2026 winners
Junior Research Grant
Martina Sarchi, University of Pavia, Italy
Topic: ExIT-SF3B1: cell Extrinsic and Intrinsic mis-splicing-induced mechanisms and Therapeutic targets in SF3B1-mutant myelodysplastic neoplasms
Petr Danek, Institute of Organic Chemistry and Biochemistry of the CAS, Czechia
Topic: Chemically altered undigestible DNA: the driver of adverse effects associated with Busulfan/Cyclophosphamide treatment
Noémie Jollive, EFS INSERM U1255, France
Topic: Mechanobiology of the Blood-Bone Marrow Barrier after Pre-Transplant Conditioning and Its Role in HSPC Homing
Paula Rodriguez Marques, Amsterdam University Medical Center, the Netherlands
Topic: CAR-T Associated hematotoxicity: Resolving Mechanisms to reveal therapeutic Approaches
Advanced Research Grant
Alyssa Cull, University of York, United Kingdom
Topic: Fanning the Flames: Characterising the Role of Macrophages in Blood Cancer Development
Franziska Auer, Technical University Munich, University Hospital, Germany
Topic: Determinants of Leukemia Predisposition and Therapy Resistance in PAX5-Driven B-ALL
Marlies Vanden Bempt, KU Leuven, Belgium
Topic: EZH2 mutations in clonal hematopoiesis and ETP-like ALL: a common mechanism?
Physician Scientist Research Grant
Nikolett Wohner, Semmelweis University, Hungary
Topic: Neutrophil Extracellular Traps: Basic Mechanisms and Clinical Implications
Etienne Crickx, Henri Mondor Hospital, France
Topic: Exploring humoral responses in delayed hemolytic transfusion reactions
Federica Barzaghi, IRCCS Ospedale San Raffaele, Italy
Topic: Elucidating the mechanism of bone marrow failure in adenosine deaminase 2 deficiency
Juan Jose Rodriguez Sevilla, Fundació de Recerca Clínic Barcelona-Institut d’Investigacions Biomèdiques August Pi i Sunyer (IDIBAPS), Spain
Topic: Decoding Multi-Lineage Evolutionary Trajectories in Lymphoma Patients under Adoptive Cell Therapies
Topics-in-Focus Junior Research Grant
Hemoglobinopathies
Oyindamola Adebayo, KU Leuven, Belgium
Topic: Elucidation of the underlying mechanism of Apolipoprotein L1-mediated sickle cell nephropathy
Precision Hematology
Manuel Mataix, Centro de Investigaciones Energéticas Medioambientales y Tecnológicas (CIEMAT) - Instituto de Investigación Sanitaria Fundación Jiménez Díaz (IIS-FJD), Spain
Topic: Novel non-viral delivery approaches for in vivo targeting of Fanconi anemia hematopoietic stem and progenitor cell
Bilateral Collaborative Grant
Miguel Ganuza, Queen Mary University of London, United Kingdom
Catherine Sawai, Bordeaux Institute of Oncology, France
Topic: m6A RNA methylation and METTL3 at the interface of inflammation and clonal hematopoiesis
Thomas Fox, University College London, United Kingdom
Roman Jerala, National Institute of Chemistry, Slovenia
Topic: Epitope editing coupled with a novel lipid nanoparticle platform to facilitate the generation of in vivo cell therapies.
Innovation Grant
Alessandro Casini, Geneva University Hospitals, Switzerland
Giancarlo Castaman, Azienda Ospedaliero-Universitaria Careggi Florence, Italy
Saskia Schols, Radboud University Medical Centre, the Netherlands
Tomas Simurda, Martin and University Hospital, Slovak Republic
Maartje van den Biggelaar, Amsterdam University Medical Center, the Netherlands
Topic: Multi-omics in hereditary fibrinogen disorders: bridging the genotype-phenotype gap
Hind Medyouf, RWTH University Hospital Aachen, Germany
Alessandra Giorgetti, IDIBELL, Spain
Ester Mejstrikova, Charles University, Czechia
Marcelo Szymanski de Toledo, RWTH University Hospital Aachen, Germany
Riccardo Masetti, IRCCS Azienda Ospedaliero-Universitaria di Bologna, Italy
Topic: GErmline Mutations and Interactions in the Niche of Inherited GATA2 predisposition syndrome (GEMINI)
Research Mobility Grant
Aimilia Vareli, Brighton and Sussex Medical School, United Kingdom
Topic: Disentangling NF-κΒ and BCL2 in Diffuse Large B-cell Lymphoma
Federica Bruno, Imperial College London, United Kingdom
Topic: Understanding long term effects of strong inflammation on HSCs
Martina Failla, University of Milano-Bicocca, Italy
Topic: Fructose-induced Metabolic Vulnerabilities in Bone Marrow and Extramedullary Disease in IDH2-Mutant Acute Myeloid Leukemia
Martina Mia Mitic, Institute of Molecular Genetics and Genetic Engineering, University of Belgrade, Serbia
Topic: Synthesis and characterization of recombinant STAB2 protein variants associated with venous thromboembolism
Ivan Ferrari, Humanitas University, Italy
Topic: Functional validation of clonal evolution patterns in myelodysplastic syndromes using bone marrow organoid models
Matus Kolarik, Second faculty of Medicine, Charles University, Czechia
Topic: Chaperone mediated autophagy as a potential regulator of redox defense in ALL
Tamás Jónás Laufer, University College London, United Kingdom
Topic: CRISISS – Optimization of a CRISPR‑based Inducible Safety Switch for Cell and Gene Therapies
Mandy Raum, Institute of Cell Biology and Immunology Thurgau (BITG), Switzerland
Topic: In vivo erythropoiesis in the WHIM mouse model
