EFFecT Strongly Represented at the 2026 Dutch Antisense Therapeutics Symposium (DATS)
June 11th, 2026
EFFecT was strongly represented at the 2026 Dutch Antisense Therapeutics Symposium (DATS), held in Utrecht on 11–12 June by four consortium partners (Frauke Coppieters, Rob Collin, Ronald Buijsen and Alejandro (Alex) Garanto), four doctoral candidates (János Farkas, Filippo Furlan, Rodanthi Voulgaraki and Jamie Hyde), and two associated partner representatives from DATS (Jeroen Bremer and Atze Bergsma).
EFFecT members made important contributions throughout the programme. Frauke Coppieters and Rob Collin delivered invited talks, János Farkas and Filippo Furlan presented posters, Jamie Hyde gave a 10-minute oral presentation and
Congratulations to Filippo Furlan, who won both the quiz night and the sponsor prize, and to Jamie Hyde, who received the award for Best Oral Presentation.
The symposium was a great opportunity to showcase EFFecT research, strengthen collaborations, and foster knowledge exchange within the antisense therapeutics community. Congratulations to everyone involved, and thank you to the DATS organisers for an excellent event.
EFFecT DC9 Maria Querol Canut Presents at Servier Seedpods Day
June 11th, 2026
A big congratulations to our DC9, Maria Querol Canut, on presenting her very first scientific poster and oral presentation as a PhD student at the 7th edition of Servier Seedpods Day titled "Understanding what is driving the differential biodistribution of ASO in the Central Nervious System"! 🎉
As a member of the event's organizing committee, Maria also contributed to the preparation of this annual meeting dedicated to PhD students and postdoctoral researchers, gaining valuable experience in project management and collaboration within the pharmaceutical industry.
Seedpods Day provided an excellent opportunity to present her research through both a poster and a 3-minute flash talk, while connecting with fellow researchers, attending inspiring keynote lectures, and exploring future career paths in science.
It was wonderful to see this important milestone in her doctoral journey, supported by two EFFecT Principal Investigators, Hélène Tran and Aurelie Goyenvalle. ⚡
EFFecT DC3 Víctor Manuel Barrios Álvarez Presents Research at the 18th International MPS Symposium
June 4-7th, 2026
From 4–7 June, our DC3, Víctor Manuel Barrios Álvarez, attended the 18th International Symposium on Mucopolysaccharidoses and Related Lysosomal Diseases in Florence, where he presented his oral talk, "Blocking Heparan Sulphate Biosynthesis Through an RNA-Based Substrate Reduction Strategy for MPS-IIIC."
The symposium brought together leading clinicians, researchers, and professionals in the MPS field, providing an excellent opportunity to discuss his work and build new scientific connections. A particularly meaningful aspect of the meeting was the opportunity to meet patients and their families, gaining valuable insight into the real-world impact of research and the importance of advancing therapies for rare diseases.
Congratulations to Víctor on representing EFFecT at this international meeting, and we wish him continued success in his PhD journey!
To see a short video of his presentation below and of this great experience click here.
EFFecT DC4 Elena Covato and DC5 Pilar Maestre Fernandez-Flores Present Their Research at the 1st Spanish Society of Myology (SEMIO) Workshop
May 18th, 2026
Our DC4, Elena Covato, and DC5, Pilar Maestre Fernandez-Flores, participated in the 1st SEMIO Workshop, organized by the Spanish Society of Myology (SEMIO), where they each presented a three-minute talk showcasing their research.
Elena presented "Design and Evaluation of ASOs for Rare Diseases Affecting Skeletal Muscle," while Pilar presented "Identifying ASO Protein Partners to Increase Their Therapeutic Index in Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy."
The workshop provided an excellent opportunity to exchange ideas with researchers working on muscle disorders, build new collaborations, and engage with the scientific community.
