GRASSHOPPER

Accelerating pediatric oncology through staff exchange and collaboration

Hop Forward: Secondment Updates & Opportunities

October 2025

We’re excited to share the latest on our secondment programme — the heart of how we connect research, industry, and the clinic to accelerate new treatments for childhood cancer.

What is GRASSHOPPER?

GRASSHOPPER is an international research consortium dedicated to accelerating innovative treatments for childhood cancer. The network brings together academic, clinical, and industry partners across Europe and beyond to drive collaboration and innovation.

The project is funded by the Horizon Europe / Marie Skłodowska-Curie Staff Exchange program (grant No. 101182922), supporting staff exchanges and joint activities that help turn groundbreaking research into better treatments for children.

Consortium Partners

Princess Máxima Center (NL), DKFZ–KiTZ (DE), Institut Curie (FR), Rigshospitalet (DK), Sant Joan de Déu (ES), NKUA (GR), Comenius University (SK), Marie S. Curie Hospital (RO), BKUS (LV), WUSCMC (UA), KHCC (JO), GOSH–UCL (UK), CCI (AU), IBRI (US), Sanofi (FR), Roche (CH), CCE, ITCC.

Why Secondments Matter

• Knowledge transfer and capacity building across academic, clinical, and industry settings
• Access to specialised labs, methods, and mentorship beyond the home institution

Scientific focus areas (Work Packages)

• 1. Immune interventions (WP3) – development and preclinical validation of immunological treatments.
• 2. Molecular interventions (WP4) – development of new targeted molecular therapies.
• 3. Drug repurposing (WP5) – adapting adult cancer drugs for pediatric use.
• 4. Clinical validation / trials (WP6) – clinical studies to bring promising therapies to patients.

What’s in it for you

• 🌍 Join an international network in paediatric oncology
• 🤝 Collaborate and go on exchange across leading institutions
• 💶 Receive a €2,300 monthly allowance on top of your salary to cover travel, accommodation, and subsistence

What’s New: Calls & Matching

Round 3 for 2025–2026 secondments is now open. Explore available opportunities and submit your Expression of Interest by 31 December 2025.

There are still 18 calls available to be filled. If your desired secondment is not listed, please contact [email protected] so we can explore possibilities together.

Spotlight Stories

	Antonio Colaprico This fall, Antonio will move from Institut Curie (Paris) to KiTZ (Heidelberg) for a two-month GRASSHOPPER secondment focused on neuroblastoma, one of the most aggressive childhood cancers. By exploring the epigenetic and immunological landscape of this disease through computational biology, Antonio aims to help accelerate smarter and more precise cancer research. His work embodies the GRASSHOPPER mission: turning data-driven discoveries into life-saving impact.
	Zuzana Šestáková Zuzana is driven by a powerful vision: ensuring that every child, parent, and oncologist can quickly access precise diagnostic information. Through a six-month GRASSHOPPER secondment at the Princess Máxima Center in Utrecht, she will gain hands-on experience with advanced molecular techniques like nanopore and RNA sequencing. Her goal is to bring this expertise back home and help build a modern diagnostic hub where rapid, data-driven testing can directly impact children’s lives.

Upcoming Events & Training

• • Masterclasses on immunotherapies, targeted therapies, and trial methodology
• 5 November 2025 – Prof. Martin Eilers (University of Würzburg, Germany).
• 19 November 2025 – Prof. Dr. Andreas Trumpp (DKFZ, Germany).
• 10 December 2025 – Julie Park, MD (St. Jude, USA).

GRASSHOPPER • Princess Máxima Center, Utrecht, NL

Website: grasshopperconsortium.com • Contact: [email protected]