Welcome
Welcome to our GenoMiCC Research Unit. Colorectal cancer (CRC) remains one of the most pressing challenges in oncology. While advances in genomic-based precision medicine have offered promising avenues for improving patient outcomes, current approaches have so far benefited only a small proportion of patients.
GenoMiCC aims to close this gap. At the heart of our work lies the exploration of the complex interplay between cancer genetics, microbial ecosystems, and drug response—the so-called microbiota-gene-drug interface.
We invite you to explore our project, meet our team, and follow our progress as we advance precision oncology in colorectal cancer.
Overview GenoMiCC Consortium
The GenoMiCC (Genomics and Microbiomics in Colorectal Cancer) Consortium is dedicated to advancing precision medicine in colorectal cancer (CRC). By integrating functional genomics and microbiome research, the consortium investigates the complex interactions within the tumor ecosystem—particularly the emerging microbiota-gene-drug interface—to uncover new, actionable targets for personalised therapies. The consortium brings together a team of scientists and clinicians, who´s collective expertise spans cancer biology, systems medicine, microbiology, and clinical oncology.
GenoMiCC’s ultimate goal is to translate cutting-edge discoveries into next-generation clinical trials, improving treatment precision, accessibility, and outcomes for CRC patients worldwide.
Projects
The GenoMiCC consortium comprises eight integrated scientific projects and two central support projects aimed at uncovering how gut microbiota and their metabolites influence colorectal cancer (CRC) biology, progression, and therapy response. Projects explore microbial drug metabolism, intratumoral microbiota-host interactions, metastasis-modifying metabolites, immune modulation, and microbiota effects on oncogenic signalling, phenotypic plasticity, and translational control. Advanced models, including organoids, organ-on-chip systems, and gnotobiotic mice, are used alongside multi-omics and CRISPR-based approaches. Central projects support metabolomics, functional microbiomics, and robust data integration and management to enable reproducible, personalised CRC therapy development.
People
The GenoMiCC Research Unit brings together 17 Principal Investigators from leading institutions such as the University of Heidelberg, DKFZ, EMBL, ETH Zürich, and others. This gender-balanced team spans a wide range of expertise, including gastrointestinal and molecular oncology, functional genomics, microbiome research, tumour immunology, cancer metabolism, RNA biology, biomedical engineering, and computational biology. Combining clinical and basic science perspectives, the team includes both senior experts and emerging junior researchers. Together, they form a highly interdisciplinary consortium uniquely positioned to explore the complex interactions between cancer, the microbiome, and drug response in colorectal cancer, with the goal of advancing personalised therapy.