RESEARCH GROUPS

Childhood Cancer and Blood Disorders

Overview

Team

Publications

Patents

Dissemination

46

Number of publications

50.00
%

% Q1

17.39
%

% D1

23.91
%

% Leadership

45.45
%

% Female Leadership

1.92

CROWN (2021-2025)

23.61
%

HCP10% (2021-2025)

78.26
%

% Open access

58.70
%

% International Collaboration

6

Highly cited papers / HCP 1% (2021-2025)

4

Publications in high-IF journals with high Altmetric scores

37

Number of Ongoing Projectes (total)

16

International ongoing projects

7

Number of New projects (total)

2

International new projects

70

Number of Active clinical Trials

9

Number of New Clinical Trials

1

Number of Theses

CC&BD group operates at the front line of translational pediatric oncology, driving the development of novel therapies and biomarkers for children with high-risk cancers and rare hematological diseases. By tightly integrating three specialized research laboratories with hospital-based clinical programs, the group delivers a seamless pipeline from mechanistic discovery to patient care. Its work in precision medicine, (NB, sarcomas and brain tumors) combines genomic, epigenetic and liquid biopsy strategies) to enable real-time, biology-driven treatment decisions. CC&BD has a strong track record of converting scientific insights into clinical action. Through active participation in international consortia, collaboration with industry, and a solid training environment supported by competitive fellowships, the group not only advances scientific knowledge but also accelerates its impact on patient outcomes by offering therapeutic options within early phase clinical trials.

CORE/MISSIONS

  • AI, Data, Imaging & Digital Health
  • Innovative & Advanced Therapies
  • Rare Diseases

PROGRAMS

Group Leader

Lucas Moreno Martín Retortillo

Principal Investigator (PI)

Lucas Moreno MD PhD, Miguel F Segura PhD, Josep Roma PhD, Mar Mañú PhD, Aroa Soriano PhD, Cristina Diaz de Heredia MD, Pablo Velasco MD

Researchers

Maria J Pérez PhD, Khloud Elsharawy PhD, Amira Idrizovic PhD, Patricia Zarzosa PhD, Isabel de Rojas PhD, Guillem Pons PhD, Maria R Pérez-Torres MD, Maria P Pérez MD, Laura Murillo, Lorena Valero MD, Gabriela Guillen MD PhD, Raquel Hladun MD, Melissa Panesso MD, Anna LLort MD PhD, Thais Murciano MD, Mariona Morell MD, Luis Gros MD, Amalia Varo MD, Laura Murillo MD, Marina Bonfill MD, Sofia Alperi MD, Ohiane Bedialauneta MD, Andrés Morgenstern MD.

PhD Students

Lia Garcia, Julia Sansa, Adrià Molero, Marta Miera, Maria Gallego, Anna Collado, Sara I Reidel, Gal·la Farreny, Andrea Vilaplana.

Lab Technicians

Maria Jesús Rodriguez, Juan Manuel López

Gray JC, Weston R, Owens C, Canete A, Gambart M, De Wilde B, Nysom K, van Eijkelenburg N, Ladenstein R, Castellano A, Gerber NU, Marshall LV, Barone G, Rubio-San-Simon A, Ng A, Vaidya S, Gallego S, Makin G, Burke GAA, McCarthy A, Murphy D, Zwaan CM, López-Almaraz R, Jannier S, Thebaud E, Corradini N, Yeomanson D, Howell L, Tweddle DA, Elliott M, Hobin D, Valteau-Couanet D, Schleiermacher G, Chastagner P, Defachelles AS, Brichard B, George S, Chesler L, Laidler J, Firth C, Holt G, Moroz V, Pearson ADJ, Gates S, Wheatley K, Kearns P, Moreno L.
Dinutuximab Beta Added to Temozolomide-Based Chemotherapy for Children With Relapsed and Refractory Neuroblastoma: Results of the ITCC-SIOPEN BEACON Immuno Phase II Trial.
J Clin Oncol. 2026 Jan 20;44(3):176-187.
DOI: 10.1200/JCO-25-01868
IF: 43.4

Castelli S, Schulze F, Thole-Kliesch TM, Astrahantseff K, Barone G, Beck-Popovic M, Berlanga P, Corbacioglu S, Fischer M, Gambart M, George SL, Chesler L, Gray JC, Hero B, Künkele A, Flaadt T, Lang P, Lode HN, Molenaar JJ, Schleiermacher G, Rosswog C, Moreno L, Owens C, Rubio-San-Simón A, Schulte JH, Simon T, Tweddle DA, Deubzer HE, Eggert A
New Drug Development, Immunotherapy and Relapse Groups. Current treatment strategies for first relapse of high-risk neuroblastoma.
Eur J Cancer. 2026 Mar 11;236:116254
DOI: 10.1016/j.ejca.2026.116254
IF: 7.1

Chatzimatthaiou, Sotiroula ;Bonifazi, Fedele ;Gimbert, Anna C. ;Colombatti, Raffaella ;Cremonesi, Francesco ;Glenthoj, Andreas ;Mezzalira, Elisabetta ;Stephanou, Coralea ;Traeger-synodinos, Jan ;Antic, Darko ;Durmaz, Burak ;Gavriilaki, Eleni ;Inusa, Baba ;Landi, Annalisa ;Pellegrini, Mariangela ;Basile, Francesca ;Muth, Stephanie ;Cario, Holger ;Katsantoni, Eleni ;Ruhluel, Dilem ;Lederer, Carsten Werner ;Manu-pereira, Maria Del Mar ;Kountouris, Petros
HELIOS Action: Advancing research, education, and equity in hemoglobinopathies across Europe and beyond
HemaSphere vol. 9,12 e70258. 8 Dec. 2025
DOI: 10.1002/hem3.70258
IF: 14.6

