EXPERIMENTELLE PHARMAKOLOGIE UND ONKOLOGIE BERLIN-BUCH GMBH

Their core work

EPO Berlin-Buch is a private preclinical contract research organization specializing in cancer pharmacology, operating from one of Europe's most concentrated biomedical campuses at Berlin-Buch. Their core work revolves around testing cancer drugs and therapies using advanced tumor models — patient-derived xenografts (PDX), genetically engineered mouse models (GEMM), and 3D organoids — which closely mimic human tumor biology. In the pediatric oncology space, they contribute to proof-of-concept platforms that help researchers decide whether an experimental therapy is worth advancing to clinical trials. They also support biomarker discovery for predicting cancer relapse, bridging basic oncology research with translational drug development.

What they specialise in

How they've shifted over time

Both of EPO's projects started in 2017, so there is no chronological shift in the traditional sense — but the keyword data reveals a meaningful thematic deepening. The 3D NEONET project carries no extractable keywords, suggesting a broader, network-building role focused on drug discovery infrastructure. The ITCC-P4 project, by contrast, is rich with specific terms — pediatric cancer, PDX, GEMM, organoid, biomarker, brain tumor, relapse — pointing to a more defined, specialized contribution in pediatric oncology translational research. The trajectory suggests EPO moved from participating in broad oncology networks toward highly specialized preclinical testing roles within structured, clinically oriented consortia.

EPO is moving toward deeper specialization in pediatric solid tumor models — particularly PDX, GEMM, and organoid platforms — suggesting future collaborations will likely involve them as a preclinical testing node in translational oncology consortia rather than as a broad drug discovery partner.

How they like to work

EPO participates exclusively as a consortium partner — they have never coordinated an H2020 project — which reflects a role as a specialized scientific contributor rather than a project manager or consortium builder. Despite only two projects, they have engaged with 54 unique partners across 13 countries, indicating that both consortia were large, multi-actor initiatives where EPO brought a specific experimental capability. This suggests working with EPO means getting access to a focused preclinical competency embedded within well-organized pan-European research programs.

EPO has built connections with 54 unique partners across 13 countries despite participating in only two projects, which reflects the scale of the pan-European consortia they joined. Their network spans multiple EU member states and is concentrated in academic medical centers and oncology research institutes typical of ITCC and MSCA-RISE partnerships.

What sets them apart

EPO's location at the Berlin-Buch biomedical campus — home to the Max Delbrück Center and Helios Klinikum — gives it immediate proximity to translational oncology infrastructure that most standalone SMEs lack. As a private company focused on experimental pharmacology, they occupy a specific niche between academic research labs and pharmaceutical CROs: capable of rigorous preclinical work under research consortium conditions without the overhead of a large pharma organization. Their participation in ITCC-P4, Europe's leading pediatric preclinical POC platform, signals recognition by the pediatric oncology research community as a credible experimental partner.

Highlights from their portfolio

• ITCC-P4
  The largest and most keyword-rich project, this IMI-funded initiative (€668K to EPO alone) represents Europe's premier pediatric preclinical proof-of-concept platform, directly linking EPO to the continent's top childhood cancer research network.
• 3D NEONET
  An MSCA-RISE network project connecting EPO to a drug discovery and delivery consortium for oncology and eye therapeutics, demonstrating their cross-therapeutic reach beyond pure cancer biology.