Oncode Institute connects excellent scientists in cancer research from institutes across the Netherlands, covering a broad range of topics and expertise to stimulate ‘outside-the-box’ thinking and multidisciplinary interaction. In 2023, the Oncode Institute research team comprised 52 Oncode Investigators (12/40 junior/senior; 15/37 female/male) and their research teams, uniting more than 700 researchers embedded in 12 different partner institutes. In 2023, this team of excellent scientists was further expanded via the 2023 Junior OI recruitment call, adding 10 talented junior investigators (5/5 female/male) resulting in expansion of the Institute to 62 Oncode Investigators and 13 partner institutes in 2024.

At the end of every 5-year affiliation period, every Oncode Investigator is subjected to an evaluation to assess their individual contribution to helping Oncode Institute achieve its mission. The advice of a committee of independent international reviewers, an Oncode Investigator review panel, and Oncode Institute’s International Advisory Board, forms the basis of the Oncode Institute Management Board’s decision whether or not an investigator is invited to continue for an additional 5-year term.

The 12 Junior Oncode Investigators (Jr OIs) who joined the Institute in 2019, underwent an evaluation in 2023. All 12 Jr OIs were positively evaluated and were invited to continue their journey with Oncode Institute as senior Oncode Investigators, starting in 2024.

Because the institute’s scientific strategy revolves around excellence and multidisciplinary collaboration, exploring fresh new perspectives and having a comprehensive team with access to a broad range of expertise and innovative technologies is key. In 2023, Oncode Institute therefore decided to expand the Oncode Investigator team through an open call for Junior Oncode Investigators. It furthermore enables the institute to provide a steppingstone for talented (future) junior group leaders, accelerating their career through access to Oncode Institute’s support, tools, and broader research community.

Owing to the successes achieved via the collaborative fundraising efforts of the KWF -Oncode Institute Major Donor program, funding was secured for the appointment of 10 talented scientists as Junior Oncode Investigators per January 1, 2024. The candidates are embedded across 10 research institutes, including a new partner institute, AMOLF, expanding Oncode Institute’s base of affiliated institutes to 13.

Eligibility Criteria - Scientists and clinician-scientists with an independent research line relevant to Oncode Institute’s mission, within 10 years of their PhD defense (with a possible extension related to parental leave, care leave, illness, and/or clinical training), and an independent research position of at least 0.6 FTE at a Dutch research institute no later than July 2024, were considered eligible. Candidates could apply for a Junior Oncode Investigator position through submission of a completed application form, including their motivation, research plan, and narrative CV, plus 2 letters of recommendation.

Selection Process - Selection of candidates was based on 1) scientific excellence, and 2) potential to positively impact Oncode Institute’s goals in relation to its 3 pillars: Science, Collaboration and Valorization, also taking into consideration the career stage of the candidate. The selection process was designed with the support of an Equality, Diversity & Inclusion expert. The entire recruitment process was supervised by Oncode Institute’s Supervisory Board. A Selection Panel was installed, comprised of Oncode Institute’s Research Management Commission plus 5 additional Oncode Investigators chaired by a member of Oncode’s International Advisory Board (IAB). Following confirmation of eligibility, the Selection Panel created a list of candidates who were then reviewed by the IAB and additional valorization experts. Based on the IAB and valorization expert advice, the Selection Panel established a shortlist of candidates who were invited for interview with the Selection Panel. Based on the interviews, the Selection Panel delivered their advice to Oncode’s Managing Board (MB), for final decision on candidate selection by the MB.

Oncode Institute is excited to welcome the following talents:

• Kristina Ganzinger – AMOLF
• Joep Grootjans – Amsterdam UMC
• Maike Hansen – Radboud University
• Sebastiaan van Heesch – Princess Máxima Center
• Geert Litjens – Radboudumc
• Sebastian Pomplun – Leiden University
• Maria Rodriguez Colman – UMC Utrecht
• Danny Sahtoe – Hubrecht Institute
• Nitika Taneja – Erasmus MC
• Daniela Thommen – Netherlands Cancer Institute

Oncode Institute promotes the research and innovation potential of its research community by providing Oncode Investigators with funding for fundamental oncology research. Oncode Investigators are trusted to invest these so-called Base Funds to explore high-potential hypotheses without the requirement to undergo a lengthy project application procedure. The Base Funds therefore provide freedom-to-explore, and allow investigators to rapidly venture in entirely new or less traveled directions. This approach provides Oncode Investigators with the financial flexibility as well as agility towards acceleration of both ongoing research and the initiation of new research lines and collaborations.

In 2023, the Oncode Research Community collectively published 350 unique peer-reviewed publications. Of these, of which 52% are publications with an Oncode Investigator listed as last and/or corresponding author. Appreciation of the quality and relevance of the science conducted by the Oncode Investigators and their research teams is reflected in the frequency with which their work is cited by scientists in the global scientific community. This citation impact can be measured through various indicators. 

To gain insight into the scientific excellence of the investigators affiliated with the institute, Oncode Institute collaborates with the Centre for Science and Technology Studies (CWTS) of Leiden University to conduct a bibliometric citation impact analysis. Key indicators assessed in this analysis are highlighted below, demonstrating the high-level global appreciation of the quality of science produced by the Oncode Investigators.
 
The Mean Normalized Citation Score (MNCS) is a field-normalized citation score for all publications compared to the worldwide average for publications, which is normalized at 1,0. For the period 2019-2022, Oncode Institute affiliated publications represented an MNCS value of 2,06, indicating that the work was cited more then 2 times the worldwide average citation rates in the relevant fields.

Citation impact is also measured through the percentage of highly cited publications – the CWTS PP(top10%) index. This is the percentage of publications that are among the top-10 percent of the citation distribution for similar publications belonging to the same fields. For the period of 2019-2022, the Oncode Institute-affiliated publications represented a PP(top10%) of 25%.

Oncode Institute’s Base Funds enable Oncode Investigators to initiate new research lines and gather preliminary data on promising new hypotheses. The initiation of such new research lines and generated data can spark successful national and international grant applications.

In 2023, Oncode Investigators and their teams successfully secured 88 research grants and (inter)national recognition through personal awards and membership invitations, with a total value of €35 million funding secured to further advance their research. 

Notable examples of successful grant application outcomes and recognition through personal awards include:
•    ERC Synergy Grant – Akkari (NKI)
•    ERC Consolidator Grants – Schneider (Erasmus MC), de Ridder and Snippert (both UMC Utrecht)
•    ZonMw multidisciplinary consortia – Hoeijmakers (Princess Máxima Center)
•    Ammodo Science Award – Hugo Snippert (UMC Utrecht)
•    Horizon 2020 Network – Derks (Amsterdam UMC -VUmc), Wolkers (Sanquin)
•    Elected EMBO Membership – Perrakis (NKI)