Río P, Zubicaray J, Navarro S, Gálvez E, Sánchez-Domínguez R, Nicoletti E, Sebastián E, Rothe M, Pujol R, Bogliolo M, John-Neek P, Bastone AL, Schambach A, Wang W, Schmidt M, Larcher L, Segovia JC, Yáñez RM, Alberquilla O, Díez B, Fernández-García M, García-García L, Ramírez M, Galy A, Lefrere F, Cavazzana M, Leblanc T, García de Andoin N, López-Almaraz R, Catalá A, Barquinero J, Rodríguez-Perales S, Rao G, Surrallés J, Soulier J, Díaz-de-Heredia C, Schwartz JD, Sevilla J, Bueren JA;
FANCOLEN-1 gene therapy investigators. Haematopoietic gene therapy of non-conditioned patients with Fanconi anaemia-A: results from open-label phase 1/2 (FANCOLEN-1) and long-term clinical trials.
Lancet. 2025 Dec 21;404(10471):2584-2592.
DOI: 10.1016/S0140-6736(24)01880-4.
IF: 88.5

Carceller F, Bautista F, Van Tinteren H, Castañeda A, Surun A, Wasti A, Revon-Rivière G, Bergamaschi L, Cortés M, Hladun-Álvaro R, Jiménez I, Giraud C, Millen G, Campbell-Hewson Q, Juan-Ribelles A, Van der Lugt J, Amoroso L, Bertorello N, Hargrave D, Vega-Piris L, Fagioli F, Haupt R, Zwaan CM, Cañete A, Morland B, Ceraulo A, Casanova M, Verschuur A, André N, Aerts I, Doz F, Pearson ADJ, Marshall LV, Vassal G, Kearns P, Geoerger B, Moreno L.
Prognostic factors of early mortality in children and adolescents with relapsed/refractory solid tumors participating in dose-finding trials in the targeted and immune therapies era: An ITCC study.
Eur J Cancer. 2025 Sep 9;227:115627.
DOI: 10.1016/j.ejca.2025.115627
IF: 7.1

MONALISA: A SIOPEN pragmatic clinical trial to MOnitor NeuroblastomA relapse with LIquid biopsy Sensitive Analysis
Principal Investigator: Lucas Moreno (VHIR)
Agency: HORIZON-MISS-2023-CANCER-01-03
Funding: VHIR 84.000,00€
Period: 2022-2028

SEHOP-PENCIL - National Strategy for the Implementation of Personalised Medicine in Children and Adolescents with Cancer
Principal Investigator: Lucas Moreno
Agency: ISCIII
Funding: 1,025,179.10 €
Period: 2022-2026

Comprehensive methodological and operational approach to clinical trials in rare and ultra-rare diseases
Principal Investigator: M. Mar Mañu
Agency: Horizon Europe
Funding: 8,500,000.00 €
Period: 2025-2029

Advanced development of innovative Therapies against childhood sarcomas: Refinement of pharmacological blockade of Hedgehog pathway co-receptors
Principal Investigator: Josep Roma
Agency: ISCIII
Funding: 190,000.00 €
Period: 2025-2027

COMIK 2.0: Integration of a genomic and functional screening platform for paediatric precision oncology
Principal Investigator: Lucas Moreno
Agency: ISCIII
Funding: 124,170.00 €
Period: 2022-2026

Compounds for use in preventing or treating cancer
Priority Number: PCT/EP2019/067557
Priority Date: 29/06/2018
Applicants: VHIR/LEITAT/SELABTEC

Peptides for the treatment of cancer and/or metastasis.
Priority Number: EP19383084.1
Priority Date: 05/12/2019
Applicants: VHIR / BCN peptides

Nanovesicles and its use for nucleic acid delivery.
Priority Number: PCT/EP2020/063195
Priority Date: 12/05/2020
Applicants: VHIR / CSIC / CIBER

A pharmaceutical combination for the treatment of cancer
Priority Number: WO2018EP62554
Priority Date: 09/08/2017
Applicants: Ability Pharmaceuticals S.L

Scientific talk and laboratory visit
Place: VHIR
Date: 16/04/2025
Brief: Outreach activity with children aged 12–15 from the CRAE Minerva center, consisting of a visit to the Vall d’Hebron Research Institute (VHIR) and an introductory talk on the main research lines of our group.

Scientific talk
Place: UB
Date: 25/04/2026
Brief: Scientific talk for general public.

Fira del Somnis
Place: Balaguer, Lleida
Date: 04/05/2026
Brief: Participants engaged in interactive activities focused on identifying common laboratory elements, understanding food oxidation processes, and constructing DNA models using candy.

EscoLab visit
Place: VHIR
Date: 15/10/2025
Brief: For students from a technical laboratory training institute.

Clotxa Solidaria
Place: Mora d'Ebre
Date: 08/11/2025
Brief: Interactive activities focused on identifying common laboratory elements, understanding food oxidation processes, and constructing DNA models using candy