Center for Oncological Research (CORE)

(Co)promotors involved: Prof. dr. Marc Peeters, Prof. dr. Evelien Smits, Prof. dr. Filip Lardon, Prof. dr. Patrick Pauwels and Prof. dr. Peter van Dam.

The Center for Oncological Research is a multidisciplinary oncological research platform with internationally recognized expertise in the development of novel cancer therapies, in gaining insights into resistance mechanisms and in biomarker research. Through the extra affiliations of the promotors Prof. dr. M. Peeters, Prof. dr. E. Smits, Prof. dr. P. Pauwels and Prof. dr. P. van Dam, CORE is interconnected with the Antwerp University Hospital, more specifically with

  • The Department of Oncology with the Early Phase Clinical Trial Center and the gynecological oncology and breast cancer unit
  • The BELAC-accredited Department of Pathology
  • The TumorBank
  • The GMP-certified clinical trial Center for Cell Therapy and Regenerative Medicine (CCRG)
  • The Multidisciplinary Oncology Center Antwerp (MOCA)

By this close connection in CORE between biomedical researchers and clinical researchers, we can translate promising preclinical findings into clinical trials. More than 100 investigator- and sponsor-driven clinical oncological trials are ongoing. CORE has got an extensive experience in liquid biopsies for molecular analysis of patient material. Amongst others, we are participating in the European Neuroendocrine Tumor Society and the Inflammatory Breast Cancer Consortium. Furthermore, we are major partners in assessing quality indicators for cancer care on an international level and Prof. dr. M. Peeters is founder of the ‘Go2Sport’ project to maximize quality of life of cancer patients.