In its Annual Report 2025, published today, Oncode Institute shows how excellent fundamental cancer research, collaboration and valorisation together drive impact for patients, future-proof healthcare and the economy.
The number of people living with cancer continues to rise, pressure on healthcare systems is increasing, and the need for effective, affordable and appropriate diagnostics and treatments is growing. At the same time, the Netherlands is home to world-class cancer research. The challenge is to translate that knowledge faster and more effectively into innovations that contribute to better patient outcomes and future-proof oncology care. In 2025, Oncode Institute played a connecting and accelerating role in this process. By linking excellent fundamental research to collaboration and valorisation, the institute helps advance scientific discoveries towards diagnostics, treatments and applications that create value for patients and contribute to a future-proof oncology system.
From knowledge to better care
In the Netherlands, promising discoveries still too often remain stuck in the phase between research and application. It is precisely at this stage that continuity, expertise, collaboration and funding are essential. Oncode Institute brings together researchers, clinicians, patients, companies, investors and public partners, ensuring that new knowledge does not remain on the shelf.
In 2025, this approach led to concrete results. Four new innovations entered the clinical development phase. Since the founding of Oncode Institute, a total of 26 innovations have progressed towards clinical development, of which 22 remain actively in development. This progress builds on a strong scientific foundation: Oncode Investigators published more than 400 scientific papers and secured over €45 million in external grants and funding.
The innovation pipeline also continued to grow. In 2025, this resulted in 27 inventions and 26 new patent applications. By the end of 2025, 38% of the active innovation portfolio had advanced into further development through licensing or partnerships. Innovation is not an end in itself. It is about carefully advancing insights that can contribute to better diagnostics, more targeted treatments and greater value for patients and society.
“Publicly funded research only reaches its full societal value when scientific insights are carried forward towards patients and society. That requires more than excellent science alone. It requires collaboration, further development, entrepreneurship and sustained investment. In 2025, we showed that Oncode Institute can help bridge that gap.”
Impact on health, knowledge and the economy
The Annual Report 2025 shows impact across three areas. For patients, further progress was made in 2025 towards clinical application. Four new innovations entered the clinical development phase. Through the Clinical Proof of Concept programme, Oncode Institute supports researchers and clinicians in testing promising insights early in clinical practice. In 2025, three new CPoC projects were awarded and two projects were completed. Patient representatives remained structurally involved in research design, priorities and clinical relevance.
Scientifically, Oncode Institute contributed to new insights in tumour biology, genome stability and immune interactions. One example is the PERICODE project, in which seven Oncode Institute research groups combine expertise in genomics, AI, biochemistry and clinical research to better understand how changes in the non-coding part of DNA can still drive cancer.
Economic impact also continued to grow. In 2025, Oncode Institute secured €22.5 million in private commitments. Through the Oncology Bridge Fund, two new spin-outs were supported, bringing the total portfolio to 14 spin-outs. Two portfolio companies together secured €13.5 million in follow-on investments. In addition, Oncology Bridge Fund II was launched together with Ligase BioPartners to support the further development of early-stage oncology innovations.
“Without fundamental research, there are no breakthroughs. Tomorrow’s treatments start with questions no one has answered yet. The strength of Oncode Institute lies in connecting curiosity-driven science with collaboration, shared expertise and valorisation. That is how we increase the chance that new insights will ultimately lead to meaningful impact for patients.”
Results call for continuity
The results of 2025 show that the Oncode model works. At the same time, they make clear that impact does not happen on its own. The path from discovery to application requires long-term commitment, targeted development and structural funding. Without that continuity, promising insights can still stall before reaching patients.
That is why broader investment is needed. Not only in fundamental research, but also in advancing discoveries towards patients and society. From 2028 onwards, Oncode Institute and KWF Kankerbestrijding are working towards a new phase for fundamental cancer research in the Netherlands. To unlock the full societal value of cancer research, they also call on government, public funds and societal partners to invest structurally.
With its Annual Report 2025, Oncode Institute shows that the Netherlands has a model that delivers results. The next step is to strengthen that model for the long term, so that more scientific insights can make a difference for people living with and beyond cancer.