During their visit to Madrid, they also met fellow EFFecT members Laura Pons Renau, Filippo Furlan, and Víctor Manuel Barrios Álvarez, who are currently undertaking their secondment at Universidad Autónoma de Madrid, making the event an even more rewarding networking experience.
Congratulations to Elena and Pilar on representing EFFecT at this inspiring scientific meeting!
EFFecT DCs Filippo Furlan and Víctor Manuel Barrios Álvarez Undertake Secondment at UAM (Madrid)!
May, 2026
Our DCs, Filippo Furlan and Víctor Manuel Barrios Álvarez, are currently undertaking their secondment at Universidad Autónoma de Madrid (UAM), where they are gaining hands-on experience in advanced iPSC-derived hepatocyte and brain organoid technologies.
Hosted by Lourdes Ruiz Desviat and her team, Filippo and Víctor are receiving expert training with the guidance of Irene González Garnacho and Eva María Richard Rodríguez, while Laura Pons Renau (DC2) has provided invaluable support throughout their stay in the laboratory.
This secondment highlights the EFFecT network's commitment to collaborative learning, cross-disciplinary training, and equipping our doctoral candidates with cutting-edge skills in RNA-based therapeutics and disease modelling.
A big thank you to the entire UAM team for providing such an enriching training experience!
EFFecT DC11 Martina Cadeddu Inspires High School Students Through Science Communication
March 23th & April 27th, 2026
As part of an EFFecT outreach initiative, our DC11, Martina Cadeddu, led two interactive science communication sessions at St Bavo High School in Ghent, Belgium.
The workshops introduced students to the fundamentals of scientific poster design, focusing on how to communicate complex scientific ideas through clear, engaging, and accessible visual presentations. By combining practical examples with hands-on discussions, Martina encouraged students to think critically about scientific communication and the importance of adapting messages to different audiences.
Through initiatives like this, EFFecT is helping to bridge the gap between research and secondary education while inspiring the next generation of scientists and promoting scientific literacy.
EFFecT DC7 Jamie Hyde Co-Authors New Publication on an RNA-Based Therapeutic Approach for Polyglutamine Disorders
March, 2026
Congratulations to EFFecT researchers Gijs-Jan Scholten, DC7 Jamie Hyde, and Ronald Buijsen on the publication of their commentary in Molecular Therapy – Nucleic Acids.
The article discusses a novel chemically modified siRNA strategy targeting expanded CAG repeats, highlighting its potential as an RNA-based therapeutic approach for polyglutamine disorders, including Huntington's disease and several spinocerebellar ataxias. The commentary also explores how serinol nucleic acid (SNA) modifications could improve the stability, distribution, and selectivity of RNA therapeutics, while addressing important challenges such as target specificity and long-term safety.
This publication represents one of the first scientific outputs from the EFFecT network and reflects our shared mission to advance RNA-based therapeutics and train the next generation of researchers in the field.
Congratulations to the authors on this important achievement! Click here to be check it out.
EFFecT DC3 Víctor Manuel Barrios Álvarez Presents Research at the 22nd SPDM International Symposium
March 18-20th, 2026
From 18–20 March, our DC3, Víctor Manuel Barrios Álvarez, attended the 22nd International Symposium of the Portuguese Society for Metabolic Disorders (SPDM) in Coimbra, Portugal.
Víctor presented his poster, "Development of Antisense Oligonucleotide-Based Therapies for Lysosomal Storage Diseases," accompanied by an oral communication highlighting the foundations of his PhD project on rare inherited metabolic diseases, with a focus on mucopolysaccharidoses (MPS). He also shared the first mRNA-level results of his work toward reducing heparan sulfate synthesis.
Heartiest congratulations to Víctor on this achievement, and we look forward to following the progress of his research! 🎊
EFFecT DC4 Elena Covato Successfully Completes First Secondment at UCL!
January-March, 2026
Our DC4, Elena Covato, has successfully completed her first EFFecT secondment at the UCL Great Ormond Street Institute of Child Health (ICH), where she spent three months developing new expertise in oligonucleotide trafficking in muscle cells.
