Breast cancer, ageing, translational research
Description: Hans Wildiers is a medical oncologist and physician-scientist dedicated to clinical and translational breast cancer research, with a passion for (breast) cancer in older persons. The current application embraces the following research topics: 1. The international APPALACHES trial is the first study directly comparing adjuvant chemotherapy followed by an aromatase inhibitor versus a CDK4/6 inhibitor plus aromatase inhibitor in older women with high risk, early stage luminal breast cancer. 2. GERONTE is a 5-year research and innovation project funded by the European Union (H2020) aiming to improve care and quality of life of older multimorbid patients with cancer. GERONTE is developing, testing, and preparing for implementation an innovative and cost-effective patient-centered holistic health management system. KU Leuven under the lead of Hans Wildiers is one of 10 European partners and leads Work Package 4 of the project, overseeing two randomized clinical trials aimed at demonstrating the benefits of the GERONTE intervention across several European healthcare systems. 3. The AURORA Aging Project is a substudy of the international AURORA study seeking to refine our understanding of breast cancer biology relative to patient age. 4. The Leuven Blood Biobank, initiated by Hans Wildiers, is the oldest and largest blood biobank at UZ/KULeuven, housing blood samples from over 10.000 newly diagnosed breast cancer patients. This extensive biobank enables research into specific subtypes such as lobular breast cancer. 5. UPTIDER is arguably the most advanced breast cancer post-mortem tissue donation program worldwide, offering significant potential for gaining fundamental insights that can transform clinical care. An aging sub-study will include the assessment of tumor, stroma and healthy tissue from young versus older individuals.
Funder: Vlaamse regering
Funding type: fellowship
Funder scheme: BOF - ZAP BOF mandates
Start date: 2025-10-01
End date: 2030-09-30
Investigator: Hans Wildiers
Institution: KULeuven
Funded outputs count: 0
Funder award ID: FKO/25/002
OpenAlex ID: G7758007639