Cancer Systems Pharmacology

The overall aim of the Cancer Systems Pharmacology group’s research is to identify optimized therapeutic strategies for treating complex diseases, primarily cancer. Our approach integrates fundamental research to uncover the mechanisms of action of optimized drug combinations, employing a bedside-to-bench-and-back framework to personalize therapies within a clinically relevant timeframe. These findings may reveal novel signaling pathways, resistance mechanisms, and open new avenues for drug discovery..

The mainstays of our ongoing research include:

Personalized optimization of multidrug combinations
Identification of novel therapeutic targets
Patient-derived 3D in vitro models
Cell fate regulation mechanisms
Overcoming acquired resistance to targeted therapies
Alternatives to mammalian screening models

We work in close collaboration with clinicians, engineers, biologists, and medical oncologists to conduct clinically relevant translational research. Our goal is to enhance cancer treatment efficacy, minimize side effects, and reduce the likelihood of acquired drug resistance.

Our ultimate goal is to develop personalized synergistic combination therapies to the dynamically changing tumor response.

Recent news

Prof. Patrycja Nowak-Sliwinska in a live interview in Radio Television Swiss: [https://www.rts.ch/audio-podcast/2025/audio/le-prix-3r-de-l-unige-va-a-la-recherche-de-therapies-contre-le-cancer-du-rein-28909155.html]
Cindy Schelker defends he PhD thesis on 13 June 2025!
Prof. Patrycja Nowak-Sliwinska and Dr. Daniel Benamran are recipients of the 2025 University of Geneva 3R Prize! They share this recognition with all the authors of the award-winning study: Jakub Gubala, Velentin Mieville, Massimo Valerio, and Jean-Christoph Tille.
Welcome to Myra Castel, Zoe Carras and Ilayda Turan who join our lab as of 1 June!
Molecular Pharmacology Group becomes CANCER SYSTEMS PHARMACOLOGY GROUP
Dr. George Ramzy and Dr. Isabel Meister in the Radio Television Swiss interview concerning our later research:[https://www.rts.ch/audio-podcast/2025/audio/cancer-du-colon-quand-les-lipides-peuvent-predire-l-efficacite-des-traitements-28805281.html]
Welcome to Muriel Urwyler (Laboratory Assistant) and Janneke Duis (external master student)
Press resease concerning our article : https://www.unige.ch/medias/2025/cancer-du-colon-les-lipides-peuvent-predire-lefficacite-des-traitements
Jakub Gubala awarded with the Best Poster Prize at the during the Annual LS2 Meeting, Fribourg, Switzerland
Sacha Jacobs selected for a short oral presentation during the Annual LS2 Meeting, Fribourg, Switzerland
Our lab featured at the Swiss TV news : https://www.rts.ch/play/tv/19h30/video/les-organodes-pourraient-bien-revolutionner-le-traitement-contre-les-cancers?urn=urn:rts:video:14554517