Scientific research

Cum Cura VZW attaches great importance to scientific research,
both in Belgium and internationally.

We actively participate in Belgian and international studies that offer real added value for people with sarcoma, desmoid, or giant cell tumors. These studies cover, among other things:

innovative treatment methods

improvement of quality of life

shared decision-making between patient and doctor, …

For the implementation of these research projects, especially at Belgian universities, sufficient funding is essential. That’s why we collect donations to make promising projects possible.

Curious about the clinical studies currently underway on sarcoma, desmoid, and giant cell tumors? Use the search field below to explore the ongoing research studies.

Deelname onderzoeksprojecten

COMPASS voor Sarcoma

Complete Omics Profiling for Precision Treatment and Diagnosis in Sarcoma

This 3-year project aims to improve the genetic diagnostics of sarcomas by replacing traditional tests with high-tech profiling of the genome, gene, and protein expression (“omics analysis”) of sarcomas. Advanced computational methods are used to translate the results into concrete diagnoses and treatment options. This approach will remove bottlenecks, identify biomarkers, improve care for sarcoma patients, and serve as a model for the diagnosis of other cancer types in the future.

Project start: January 2026

The consortium consists of:

  • VIB
    Jonas Demeulemeester (coordinator en VIB-KU Leuven), Bart Ghesqière (VIB Metabolomics Core), Frederik Coppens (VIB.AI)
  • KU Leuven / UZ Leuven
    Isabelle Vanden Bempt – Lukas Marcelis / Raf Sciot – Luna De Sutter / Daphne Hompes – Pavlo Lutsik – Agnieszka Wozniak / Patrick Schöffski
  • Cum Cura vzw

Copingstijlen bij patiënten en naasten voor Sarcoma

What coping styles are used by patients with suspected sarcoma and their loved ones, and how can healthcare respond to these needs?

It is known that patients who are suspected of having cancer experience stress and anxiety, which reduces their quality of life. How a patient and/or their loved one deals with stress and anxiety during this phase depends on their coping style.

Sarcomas are a rare and aggressive type of cancer. Only 1% of all adult cancer patients are diagnosed with a sarcoma. Patients suspected of having a bone sarcoma often experience pain, and their quality of life is generally lower than that of the general population—partly due to the pain. Little is known about which coping styles are used by these patients and their loved ones, or how the experience of pain influences their coping style.

This 2-year project investigates which coping styles are used by patients with suspected sarcoma and their loved ones. It also examines whether pain affects coping strategies, what kind of support is needed during the diagnostic phase, and who is best placed to provide that support (healthcare professionals, family, social network, or patient associations).

Project start: January 2025

The consortium consists of:

  • UZ Gent
    Desirée Dorleijn / Gwen Sys – An Lievrouw / Anneleen Raes / Nathalie Vandecasteele – Rebecca den Haese
  • Open University of the Netherlands
    Emelien Lauwerier
  • Cum Cura vzw

De laatste nieuwsberichten rond onderzoeksresultaten 

Doctoraat Sarcoma – Suzanne Fischer

PhD on Sarcoma – Suzanne Fischer

by | Jun 3, 2025 |

On June 3, Suzanne Fischer defended her PhD at Ghent University, titled: “From biopsy to the bench and back: exploration of patient-derived tumour models and EV proteomic profiles to support therapeutic decision making for sarcoma patients.”
“From biopsy to the bench and back: exploration of patient-derived tumour models and EV proteomic profiles to support therapeutic decision making for sarcoma patients.”

Search page

Onderzoeksresultaten met medewerking van Cum Cura VZW

 

 This section is under development. More information will follow soon.

 

Financial Support 

UGent – Fundraising Platform for Sarcoma

Sarcoma is a rare type of locally aggressive and malignant bone or soft tissue tumor. VZW Cum Cura supports scientific research, including at UGent.

How can you support sarcoma research through UGent?
You can make a donation online via this link or by bank transfer. For bank transfers, please use the account number BE26 3900 9658 0329, with the reference: Cum Cura VZW – sarcoma research..

Do you have questions or comments regarding your donation?
Contact the UGent University Fund at universiteitsfonds@ugent.be or call +32 (0)9 264 33 77.

Which ongoing sarcoma research at UGent is supported by your donation?

  • The development of “models” to simulate sarcoma in the lab, where treatments are tested on lab animals to see which are effective and which are not. This provides more insights into sarcoma behavior and possible new treatments. Examples include cell cultures (where we try to grow cells from tumors in the lab and directly test treatments on these cells), or lab animals (where patient tumors are implanted in mice, which are then treated with chemotherapy). More info about this project can be found here: https://www.scicomm-clips.eu/nl/hoe-winnen-we-de-strijd-tegen-zeldzame-kankers-zoals-sarcoma
  • Patient data from recent years are being studied to understand how sarcoma behaves. A large database is maintained with patients treated at UZ Gent.This database enables research to map risk factors, chances of recurrence, how a specific tumor behaves, and more.
  • Maintaining a large biobank with tumor samples from patients operated on at UZ Gent. This biobank contains hundreds of sarcoma samples, a huge treasure trove of information for researchers investigating specific subtypes. (https://www.uzgent.be/patient/zoek-een-arts-of-dienst/biobank/collecties-van-de-biobank#sarcoma )
  • Research on surgeries performed on sarcoma patients, including a project developing a customized guide (“mold”) that can be placed on the patient’s bone to enable precise tumor removal. This mold is tailored to the patient to ensure the bone is cut at the right place and no tumor remains.
  • Research on lipomas treated at UZ Gent to determine which patients have a higher risk of metastases or local recurrence.
  • Determining which psychosocial support patients newly diagnosed with sarcoma need, depending on their coping mechanisms.

KU Leuven - Sarcoma

How can you support sarcoma research at KU Leuven? 
A donation can be made via:

  • the online donation page
  • the KU Leuven bank account number BE45 7340 1941 7789, BIC code KREDBEBB
    with the structured message: +++400/0028/04046+++
  • the QR code shown alongside

Do you have questions or comments regarding your donation?
Please contact the KU Leuven Fundraising Office at steun@kuleuven.be.

KU Leuven – Desmoid

How can you support desmoid tumor research at KU Leuven?
A donation can be made via:

  • the online donation page
  • the KU Leuven bank account number BE45 7340 1941 7789, BIC code KREDBEBB
    with the structured message: +++400/0028/04047+++
  • the QR code shown alongside

Do you have questions or comments regarding your donation?
Please contact the KU Leuven Fundraising Office at steun@kuleuven.be.

Which ongoing research on sarcoma and desmoid at KU Leuven is supported by your donation?

  • Still in development

As a Volunteer log in here.

Log in