22. 9. 2026

Tackling drug resistance in cancer treatment: SEED4EU+ TACKLE workshop held at the University of Milan

The Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences of the University of Milan hosted on 15 September the 2nd TACKLE Workshop – New Strategies in Cancer Therapy and Drug Resistance, organised within the SEED4EU+ TACKLE project.

Coordinated by Prof. Carlo Matera (University of Milan), TACKLE brings together a multidisciplinary team of researchers from the University of Milan, Charles University and the University of Warsaw, with the aim of generating preliminary proof-of-concept data and laying the foundation for future therapeutic strategies in the personalised treatment of resistant cancers. The project explores novel targeted protein degradation strategies against aldo-keto reductases (AKRs), enzymes involved in mechanisms of anticancer drug resistance. Among these, AKR1B10 is of particular interest because it is overexpressed in several types of cancer and plays a primary role in the resistance to anticancer drugs such as anthracyclines, making it a potential target for strategies aimed at overcoming this problem.

As part of the 4EU+ Alliance’s projects carried out within the framework of the Interdisciplinary thematic area Flagship 1 – Urban Health and Demographic Change, TACKLE aims to foster long-term collaboration among the partner universities by paving the way for future studies on drug resistance in cancer treatment, including training of early-career researchers through hands-on experiences in a multidisciplinary research environment.

The workshop held in September at the University of Milan allowed participants to discuss the project progress and integrate expertise in computational biology, medicinal chemistry, and experimental biology, while also broadening the discussion to other innovative approaches in cancer research. It represented a valuable opportunity to take stock of the initial results, define the next steps and explore new possibilities for scientific collaboration.

“ TACKLE has allowed us to bring together complementary expertise and to move from the initial concept of targeting AKR1B10 through protein degradation to the design and synthesis of a first candidate. The workshop was a useful opportunity to review the progress made so far, discuss the next steps, and exchange ideas with colleagues working on related anticancer approaches.

— Carlo Matera, University of Milan

“ Within TACKLE, computational modelling has helped us compare different AKR1B10 binders, attachment points and PROTAC designs before synthesis. The workshop was particularly useful to discuss these predictions together with the chemical and biological perspectives, and to identify the questions that will be most important to address in the next phase of the project.

— Sebastian Kmiecik, University of Warsaw

“ TACKLE gives us the opportunity to explore whether targeted protein degradation can be applied to AKR1B10 in the context of anticancer drug resistance. The workshop brought the different parts of the project together and helped us discuss how the new compounds can now be evaluated from the biochemical and cellular point of view.

— Vladimír Wsól, Charles University

About SEED4EU+

SEED4EU+ is an initiative launched by the 4EU+ European University Alliance to support out-of-the-box collaborative projects that advance the Alliance’s mission of building One Comprehensive Research-Intensive European University. TACKLE is one of the projects selected in the third edition of the initiative (a.y. 2025/26). The 2026/27 edition of the call is now open until 13 October 2026.