Hosted by Haiyan Zhou within the Genetics & Genomic Medicine Department, Elena gained experience with advanced imaging techniques, cytotoxicity and exon-skipping assays, and in vivo mouse studies while contributing to the TransNAT project led by Francesco Muntoni and Laia Torres Masjoan. During her stay, she also visited Cardiff University to meet Arwyn Jones and his team, exploring new approaches to improve drug delivery and discussing future collaborations.
A special thanks also goes to Virginia Arechavala-Gomeza and the team at IIS Biobizkaia for their continued support throughout the secondment.
Congratulations to Elena on this important milestone in her PhD journey.
We look forward to seeing how these new skills contribute to her research within the EFFecT network!
Communicating Science the Open Way: EFFecT Training Symposium
March 2nd to 6th, 2026
This last week, the EFFecT consortium gathered in Trento for a training symposium dedicated to communication and open science. The event offered doctoral candidates a valuable opportunity to expand their skills beyond the laboratory and reflect on the wider impact of their research.
Through interactive sessions and practical workshops, participants explored how to communicate science clearly and effectively to different audiences, while also engaging with key principles of open science, data management and research transparency. The programme encouraged them to think not only about how they conduct research, but also about how they share it.
This training symposium marked another important step in EFFecT’s mission to prepare a new generation of researchers with both scientific expertise and the broader skills needed to contribute to an open and connected research landscape.
A big thank you to all doctoral candidates, trainers and partners for making this an inspiring and enriching week.
Celebrating the International Day of Women in Science
11 February 2026
Today, we celebrate the International Day of Women and Girls in Science, a day to recognize the brilliance, resilience, and impact of women who are shaping the future through research and innovation, pushing boundaries, and inspiring the next generation of scientists.
At EFFecT, we are incredibly proud of our outstanding PIs and DCs. Their dedication to advancing science drives not only our project forward, but also the broader scientific community toward meaningful progress. Together, they represent the collaborative spirit and excellence of EFFecT.
Thank you for your leadership, your perseverance, and your passion for discovery. We are proud to work alongside you!
Happy New Year!
1st January 2026
EFFecT wishes you a Happy, Successful and Healthy 2026!
Kick-off meeting EFFecT
November 8th, 2025
Earlier this week, our consortium came together for the kick-off meeting of EFFecT, followed by a training school for the doctoral candidates.
EFFecT brings together leading institutions and industry partners to train the next generation of scientists. The program aims to provide 12 predoctoral researchers with the skills and knowledge required to advance antisense nucleic acid therapeutics.
A big thank you to all our doctoral candidates, beneficiaries, associated partners and external advisory board, for their contributions and enthusiasm during the meeting - this marks the beginning of an impactful journey ahead!
Our final DC has started!
November 7th, 2025
We are happy to welcome our final DC, Maria Querol!
Maria joined us on November 1st as DC9 at ISIT, under the supervision of Dr. Hélène Tran. Her research will focus on understanding how sequences and/or modified chemistries can impact their potency, uptake, biodistribution, safety and elimination half-life with a particular focus on the cerebellum.
Beyond the lab, she loves reading, going to the theatre, concerts, and musicals, discovering new TV series, and spending time on creative crafts.
Welcome to the team, Maria - and congratulations to all as we officially have all our doctoral candidates on board!
A new DC has joined EFFecT!
November 6th, 2025
Let's give a big welcome to Pilar Maestre!
Pilar started on October 30th as DC5 at UVSQ, under the supervision of Dr. Aurélie Goyenvalle. Her research will focus on the characterization of ASO-intracellular protein partners to increase the therapeutic index of antisense oligonucleotides, with the aim of advancing the efficacy of RNA-based therapies for neuromuscular diseases.
When she is not in the lab, she enjoys travelling and exploring new cultures, particularly through their cuisine. She is also passionate about outdoor sports and recently took up surfing.
