with the needs and expectations of those affected.

(Image credit for the visual on the bottom left: Copyright © 2006 Volker Steger/Science Photo Library)

We focus on the Tumor Microenvironment (TME) at metastatic sites (bone, liver, brain)—not just the primary tumor.

💥 We investigate macrophages, immune cells that often become corrupted, acting as cancer's allies. By successfully "re-educating" these cells, we aim to create new therapeutic pathways.

Metastatic disease affects 20-30% of early breast cancer patients. This is the frontier where we need to focus.🎯

Mac4Me’s goal is to help transform metastatic breast cancer from a typically terminal condition into a chronic or potentially curable one.

#MetastaticBreastCancerAwarenessDay

Home - Mac4me Mac4me is dedicated to advancing metastatic neuroblastoma treatment through innovative research and immunotherapy solutions

We, at the Mac4Me Horizon Europe MSCA (Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions) Doctoral Network, embody this spirit by bringing together researchers, patients, and other stakeholders to address the challenges of metastatic neuroblastoma, prostate, and breast cancer. Learn more about our work: www.mac4me.eu

Today, September 24th, is #WorldCancerResearchDay. It is a yearly momentum to raise
awareness and commitment for cancer research. This day also serves as a reminder that
progress depends on collaboration.

Tower in Rotterdam

The (current) Nottingham and Peptimatrix team. A group of men and women smiling on a deck by the river

Two grinning people on a boat

Hugely excited to meet the @mac4me.bsky.social team in Rotterdam for our kick-off meeting. Here with @peptimatrix.bsky.social and a whole interdisciplinary team ’opening new doors in cancer immunotherapy’ www.mac4me.eu

Mac4Me Project Kicks off in Rotterdam Mac4Me project kicks off with a meeting in Rotterdam and the first doctoral training session.

The @mac4me.bsky.social project officially kicked off in Rotterdam on 25-26 June! It was great to connect with partners in person and meet our DC, Elena Montero Bragado.

🔗 Read the Full story: www.peptimatrix.com/post/mac4me-...

#Mac4Me #HorizonEurope #CancerResearch #3DCellCulture #MSCA

Home - Mac4me Mac4me is dedicated to advancing metastatic neuroblastoma treatment through innovative research and immunotherapy solutions

🌍 Led by 14 core partners and supported by 11 associated partners, this project brings together experts from basic science, biomedical engineering, social sciences, computational biology, and other disciplines.
To learn more about our mission, visit our website: 🌐🔗 mac4me.eu

The atmosphere throughout the meeting was positive and productive! ✨This initial in-person encounter created significant consortium cohesion for many participants. This lays the groundwork for scientific and technical collaboration over the next four years. 🤝

A significant part of the training focused on Patient and Public Involvement (PPI)! 🧑‍🤝‍🧑 Patient advocates from Dublin (PVCR) and the US (@graspcancer.bsky.social) joined us. We all learned about the importance of involving patients at every stage of the research process.

It wasn't just lectures! 💡 We also discussed the ethics of cancer research. The communication team (@ccsupf.bsky.social) also helped doctoral candidates produce short introductory videos for the website! 🎬 A key step towards making their research accessible to diverse audiences.

The training covered all the key content! 📚 We explored the clinical aspects of metastatic neuroblastoma, as well as breast and prostate cancers. We also looked at scientific methods such as single-cell mechanics and organ-on-chip technology.🔬

Before the kick-off, we held the first training session (23 - 24- 25 June) for our doctoral candidates at @erasmusmc.bsky.social ! 🧠 We're not just about scientific expertise; we're also focused on their professional and personal development. 🌱

🎊 The Mac4Me Doctoral Network officially kicked off two weeks ago (25-26 June)! 🎉 Our core partners gathered to set the stage for four years of research. We're excited for what's ahead!

Home - Mac4me Mac4me is dedicated to advancing metastatic neuroblastoma treatment through innovative research and immunotherapy solutions

On European Patients' Rights Day, we remember that patients deserve effective treatment and clear information. Mac4Me's research aims to personalise immunotherapies for metastatic cancers, better predict treatment outcomes and keep people informed all the way through.
Learn more at mac4me.eu

On this #WomensDay, we recognise the impact of breast cancer on women around the world. Today, we remark the dedication of female researchers who are advancing metastasis understanding and the vital role of women's perspectives in shaping more effective and inclusive cancer care and research.

Home - Mac4me Opening new doors in cancer immunotherapy A European doctoral network aiming to provide new treatment options for metastatic neuroblastoma, prostate and breast tumours Become one of our fello...

Mac4Me brings together 14 partners across Europe, training 18 Doctoral Candidates to transform cancer metastasis research. Learn more about our international consortium and approach at mac4me.eu