Research — Roch-Philippe Charles

A Year of Change

2025 marked an exciting period of transformation for our organization, highlighted by a significant change in name. This step enabled immediate recognition of our network’s purpose and clearer communication of our vision and mission to external stakeholders, particularly when introducing our organization for the first time.

This shift was more than a cosmetic update: it represented the final step in the transformation of our approach to both scientific strategy and organizational development. Our new identity is closely linked to a renewed sense of purpose and strategic direction.

Strategic Approach: Putting Group Priorities First

Over the past three years, we have actively encouraged each research group within our organization to develop its own tailored strategy. In contrast to many organizations in the cancer research field that tend to define their direction by pursuing readily achievable goals or following major trends—often resulting in a top-down strategic approach—we deliberately chose to engage directly with each group.

Our objective was to identify medical needs emerging directly from everyday clinical practice. By fostering open dialogue and collaboration with the clinical community within our network, we were able to establish clear priorities for each indication.

This ongoing process has focused our efforts on developing innovative ideas and clinical trials that address genuine and urgent patient needs while filling important gaps in treatment and care.

Over time, this approach has created an environment in which the priorities of our clinical community genuinely guide innovation. By empowering research groups to share their insights and experience, we have laid the foundation for a strategic framework that is both inclusive and highly relevant to real-world challenges.

This methodology has proven highly valuable, ensuring that our research and development initiatives remain responsive and impactful.

Collaborative Partnerships: Strategy-to-Strategy Alignment

This clearly defined approach has enabled us to engage effectively with partners to support the initiation of new projects. Through what we call “Strategy-to-Strategy” discussions, we have established a structured framework for identifying areas of common interest between our organization and our partners.

Whether collaborating with foundations, funding organizations, or pharmaceutical companies, this process has facilitated meaningful partnerships. These efforts have been instrumental in finalizing financing plans for numerous clinical trials, leading to the activation of 14 new trials this year, with many more expected in the coming year.

The success of these collaborations highlights the mutual value of aligning strategic objectives and co-developing solutions, strengthening our position as a leader in clinical innovation.

We will continue to build on our strong community of oncology leaders, represented by the presidents of our research groups who regularly convene in the newly established Presidents’ Meeting. This forum enables leaders to exchange experience, learn from one another and transfer insights gained in one indication to others.

Our organization thrives on this strong sense of community and on the willingness to push boundaries by overcoming the silos created by increasing hyperspecialisation, which might otherwise limit opportunities for innovation.

Milestones and Ecosystem Engagement

The clarity achieved within our scientific groups represents an important milestone and will serve as a foundation for the continued development of our organization.

During the past year, we have also devoted significant effort to strengthening our understanding of the broader ecosystem in which we operate. A notable highlight was our visible presence at the Swiss Biotech Days in Basel in spring, an event that provided valuable opportunities for networking, knowledge exchange and identifying new areas for collaboration.

In addition, we revitalized our Industry Pool Meeting in the summer by introducing more interactive formats and new opportunities for dialogue. These initiatives enabled Medical Affairs teams from pharmaceutical companies operating in Switzerland to connect with us directly, fostering open communication, exploring future collaboration models and identifying shared areas of interest.

Outlook: Driving Innovation Forward

Overall, 2025 was a pivotal year that positioned our organization at the forefront of innovation and strengthened our ability to deliver progress for patients at an accelerated pace in the years ahead.

The achievements of this year reflect not only our commitment to scientific excellence and collaborative partnership but also provide a strong foundation for continued growth and impact.

Looking ahead, we remain committed to building on these accomplishments, pushing the boundaries of medical research and advancing innovative solutions that benefit both patients and the broader healthcare community.

Research: Roch-Philippe Charles, Chief Scientific Officer