FUNDACION DE INVESTIGACION DEL CANCER DE LA UNIVERSIDAD DE SALAMANCA

Their core work

FICUS is the Cancer Research Foundation of the University of Salamanca, focused on translational cancer research and biomarker-driven diagnostics. Their work spans oncology screening using flow cytometry, breast cancer treatment resistance, and — notably — early diagnosis of Alzheimer's disease through novel blood-based biomarkers. They bridge clinical research with molecular biology, contributing specialized disease biology expertise to European consortia tackling complex disorders.

What they specialise in

How they've shifted over time

FICUS began with a focus on oncology diagnostics — cancer screening through circulating tissue macrophages and flow cytometry (TiMaScan, 2016). They then expanded into neurodegeneration, joining ArrestAD (2017) to apply blood-based biomarker expertise to Alzheimer's early diagnosis. Their most recent project, RESCUER (2020), marks a return to cancer but at a deeper mechanistic level — systems biology approaches to understand drug resistance in breast cancer, suggesting a shift from detection toward treatment optimization.

FICUS is moving from diagnostic biomarker work toward mechanistic understanding of treatment resistance, positioning them for precision oncology and personalized therapy collaborations.

How they like to work

FICUS operates exclusively as a contributing partner or third party — they have never coordinated an H2020 project. With 26 unique partners across 12 countries from just 3 projects, they join large, well-connected consortia rather than leading small teams. This suggests they are sought out for specific domain expertise (cancer biology, biomarker assays) rather than project management capacity.

Despite only 3 projects, FICUS has built connections with 26 partners across 12 countries, reflecting participation in large multi-national consortia. Their network spans broadly across Europe without a visible geographic concentration.

What sets them apart

FICUS sits at the intersection of cancer research and blood-based diagnostics, with a rare crossover into neurodegeneration — few cancer-focused centres bring Alzheimer's biomarker experience to the table. Their affiliation with the University of Salamanca gives them access to clinical infrastructure and patient cohorts in Spain. For consortium builders, they offer deep disease biology expertise without the overhead of a large institution, classified as an SME-type research entity.

Highlights from their portfolio

• RESCUER
  Tackles drug resistance in breast cancer using systems biology and PDX models — their largest funded project (EUR 357,896) and most recent, signalling their current strategic direction.
• ArrestAD
  Unusual pivot from cancer to Alzheimer's, applying blood biomarker expertise to early dementia screening — demonstrates methodological versatility beyond oncology.