Welcome to the team!
Welcome János!
November 1st, 2025
We're excited to welcome János Farkas to EFFecT!
Janos started on October 13th as DC8 at UT, under the supervision of Prof. Michela Denti. His research will focus on developing ASO- and chimeric U snRNA-based therapies for regulating mRNA splicing in Frontotemporal Dementia and Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis.
When he is not in the lab, he enjoys bouldering, and on weekend, you will usually find him hiking or rock climbing.
Welcome to the team!
Let's meet our newest DC!
October 28th, 2025
We are happy to welcome Víctor as a new DC!
Víctor started on October 13 as DC3 at ICETA, under the supervision of Dr. Sandra Alves. His research will focus on preclinical validation of antisense oligonucleotides (ASO)-based therapies as a novel approach for treating Mucopolysaccharidosis III, targeting genes involved in the heparan sulfate biosynthetic pathway.
Beyond the lab, he loves going to the gym and seeking out different experiences.
We're exited to have you on board!
Welcome, Jamie!
October 21st, 2025
Another DC has joined the team!
Jamie started on October 16 as DC7 at LUMC, under the supervision of Dr. Ronald Buijsen. His research will focus on developing allele-specific antisense oligonucleotides to treat trinucleotide repeat expansion neurodegenerative disorders.
Outside the lab, Jamie is a huge sports enthusiast, especially when it comes to NBA, cricket and rugby. He’s also looking forward to exploring Europe and soak up the food and history on offer.
Welcome, Jamie!
EFFecT at OTS 2025
October 19th 2025
The annual meeting of the Oligonucleotide Therapeutics Society (OTS) is currently taking place in Budapest from 19th to 22nd of October.
EFFecT is represented by 10 Beneficiaries, 1 Associated Partner, 1 member of the Scientific Advisory Board and 1 Doctoral Candidate, as depicted in the picture taken on the stage during one of the breaks on the first day.
This year, Aurélie Goyenvalle is the keynote speaker during the NextGen Session, and Rob Collin will present at the preclinical session. Alex Garanto, Virginia Goyenvalle and Shalini Andersson are chairing several sessions, while Anabelle Biscans is involved in the organization of the mentorship program.
In two weeks we are meeting again to kick-off the consortium!
Welcome, Martina!
October 9th 2025
Introducing Martina Cadeddu as our new DC!
Martina started on October 1st as DC11 at UGent, under the supervision of Dr. Frauke Coppieters. Her research focuses on developing and evaluating antisense oligonucleotides therapeutics to slow or halt the progression of rare inherited retinal diseases.
In her free time, she enjoys travelling, cooking, reading, listening to music and gaming.
Welcome to the team, Martina!
Welcome to the team!
October 7th 2025
We're delighted to introduce Tahia Taufiq, our newest DC!
Tahia joined us on October 1st as Associated DC1 at UCL, under the supervision of Prof. Haiyan Zhou. Her research will focus on enhancing the delivery of antisense oligonucleotides (ASOs) to skeletal muscle by conjugating them to peptides identified through cell-surface proteomics and phage display.
Outside the lab, she enjoys traveling, cooking and growing her own vegetables.
We're excited to have you on board, Tahia!
Welcome to our newest DC!
September 18th 2025
A warm welcome to our newest DC, Rodanthi Voulgaraki!
Rodanthi joined us on September 1st as DC6 at AstraZeneca, under the supervision of Prof. Shalini Andersson and Dr. Annabelle Biscans. Her research will focus on the design and synthesis of lipid-conjugated siRNAs to achieve enhanced delivery to cardiac and muscle tissue.
We're delighted to have you join us, Rodanthi!
A new DC has joined EFFecT!
September 12th 2025
We are happy to welcome Filippo Furlan as a new DC at EFFecT!
