ASOCIACION CENTRO DE INVESTIGACION COOPERATIVA EN BIOCIENCIAS

Their core work

CIC bioGUNE is a Basque Country research centre specializing in chemical biology, glycoscience, and cancer biology. They decode molecular recognition processes — how proteins, sugars, and immune cells interact — and translate that knowledge into biomarkers, drug targets, and vaccine adjuvants. Their core strength lies at the interface of structural biology (particularly NMR), carbohydrate chemistry, and immunology, with a strong focus on prostate cancer progression and therapeutic vulnerabilities. They also train the next generation of researchers through extensive participation in Marie Skłodowska-Curie training networks.

What they specialise in

How they've shifted over time

In their early H2020 period (2015–2018), CIC bioGUNE focused on fundamental immune biology — tribbles signalling in adipose tissue and macrophages, prostate cancer prognosis biomarkers, and ubiquitin pathway decoding. From 2019 onward, their work shifted decisively toward translational immunotherapy: T cell manipulation for cancer (NextGen IO), checkpoint co-stimulation (CD28), and extracellular vesicle biology, while their glycoscience programme matured into a major research line with the EUR 2.5M RECGLYCANMR grant. The recent period also shows diversification into bioeconomy (BioUPGRADE), suggesting they are applying their carbohydrate enzyme expertise beyond biomedicine.

CIC bioGUNE is converging their glycoscience and immunology lines toward glyco-immunology — designing molecules that modulate immune checkpoints through sugar-based recognition, a rapidly growing field for next-generation cancer immunotherapy.

How they like to work

CIC bioGUNE splits evenly between coordinating (11 projects) and participating (11 projects), showing confidence leading consortia while remaining an attractive partner for others. Their 143 unique partners across 22 countries indicate a broad, hub-style network rather than a closed circle of repeat collaborators. Heavy involvement in MSCA training networks (8 of 22 projects) signals they are deeply embedded in European doctoral training ecosystems, making them accessible entry points for new collaborations.

With 143 unique consortium partners across 22 countries, CIC bioGUNE maintains one of the broader collaboration networks for a centre of its size. Their partnerships span Western Europe broadly, with no single-country dependency, reflecting their role as a training network hub.

What sets them apart

CIC bioGUNE sits at a rare intersection: they combine world-class NMR-based glycoscience with deep cancer biology and active immunotherapy research, all under one roof. Few European centres can move from solving a sugar-protein interaction structure to designing a therapeutic molecule targeting that interaction and testing it in an immune context. Their Basque Country base also gives them access to Spain's strong clinical research infrastructure while operating with the agility of a focused research association rather than a large university.

Highlights from their portfolio

• RECGLYCANMR
  Their largest single grant (EUR 2.5M ERC Consolidator), pushing the boundaries of NMR methods for understanding how cells recognize carbohydrates — foundational for drug and vaccine design.
• CancerADAPT
  Nearly EUR 2M ERC grant tackling why prostate cancer adapts to treatment, combining transcriptional and metabolic reprogramming — their most translational cancer project.
• NextGen IO
  EUR 2M programme exploiting hypoxia biology in T cells for immunotherapy, representing their strategic move into the immuno-oncology therapeutic space.