EURÊKA NEWS:
ARCHIMED is pleased to share the latest update from its philanthropic initiative, the EURÊKA Foundation.
ARCHIMED is pleased to share the latest update from its philanthropic initiative, the EURÊKA Foundation.
In 2025, EURÊKA launched a strategic partnership with the University of Tokyo and the Institut Pasteur du Japon to support PhD researchers working at the forefront of clinical translation. This initiative aims to accelerate the transformation of scientific discoveries into real-world medical applications, reinforcing EURÊKA’s core mission to advance medical innovation.
In January 2026, members of EURÊKA’s Scientific Committee, Dr. Florence Broussais and Pr. Colin Campbell, visited the University of Tokyo for the first time to meet the supported PhD researchers in person. The visit focused on in-depth scientific discussions, strategic mentoring, and career-oriented guidance at a critical stage of the researchers’ work.
Advancing Precision Oncology Through Data-Driven Research
One of the EURÊKA-supported PhD researchers is Kyohei Sano. He is pursuing his PhD at the University of Tokyo, where his work addresses therapeutic resistance in gastric cancer. In 2025, he received a Young Investigator Poster Award at the Annual Meeting of the Japanese Cancer Association.
His research focuses on building a multidimensional atlas that integrates histology, genomics, and single-cell spatial transcriptomics data from more than 150 patients. The goal is to enable more precise and individualized treatment strategies for gastric cancer.
Reflecting on his mentoring session with Florence, Kyohei commented: “The mentoring sessions gave me the opportunity to step back from day-to-day experimentation and reassess how my research could most effectively translate into future clinical impact.”
Developing Novel Immunotherapies for Dengue
The second EURÊKA-supported PhD researcher in Japan is Carmen Valeriano, a veterinarian and PhD candidate. She is conducting her PhD research at the Institut Pasteur du Japon, where she is developing a T-cell–based mRNA-LNP vaccine against dengue.
Her research aims not only to protect against infection but also to mitigate antibody-dependent enhancement—one of the most significant challenges in dengue vaccine development, which can exacerbate disease severity.
Following her mentoring session with Colin, Carmen shared: “Beyond funding, EURÊKA’s support includes mentoring and access to an international research network. These opportunities allow experienced researchers to critically evaluate my work and help strengthen its impact.”
Strengthening Mentorship and International Scientific Exchange
Reflecting on the visit, Scientific Committee members Florence Broussais and Colin Campbell emphasized that EURÊKA’s role extends well beyond financial support and plays an important part in advancing innovation in areas of unmet medical need. The on-site discussions highlighted the value of direct scientific exchange in helping PhD researchers sharpen their focus on clinical relevance while preparing for future careers in translational research.
This first visit marked an important milestone, reaffirming EURÊKA’s long-term commitment to supporting early-career scientists and advancing research where medical needs remain unmet.
About the EURÊKA Foundation
The EURÊKA Foundation was established in 2014 alongside ARCHIMED, with the mission of funding and supporting research and innovation in undertreated diseases, while assisting vulnerable people affected by health challenges. ARCHIMED supports EURÊKA by allocating 5% of the carried interest from all funds to finance charitable projects, medical research, and innovation.
To date, EURÊKA has supported 11 PhD research projects across oncology, infectious diseases, immunology, and other priority fields. The projects led by Kyohei Sano and Carmen Valeriano represent the 8th and 9th initiatives supported by the Foundation.
About the Scientific Committee
EURÊKA’s Scientific Committee is an international, multidisciplinary panel of nine experts spanning clinical medicine, academic research, public health, and biomedical innovation. Committee members volunteer their time to select projects, provide ongoing scientific review, and mentor supported PhD researchers.