New Frontiers in Oncology (NFC)

In collaboration with Paris-Saclay University, the Gustave Roussy Foundation is launching a new project called “Interdisciplinary Project.” This initiative aims to bring together experts from various fields to develop innovative solutions to cross-cutting issues. A key feature of this initiative is the “New Frontiers in Oncology” program, which provides for the establishment of joint doctoral theses and Master’s 2 internships involving teams with complementary expertise.

Led by Ken Olaussen, an associate professor at Paris-Saclay University and a faculty member and researcher at UMR 981 at Gustave Roussy, the goal of the interdisciplinary initiative “New Frontiers in Oncology” is to build bridges and foster close collaborations between disciplines that do not traditionally work together in oncology, in order to approach research in a new way. It aims to bring together experts from a variety of disciplines (mathematicians, engineers, sociologists, and physicians) to initiate unprecedented collaborations. These synergies will help generate new solutions, addressing the complexities of cancer through fresh perspectives.

Stemming from a partnership between Paris-Saclay University and the Gustave Roussy Foundation, this program takes shape through interdisciplinary collaborations across the various Graduate Schools (or doctoral schools) at Paris-Saclay University. “Interdisciplinarity goes beyond multidisciplinarity by fostering in-depth collaboration and close integration of various disciplines, which leads to a more comprehensive understanding of the subject,” explains Ken Olaussen.

“New Frontiers in Oncology” will offer students at Paris-Saclay University the opportunity to complete interdisciplinary Master’s 2 internships as well as joint dissertations.

Students wishing to participate in this interdisciplinary program must demonstrate the collaborative nature of their partnership, involving at least two teams from different disciplinary fields: a “health” team ” team (Public Health, Health and Drug Sciences, and Life Sciences and Health) and a “non-health” team (Mathematics, Sociology and Political Science, Computer Science, Engineering and Systems Sciences).

Video explanations

Play video - Objet Interdisciplinaire "Nouvelles Frontières en Cancérologie"

Integrating Innovation into Education

This program addresses several needs in terms of innovative research, whether basic or applied. “This initiative encourages the next generation of researchers and healthcare professionals to think about cancer holistically—and therefore in an interdisciplinary way. By integrating research and innovation into the curriculum, we are preparing students to be the pioneers of tomorrow’s oncology. Every discipline is equally important in shaping the future of oncology,” explains Ken Olaussen.

To apply, proposals for Master’s 2 internships and joint thesis projects must be submitted by the co-advisors via email to the following address: ken.olaussen@universite-paris-saclay.fr; with a copy to oi.nfc@universite-paris-saclay.fr.

Schedule

Doctoral Grants:

• July 1: Submission of proposals by thesis advisors
• Mid-July: notification of selected projects
• September 15: Submission of applications by candidates
• Early October: Candidate interviews

Master’s Internship Grants:

• February 28: Submission of project proposals by advisors for GS students with internships running from March/April through September (mathematicians)
• Mid-March: notification of awardees
• October 31: Submission of project proposals by advisors for GS students with internships running from January through June
• Mid-November: notification of awardees

Spotlight: Margherita Bruno – 2024 Recipient of the “Interdisciplinary Object—New Frontiers in Oncology” Doctoral Grant Call for Proposals.

Thesis title: Modeling and Predicting the Development and Transformation of Malignant Hematologic Diseases.

Margherita Bruno holds a bachelor’s degree in engineering physics (Politecnico di Torino, Italy) and an international master’s degree in physics of complex systems (i-PCS), a Franco-Italian program involving Sorbonne University, Université Paris Cité, Paris-Saclay University, the Polytechnic University of Turin, SISSA (Trieste), and ICTP (Trieste).

Her research focuses on modeling biological processes, particularly malignant hematological diseases, using mathematics and physics. She specializes in using statistics and probability theory to predict the development of cancers, particularly myeloproliferative neoplasms (MPNs)—diseases in which one or more types of blood cells are produced in excess.

Margherita Bruno’s dissertation is supervised by Isabelle Plo (UMR1287, Gustave Roussy) and Paul-Henry Cournède (MICS, CentraleSupélec), with co-supervision by Elsa Bernard (UMR981, Gustave Roussy) and Gurvan Hermange (MICS, CentraleSupélec).

For more information:
► Calls for Proposals - New Frontiers in Cancer (NFC) on the Université Paris Saclay website