Consortium

CQM's research spans the marine, food and health domains. Grounded in strong chemical-synthesis know-how, it develops advanced materials — dendrimers, nanoparticles, carbon nanomaterials, gels and nanogels — explored as platforms for drug/gene delivery and theranostics.

By joining FOCUS-4R, CQM strengthens the 4R principles: new approach methodologies to reduce animal models (Replacement), optimised design (Reduction & Refinement), and strict ethical compliance (Responsibility).

The team

A multidisciplinary team of ~70 researchers across the Materials Group and the Natural Products Group.

Dina Maciel

Helena Tomás

João Rodrigues

Mara Gonçalves

Paula Castilho

Pedro Pires

Rita Castro

A public university in Tenerife committed to higher education, research and knowledge transfer. In FOCUS-4R it participates through the Instituto Universitario de Tecnologías Biomédicas (ITB), focused on basic and translational biomedical research.

Its staff support capacity building, knowledge transfer and the promotion of innovative, ethical research practices in outermost regions.

The team

Research and technical staff from the Instituto de Tecnologías Biomédicas.

Diego Álvarez de la Rosa

Team leader

Ángel Acebes

Researcher

Teresa Giráldez

Researcher

Olga Tapia

Researcher

Elisa Pérez Sacau

Project manager

Nair Mesejo

Secondment coordinator

Airán Milián

Communication

Based in La Réunion and hosted by the Sainte-Clotilde Clinic, RunResearch focuses on clinical challenges — tumour radioresistance, the tumour microenvironment, and the prediction of tumour radiation response — toward future personalised medical management.

Its expertise covers clinical radiotherapy, CT imaging, cell culture and histology. Within FOCUS-4R it aims to expand into tumour modelling and 3D culture, build a tumour bank, and strengthen imaging and entrepreneurial skills.

The team

Three collaborators bridging clinical oncology and cancer research.

Mickaël Bègue

MD · Radiation oncologist

Youssef Slama

PhD · Medical physicist

Angélique Arcambal

PhD · Cancer researcher

An interdisciplinary research institute advancing health sciences through integrated basic, translational and clinical research, bringing together UPorto schools, hospitals and founding institutes (IBMC, INEB, IPATIMUP). Focus areas: cancer, infection & immunity, neurobiology.

Within FOCUS-4R, i3S provides a high-quality environment for capacity building, training and mobility for partners from outermost regions, in line with the 4R principles.

The team

André Maia

Andreia Costa

António Pombinho

Carla Oliveira

Daniel Ferreira

Estrela Neto

Flávia Castro

Manuela Brás

Rui Fernandes

Maria José Oliveira

Maria Lázaro

Marta T. Pinto

Meriem Lamghari

Paula López

Paula Sampaio

Ricardo Vidal

Rui Simões

Salomé Gomes

Sofia Lamas

Susana Magalhães

Tânia Silva

A non-profit research center and member of the Basque Research and Technology Alliance (BRTA), working at the interface of chemistry, physics and biology, with emphasis on biomaterials, nanomedicine and molecular imaging.

In FOCUS-4R it contributes advanced imaging (nuclear, MRI, NMR, optical), radiochemistry, electron microscopy and surface analysis — focused on training and knowledge transfer.

The team

Imaging and radiochemistry specialists from the Molecular & Functional Biomarkers Lab and the Nuclear Imaging Platform.

Jesús Ruiz-Cabello

Group leader

Unai Cossío

Nuclear Imaging Platform Manager

INSERM — the French National Institute of Health and Medical Research — is one of Europe's leading biomedical research organisations. Its highly interdisciplinary environment is dedicated to translational and clinical research, particularly in oncology, molecular signalling, precision medicine and therapeutic innovation. Through advanced technological platforms, strong collaborative networks and expertise in tumour biology and targeted therapies, INSERM supports the development of innovative strategies aimed at improving cancer treatment and biomedical research.

Within FOCUS-4R, INSERM contributes to establishing research and innovation capacities through the development of advanced biomedical approaches, cross-disciplinary collaborations, and the promotion of responsible research practices aligned with the 4R principles. The institute also promotes talent mobility, international scientific exchanges, and translational research connecting fundamental discoveries to clinical applications.

Closely associated with the University of Bordeaux — an internationally recognised academic institution with strong expertise in life sciences, cancer research and biomedical innovation — together they provide the scientific, technical and academic infrastructure necessary for the successful implementation of FOCUS-4R activities, strengthening biomedical research in European outermost regions and promoting ethical, innovative alternative research methods.

The team

The RYTME team (Reprogramming Tumor Activity and Associated MicroEnvironment) — Bordeaux Institute of Oncology, directed by Majid Khatib. The team combines molecular biology, transcriptomics, imaging, preclinical models (mice and zebrafish) and translational oncology to better understand tumour progression and improve future therapeutic strategies.

Majid Khatib

Team Director

Élodie Muzotte

Géraldine Siegfried

Virginie Dinet

Sandrine Fedou

Ocean TuniCell provides clinically relevant hydrogel biomaterial that bridges the research community and clinicians, facilitating the translational process in regenerative medicine.

Its invention is medical-grade nanofibrillar cellulose — TUNICELL — for 3D reconstruction of tissues and organs. In FOCUS-4R it trains researchers in 3D cultures with TUNICELL, an alternative to animal use in line with the 4R principles.

The team

An international team spanning molecular biology, biopolymer chemistry, marine engineering and entrepreneurship.

Christofer Troedsson

Eric Thompson

Laurence Hoareau

The largest single investment in advanced medical research and diagnostics in Norway, created to develop and produce radiopharmaceuticals for PET imaging. Owned by Oslo University Hospital, Akershus University Hospital and the University of Oslo.

Its research department combines radioactivity production, radiochemistry, automation and preclinical tracer characterisation, collaborating on cancer, neurological and cardiovascular diseases.

The team

Experts in pharmaceutical and veterinary science, radiochemistry, nuclear & medicinal chemistry, and medical physics.

NMS team

C.RIS Pharma is a Contract Research Organisation established in 2003, compliant to GLP since 2008, serving the pharmaceutical, agri-food and cosmetics sectors.

Its services focus on assessing the efficacy of new products (therapeutic applications include cancer, metabolic diseases, inflammatory diseases, neurodegenerative diseases, infectious diseases and cardiovascular diseases), assessing toxicity in accordance with current regulations, and pharmacological evaluation (stability, pharmacokinetics, biodistribution and metabolism). All activities are conducted with in vitro and in vivo models.

Within FOCUS-4R, C.RIS Pharma trains secondees in in vitro assays such as HET-CAM, in preclinical development of new active products, and in entrepreneurship.

The team

Three senior specialists leading the training programme at C.RIS Pharma.

Pierrick Auvray

CEO

Mélissa Le Gall

Study Director Head

Caroline Lemal

QA Manager

The team

Originally established as Ocello in 2011, the company became part of Crown Bioscience Netherlands in 2021, combining pre-clinical in-vitro assays and high-content imaging to accelerate drug development.

Operating in contract-research in-vitro oncology drug discovery, it spans efficacy testing, biomarker analysis, translational genomics, DMPK and toxicology. Through FOCUS-4R it trains scientists from outermost regions in organoid-based models.

The team

Scientists with strong expertise in advanced 2D and 3D research models, including organoid-based approaches.

Ilaria Chicca

Marrit Putker