Workshop “Modelling treatment response in PDAC”
Organizer
Venue
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Workshop “Modelling treatment response in PDAC”
Dear TRANSPANers,
We are pleased the announce that applications are open for the next COST workshop for early-stage researchers, Modelling treatment response in PDAC, which will be held in Madrid, Spain, Friday 30th May 2025 organized by Julie Earl and Bruno Sainz.
The workshop will include 12 early stage researchers with the support of 3-4 mentors.
This is a 1-day workshop with theoretical and practical training on different tumor models used to determine response to therapy in PDAC. There will be a brief introduction to different types of primary tumor modelling, with a discussion of ethical implications of the use of human samples and animal models in translational research.
The theoretical training will be complemented with 2 practical sessions where the early-stage researchers will design and defend a translational project to determine PDAC response to therapy and also constructively critique experimental design and execution of other projects with the same aim. This workshop aims to complement the participants’ current PhD or early postdoctoral training by offering a broader perspective on scientific research.
The goal is to help early researchers become more independent in their future careers and to appreciate how a scientific problem can be approached from multiple angles.
Please register via the link on or before the 16th of April 2025 including a brief CV and motivation letter of no more than 2 pages in PDF format.
We will inform applicants of their acceptance to the workshop by the 25th of April.
Best regards
Julie Earl and Bruno Sainz (workshop organizers)
🕘 The Program
🕘 Morning Session | 09:30 – 13:00
09:30 – 09:45 | Welcome to the Workshop
Introductory remarks and objectives
09:45 – 11:00 | Mentor Talks
(30 min talk + 15 min Q&A each)
• In vivo tumor models to predict response to therapy
Bruno Sainz, IRYCIS, Spain
• In vitro tumor models to predict response to therapy
Juan Carlos Gil López, CNIO, Spain
11:00 – 12:00 | ☕ Practical Session (in 2 groups) with coffee and light refreshments
Design and defend a project to assess therapy response in PDAC using:
• Group 1: In vivo tumor models
• Group 2: In vitro tumor models
12:00 – 13:00 | Group Presentations & Discussion
13:00 – 14:30 | 🍽️ Lunch at Queen Burger Gourmet
🕝 Afternoon Session | 14:30 – 18:00
14:30 – 16:00 | Mentor Talks
(25 min each + 15 min Q&A each)
• Genetic factors that predict response to therapy
Daniele Campa, University of Pisa, Italy
• The liquid biopsy as a marker of response to therapy
Julie Earl, IRYCIS, Spain
• Gene expression analysis as a marker of response to therapy
Elisa Espinet, IRB, Spain
16:00 – 17:00 | 🧠 Practical Session (in 3 groups)
Constructively critique experimental designs focused on:
• (1) Germline genetic analysis
• (2) Liquid biopsy-based approaches
• (3) RNA sequencing (RNA-seq) data
17:00 – 18:00 | Group Presentations & Final Discussion
🚇 Getting to Ramón y Cajal University Hospital / IRYCIS
From Madrid City Center via Metro (Line 10)
To reach the Ramón y Cajal University Hospital from central Madrid using public
transportation:
1. Board Metro Line 10 (dark blue line) at any of the following stations, depending on
your location:
Príncipe Pío, Plaza de España, Tribunal, or Gregorio Marañón.
2. Travel northbound in the direction of Hospital Infanta Sofía.
3. Disembark at Begoña Station.
4. Follow the signs for Hospital Ramón y Cajal and walk approximately 5 minutes.
5. Please meet at the hospital’s main entrance.
🧾 Metro Card Information
To use the Madrid Metro system, you will need a Tarjeta Multi, a rechargeable contactless
travel card.
How to Purchase:
• Available at all metro station ticket machines.
• Select “Buy a Multi Card” and follow the instructions.
Costs:
• Card: €2.50 (one-time purchase)
• Tickets:
o Single trip: €1.50–€2.00
o 10-trip ticket: €6.10
💡 Multiple passengers can share the same Tarjeta Multi.
🏨 Accommodation Options for Meeting Attendees
Hotels Near Hospital Ramón y Cajal
• Hotel Villamadrid (4★)
Hotel Villamadrid – Official Website – Best Price
• Chamartín The One Hotel
www.hotelchamartintheone.com
Hotels Near Madrid City Center
• Hotel H-A San Mateo Suites
Visit San Mateo Suites
• The Social Hub Madrid
Book at The Social Hub
Directions from Madrid-Barajas Airport to City Center
How to get from Madrid-Barajas Airport (Adolfo Suárez Madrid–Barajas) to the city center
using metro, Cercanías train, and taxi:
By Metro (Subway)
• Line: Take Metro Line 8 (pink line) from Aeropuerto T4 or Aeropuerto T1-T2-
T3.
• Direction: Nuevos Ministerios
• Journey time: Approx. 25–30 minutes
• Transfers: At Nuevos Ministerios, you can transfer to Line 10 or Line 6, depending on
your final destination in the city center.
• Ticket: Regular metro ticket + airport supplement.
Cost: Around €4.50–€5.00
By Cercanías (Suburban Train)
• Station: Cercanías station is located in Terminal 4 (T4).
• Line: Take Cercanías Line C1 or C10
• Stops: Connects to Chamartín, Nuevos Ministerios, Recoletos, and Atocha
(major city center stations).
• Journey time: To Atocha: Approx. 25 minutes
• Cost: Around €2.60
By Taxi
• Where: Taxi stands are available at the exits of all terminals (T1, T2, T3, and
T4).
• Fixed fare:
o €30 flat rate to the city center (inside the M-30 zone), luggage
included.
• Travel time: Approx. 20–30 minutes, depending on traffic.