How collaborative science is accelerating the discovery of next-generation cancer treatments through open-access research
Imagine if discovering new cancer treatments wasn't a solitary race among competing labs, but a collaborative treasure hunt where scientists across Europe shared their maps, tools, and discoveries. This is the vision behind EU-OPENSCREEN, Europe's open-access initiative that's accelerating the search for anti-cancer compounds through shared knowledge and resources 3 .
This innovative approach represents a significant shift in early drug discovery, particularly for challenging cancers where traditional methods have struggled 6 .
At its core, EU-OPENSCREEN functions as a European Research Infrastructure Consortium (ERIC), a legal framework that enables countries to collaborate on large-scale research facilities . Rather than operating from a single location, it's a distributed network of 30 partner institutions across eight European countries, each contributing specialized equipment and expertise 2 .
30 partner institutions across 8 European countries working together as a unified research infrastructure 2 .
Approximately 100,000 diverse compounds in the European Chemical Biology Library, carefully curated for drug discovery 4 .
Researchers propose biological assays targeting specific cancer mechanisms
Experts evaluate technical requirements and novelty
Approved projects access the extensive chemical libraries
Promising compounds undergo rigorous testing
Medicinal chemists improve the most effective compounds
Results enter an open-access database after a grace period 3
| Library Name | Number of Compounds | Special Characteristics |
|---|---|---|
| European Chemical Biology Library (ECBL) | ~100,000 | Diverse compounds selected by computational chemistry |
| Fragment Library (EFSL) | 1,056 | Smaller molecules for fragment-based screening |
| Bioactives Library | 2,464 | Compounds with known biological activities |
| Academic Compounds (EACL) | 5,280 | Compounds contributed by academic researchers 4 |
This collaborative model extends beyond simple resource sharing. As Dr. Bahne Stechmann, EU-OPENSCREEN Deputy Director, emphasizes, the initiative actively invites chemists to submit their compounds to the screening collection, creating a virtuous cycle where previously isolated chemical discoveries can be tested for novel bioactivities against a wide range of cancer targets 1 .
One compelling example of EU-OPENSCREEN's impact comes from a project focused on targeting cancers deficient in the pVHL tumor suppressor 3 . This protein plays a critical role in preventing tumor formation, and its absence or malfunction is associated with certain types of kidney cancer and other malignancies.
The research team designed a sophisticated screening strategy to identify compounds that would selectively kill pVHL-deficient cells while leaving normal cells unaffected—the holy grail of cancer treatment.
Researchers engineered two sets of identical cell lines—one with functional pVHL and another with deliberately silenced pVHL—creating a perfect controlled system for identifying selective compounds.
Both cell lines were exposed to thousands of compounds from EU-OPENSCREEN's collection in a process known as high-throughput screening.
After compound exposure, cell viability was measured using specialized assays that detected whether cells were alive, dead, or dying.
The screening revealed a novel lipodepsipeptide that showed remarkable selectivity for pVHL-deficient cells 3 .
Researchers discovered that the compound specifically induced apoptosis (programmed cell death) in the pVHL-deficient cells.
Data based on research findings 3
| Cell Type | pVHL Status | Viability Reduction |
|---|---|---|
| Renal carcinoma | Deficient | >80% |
| Renal epithelium | Functional | <15% |
| Modified line | Artificially silenced | >75% |
| Control line | Normal expression | <10% 3 |
| Property | Result | Significance |
|---|---|---|
| Selectivity index | >50 | Highly selective for target cells |
| Solubility | Good aqueous solubility | Favorable for drug development |
| Stability | Remained stable in solution | Suitable for further testing |
| Cytotoxicity | IC50 of 0.8 μM | Potent biological activity 3 |
This project exemplifies the power of EU-OPENSCREEN's approach. By providing access to diverse compound collections and screening expertise, the initiative enabled the discovery of a potential starting point for new targeted cancer therapies—particularly for cancers driven by pVHL deficiency.
Modern chemical biology relies on specialized tools and technologies to uncover nature's secrets. EU-OPENSCREEN provides researchers with access to a comprehensive suite of these resources, creating a powerful toolkit for anti-cancer drug discovery:
| Tool Category | Specific Examples | Function in Cancer Research |
|---|---|---|
| Compound Libraries | European Chemical Biology Library, Fragment Library | Sources of potential drug candidates for screening |
| Cell-based Assays | 2D cultures, 3D models, patient-derived cells | Models for testing compound effects in biologically relevant systems |
| Detection Technologies | High-content imaging, automated microscopy | Visualize compound effects on cancer cells |
| Analytical Platforms | Mass spectrometry, nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) | Determine compound structure and mechanism |
| Bioinformatics Tools | Chemical biology database, pattern recognition algorithms | Analyze screening data and identify promising compounds 2 3 |
Recent additions include chemoproteomics platforms that help researchers understand how compounds interact with proteins in cancer cells, and spatial MS-based omics that map the distribution of molecules within tissues 6 .
These advanced technologies provide increasingly sophisticated ways to study cancer biology and identify new therapeutic strategies as EU-OPENSCREEN continues to expand its technological portfolio.
As EU-OPENSCREEN continues to grow, its impact on cancer drug discovery is likely to increase. The research infrastructure is constantly expanding and refining its portfolio of technologies and expertise to keep pace with the rapidly evolving field of drug discovery 6 .
Through ongoing collaborations with academic chemists and the inclusion of natural products from marine and other environments, the chemical libraries continue to grow in both size and structural diversity 1 .
With over 4 million bioactivity data points collected in its open-access database, EU-OPENSCREEN is creating an invaluable resource for machine learning applications 2 .
Through regular training schools and workshops, EU-OPENSCREEN ensures that researchers across Europe can effectively utilize chemical biology tools in their fight against cancer 1 .
Compounds in Screening Collection
Partner Institutions
Bioactivity Data Points
European Countries
The power of this collaborative approach extends beyond any single discovery. As the 2025 update in SLAS Discovery notes, EU-OPENSCREEN enables scientists to "unlock the extraordinary potential of their research projects and translate them into novel, impactful and innovative applications" 6 . By working together, sharing both resources and knowledge, the European research community is building a more efficient and effective path toward the cancer treatments of tomorrow.
For patients awaiting new therapies, this collaborative approach represents hope—hope that by working together, scientists can find solutions to cancer's most challenging problems faster than ever before.