NALUNG EP PerMed Project Launched to Advance Personalised Treatment for Lung Cancer Patients

May 2026 marks official launch of the NALUNG project, Multi-Omics Analysis for Predicting Response and Adverse Events to Neoadjuvant Treatment in Resectable Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer (NSCLC). The project is funded through the European Partnership for Personalised Medicine (EP PerMed) and coordinated by an international consortium led by the TÜBİTAK Marmara Research Center.

Neoadjuvant therapy, involving chemotherapy, immunotherapy, or their combination before surgery, has improved outcomes for many patients with operable NSCLC. However, treatment responses vary considerably, and some patients experience significant adverse effects. NALUNG aims to address this challenge by identifying biomarkers that can predict both treatment efficacy and toxicity.

The project will integrate multiple layers of biological information, including genomics, epigenomics, transcriptomics, proteomics, and metabolomics, together with clinical, lifestyle, and nutritional data. Using advanced bioinformatics and machine learning approaches, the consortium will develop predictive models to support more precise patient stratification and treatment selection.

At RSU, the project is led by Prof. Egils Stalidzāns and involves researchers Rui Afonso Tavares and Margarita Lušņičenko. The Computational Systems Biology Group will contribute expertise in multi-omics data analysis, systems biology, and predictive modelling.

Running until 2029, NALUNG seeks to contribute to the development of biomarker-driven precision medicine strategies that improve treatment outcomes, reduce toxicity, and support more personalized care for lung cancer patients.

Project duration: May 2026 – April 2029

Project funding: 1 844 644.00 EUR, of which RSU’s share is 300 000 EUR

Project coordinator at RSU: Prof. Egils Stalidzāns

Funding programme: European Partnership for Personalised Medicine (EP PerMed) / Latvian Council of Science