FUNDACIO PRIVADA INSTITUT D'INVESTIGACIO ONCOLOGICA DE VALL-HEBRON (VHIO)

Their core work

VHIO is a Barcelona-based cancer research institute focused on translating laboratory discoveries into clinical treatments. They specialize in precision oncology — stratifying cancer patients using multi-omics data, genomics, and liquid biopsies to match them with targeted therapies. Their work spans the full translational pipeline: from computational biology and bioinformatics through preclinical xenograft models to early-phase clinical trials. They are particularly strong in colorectal, prostate, gastric, and pancreatic cancers, with growing capabilities in immune imaging and single-cell sequencing.

What they specialise in

How they've shifted over time

In their early H2020 period (2015–2018), VHIO focused heavily on systems medicine, bioinformatics, and early-stage drug development — with ERC Proof-of-Concept grants translating lab discoveries on Myc inhibitors and therapeutic antibodies into commercial candidates. From 2019 onward, the emphasis shifted decisively toward genomics-driven clinical applications: liquid biopsies, NGS diagnostics, single-cell sequencing, data sharing infrastructure, and patient empowerment through real-world outcomes data. This evolution reflects a clear movement from computational and preclinical research toward clinical-grade precision medicine tools.

VHIO is moving toward data-rich clinical trials, liquid biopsy monitoring, and patient-reported outcomes — positioning itself as a bridge between genomic research and routine oncology practice.

How they like to work

VHIO operates as both a consortium leader and an active research partner, with 8 coordinated projects (35%) showing strong leadership capacity, especially in ERC Proof-of-Concept and MSCA grants. As a participant, they join large multinational consortia (227 unique partners across 29 countries), contributing specialized oncology expertise rather than broad infrastructure. Their high partner diversity and low repeat-partner ratio suggest they are sought after across many different cancer research networks rather than locked into a single collaborative circle.

VHIO has collaborated with 227 unique partners across 29 countries, making them one of the most broadly connected cancer research centres in Southern Europe. Their network spans major oncology hubs across the EU, with strong ties through large health consortia like HARMONY, EUCANCan, and COLOSSUS.

What sets them apart

VHIO combines deep translational oncology expertise with a hospital-embedded research model at Vall d'Hebron University Hospital, giving them direct access to patient cohorts and clinical validation that purely academic institutes lack. Their unusual combination of ERC-backed drug discovery (Myc inhibitors, therapeutic antibodies) and large-scale data infrastructure participation (EUCANCan, EDIReX, H2O) means they can contribute at every stage from target discovery to clinical trial design. For consortium builders, VHIO brings both the science and the clinical endpoint — a rare combination in a single partner.

Highlights from their portfolio

• CCE_DART
  Their largest coordinated project (EUR 1.16M) focused on data-rich clinical trials with digital tools and real-world data — signals their strategic direction.
• MoTriColor
  Major coordinated RIA (EUR 1.05M) running molecularly guided clinical trials for colorectal cancer — demonstrated ability to lead complex multi-site clinical research.
• MultiLQB-PC
  Most recent coordinated project (2022–2024) on multi-analyte liquid biopsy for prostate cancer — represents their frontier work in non-invasive cancer monitoring.