IGTP coordinates a new European COST Action on neurofibromatosis and schwannomatosis
The Hereditary Cancer group at the Germans Trias i Pujol Research Institute (IGTP), led by researcher Eduard Serra, will coordinate a new COST Action funded by the European Union. The initiative, entitled Interdisciplinary Approach for Clinical, Translational and Basic Challenges in NeuroFibromatosis and Schwannomatosis (INTERACT-NF), will bring together professionals from across Europe to foster collaboration in the study of neurofibromatosis and schwannomatosis, two rare genetic disorders associated with the development of tumours of the nervous system.
COST Actions are international research networks promoted by the European Cooperation in Science and Technology (COST) organisation and funded by the European Union. Their aim is to encourage collaboration among researchers, clinicians, companies, patient organisations and other stakeholders working within the same scientific field. In the 2025 call, only 7.3% of submitted proposals were selected. INTERACT-NF was one of the successful proposals and received the highest possible score in the evaluation process. It was developed jointly by Dr Laura Fertitta (Institut Mondor de Recherche Biomédicale, France), Dr Magdalena Koczkowska (Medical University of Gdańsk, Poland) and Dr Eduard Serra (IGTP), who acted as coordinator, and received the support of all participating researchers.
The network initially comprises 68 researchers from 13 European countries and brings together experts in clinical, translational and basic research, as well as patient organisations. Its mission is to address, in a coordinated manner, the main challenges associated with neurofibromatosis type 1 (NF1) and schwannomatosis (SWN), conditions characterised by considerable clinical variability and which may lead to the development of benign and malignant tumours of the nervous system.
The objectives of the COST Action include harmonising data and sample collection across Europe, reducing existing inequalities in research and innovation in this field, promoting a multidisciplinary approach to the most complex clinical manifestations associated with these conditions, and strengthening basic and translational research capacities. The project also aims to consolidate a strong research community, advance a shared scientific agenda and increase the visibility of studies on these conditions.
INTERACT-NF is the largest European initiative launched to date in the field of NF1-SWN in terms of both the number of participating countries and the diversity of disciplines represented. The network includes researchers from Austria, Belgium, Czechia, France, Germany, Greece, the Netherlands, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Serbia, Spain and Türkiye.
"Neurofibromatosis and schwannomatosis present scientific and clinical challenges that can only be effectively addressed through collaboration. INTERACT-NF provides us with an opportunity to connect experts from different disciplines and countries to advance our understanding of these conditions", says Eduard Serra, head of the Hereditary Cancer group at IGTP and coordinator of the initiative.
The Can Ruti Campus is home to one of the strongest hubs of clinical and research activity in neurofibromatosis and schwannomatosis in Europe. On the clinical side, it hosts the CSUR for Phacomatoses, coordinated by Dr Ignacio Blanco, which provides multidisciplinary care for patients and serves as a national reference centre in Spain. In addition, IGTP has three research groups dedicated to these conditions: the Clinical Genomics Unit, led by Dr Elisabeth Castellanos and Dr Ignacio Blanco; the Translational Cancer Genomics and Bioinformatics group, led by Dr Bernat Gel; and the Hereditary Cancer group.
The award of INTERACT-NF, with IGTP as the lead institution behind the proposal, further strengthens the institute's position as a reference centre in rare disease research and in the coordination of European scientific networks. This COST Action adds to the more than 350 active projects in which IGTP is currently involved, both nationally and internationally, aimed at addressing health challenges and improving people's quality of life.
The network will officially begin its activities between September and November 2026, with the first Management Committee meeting, and will run for the next four years. The newly approved COST Actions, including their respective Memoranda of Understanding, are already available on the COST website, and interested researchers may apply to join the networks.
The institutions participating in the network include: Medical University of Vienna, Medical University of Innsbruck [Institut für Humangenetik], VIB-KU Leuven Center for Cancer Biology, KU Leuven, Katholieke Universiteit Leuven, University Hospitals Leuven, University Hospital Brno, Henri Mondor Hospital, Assistance Publique Hopitaux De Paris, Institut Cochin, Université Paris Cité, Bundesverband Neurofibromatose, University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf, Sana Kliniken Duisburg, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, Panhellenic Assocation patients and friends of patients with Neurofibromatosis 'Life with NF', NF Patients United, Erasmus MC, Medical University of GdaEsk, Medical University of Warsaw, Medical University of GdaEsk, Gdanski Uniwersytet Medyczny, Stowarzyszenie Neurofibromatozy Polska, Instituto Portugues De Oncologia De Lisboa Francisco Gentil Epe, Prof. Dr. Alexandru Obregia Clinical Hospital of Psychiatry, Institute for Mother and Chuld Healthcare of Serbia, Germans Trias i Pujol Research Institute, Associació Catalana de les Neurofibromatosis, Bellvitge Biomedical Research Institute, Hacettepe Universitesi.