Filippo joined us on September 1st as DC1 at RUMC in the group of Dr. Alex Garanto. His research will focus on exploring the use of antisense oligonucleotides for different inherited metabolic diseases (IMDs).
Welcome, Filippo!
Welcome to our third DC!
September 11th 2025
Please join us in welcoming Elena Covato as our third DC at EFFecT!
Elena started on September 1st as DC4 at BHRI in the group of Prof. Virginia Arechavala-Gomeza. Her research will focus on developing novel oligonucleotide-based methods to advance therapies for neuromuscular diseases.
In her free time she enjoys cooking pasta, experimenting with new recipes, and hiking.
We're excited to have her on board!
Let's meet our second DC!
September 4th 2025
We’re delighted to welcome our second DC at EFFecT, Laura Pons Renau!
Laura joined us on September 1st as DC2 at UAM, in the group of Prof. Lourdes Ruiz Desviat. Her research will focus on correcting splicing defects in inherited metabolic diseases using splice-switching antisense oligonucleotides (SS-ASO).
Outside the lab, Laura is always up for discovering new places, books, and experiences.
Welcome, Laura!
First DC of EFFecT started!
August 15th 2025
We’re excited to welcome the first DC, Alice Randon!
Alice joined EFFecT on August 1st as DC10 based at Astherna. Her research will focus on identifying antisense oligonucleotides to slow or halt the progression of age-related macular degeneration (AMD).
Beyond the lab, Alice enjoys staying active at the gym, traveling to new places, and experimenting in the kitchen with different recipes.
Welcome aboard, Alice!
All EFFecT DCs have been selected!
August 12th 2025
All 12 DCs have been selected and will be starting between August and October!
EFFecT members at Synergistic Meeting on Oligonucleotide Therapeutics (SMOT) in Valencia (27 & 28 February)
March 1st 2025
Six members of EFFecT participated in the Synergistic Meeting on Oligonucleotide Therapeutics (SMOT) in Vaencia (Spain) on February 27th and 28th (rare disease day).
Our consortium members presented their own research, chaired sessions or pitched initiatives. Also EFFecT MSCA DN was officially presented.
Remember, the application period for 12 fully funded PhD positions closes on March 15! The description of the different projects and profiles are provided in Euraxess.
EFFecT wishes you Happy Holidays!
December 23rd 2024
EFFecT wishes you all a great Holiday Season and all the best wishes for 2025!
Our consortium will officially kick off on January 1st and between July and October all Doctoral Candidates (DC) will be hired.
Description of the different projects and profiles are provided in Euraxess. Application is now open. Please make sure to read the instructions, as some partners require double application.
Wishing you a healthy and successful 2025!
EFFecT announcement
December 3rd 2024
First project descriptions are available in the PhD Project section.
Description of the vacancies and profiles will be published soon in Euraxess. We will share the link on this website!
Stay tuned!
EFFecT on the media
October 24th 2024
News in English:
https://cordis.europa.eu/project/id/101168372
News in Dutch:
https://www.lumc.nl/actueel/2024/prijzen-subsidies-en-benoemingen-2-oktober/
News in Spanish:
https://www.uam.es/uam/noticias/red-effect-terapias-antisentido-2024
News in French:
https://www.uvsq.fr/financement-europeen-pour-lequipe-daurelie-goyenvalle
News in Italian:
https://www.quotidianosanita.it/provincia_autonoma_trento/articolo.php?articolo_id=125381
Young Investigator Award for Hélène Tran
October 9th 2024
Hélène Tran has been awarded with the 2024 Mary Ann Liebert, Inc. publishers Young Investigator Award during the Oligonucleotide Therapeutics Society Annual Meeting!
Congratulations Hélène!
This prestigious award recognizes the contribution to the field of young investigators (up to 15 years post-PhD). More information about the award can be found here:
Young Investigator Award - Oligonucleotide Therapeutics Society
We are live!
October 8th 2024
The EFFecT website has been released! More information will be updated in the coming months!
Stay tuned!