ALLEANZA CONTRO IL CANCRO

Their core work

Alleanza Contro il Cancro (ACC) is Italy's national oncology research network, coordinating translational cancer research across Italian cancer centers. They align national cancer research programmes with European priorities through ERA-NET initiatives, fund transnational research calls, and contribute to large-scale genomic and precision oncology projects. Their practical role spans pediatric cancer preclinical models, next-generation sequencing diagnostics, and building shared genomic data infrastructure under European frameworks like the 1+ Million Genomes initiative.

What they specialise in

How they've shifted over time

ACC's early H2020 work (2015–2017) centered on preclinical cancer biology — building patient-derived xenograft models, organoids, and biomarker discovery for pediatric solid tumors. From 2020 onward, they shifted decisively toward genomic infrastructure and data-driven oncology: next-generation sequencing diagnostics, liquid biopsies, personalised medicine frameworks, and European-scale genomic data standards (FAIR, EOSC). This mirrors the broader European push from bench research toward data-enabled precision medicine.

ACC is moving from laboratory-based cancer research toward large-scale genomic data infrastructure and clinical diagnostics standardization, positioning them as a bridge between national oncology networks and European data initiatives.

How they like to work

ACC operates exclusively as a participant, never coordinating H2020 projects — consistent with their role as a national network that joins large European consortia rather than leading them. With 120 unique partners across 28 countries, they are deeply embedded in Europe's cancer research ecosystem. Their participation in ERA-NET cofund actions (TRANSCAN-2 and TRANSCAN-3) means they function as a national funding relay, connecting Italian cancer centers to pan-European calls.

ACC has collaborated with 120 distinct partners across 28 countries, giving them one of the broadest networks in European cancer research. Their ERA-NET participation connects them to virtually every national cancer research funder and major oncology center across Europe.

What sets them apart

ACC is not a single research lab but a national alliance of Italian cancer institutes, which means partnering with them effectively gives access to Italy's entire oncology research infrastructure. Their dual presence in both ERA-NET funding coordination and hands-on research projects (genomics, preclinical models) is unusual — most organizations do one or the other. For consortium builders, ACC offers both a national coordination mandate and practical research capacity in precision oncology.

Highlights from their portfolio

• oncNGS
  Their largest funded project (EUR 434K), running until 2026, focused on making NGS diagnostics accessible and clinically validated across Europe — signals their current strategic priority.
• B1MG
  Part of the flagship Beyond 1 Million Genomes initiative building Europe's genomic data infrastructure, connecting ACC to the continent's top personalised medicine players.
• TRANSCAN-3
  Continuation of the TRANSCAN ERA-NET series through 2027, demonstrating ACC's sustained role as a pillar of European translational cancer research funding coordination.