Indivumed and University of Rochester Forge Partnership for Cancer Research

Two prominent organizations in cancer research, Indivumed and the University of Rochester Medical Center (URMC), have announced a strategic collaboration aimed at advancing precision oncology. This partnership, revealed on December 10, 2025, is set to enhance the development of novel therapeutics for patients facing high medical needs.

Indivumed is leveraging its established approach to standardized tissue and clinical data collection to focus on patient-centric cancer research and drug development. The collaboration will utilize Indivumed’s innovative platform, which consists of meticulously collected surgical tissue samples and extensive clinical data. URMC will play a crucial role by ensuring the collection and processing of high-quality biosamples and clinical patient data, adhering to Indivumed’s rigorous standard operating procedures.

A significant aspect of this collaboration is the reduction of ischemia time to under ten minutes, which is essential for maintaining the integrity and quality of the samples. The joint efforts will prioritize the creation of well-characterized, patient-derived tumor models (PDTMs) from these samples. These models, which include classical cell cultures, spheroids, and organoids, will support the identification, validation, and development of pharmaceutical molecular cancer targets, thereby de-risking the drug development process.

Hartmut “Hucky” Land, PhD, Deputy Director of the Wilmot Cancer Institute, expressed enthusiasm for the partnership, stating, “We have worked with Indivumed successfully in the past, and our familiarity with their tissue and multi-omics data approach will provide an excellent foundation. The new project will create greater opportunities to identify new therapeutics and biomarkers, uncover insights on the right target-patient match for clinical decision-making, and thus help advance cancer care.”

The initial focus of this collaboration will be on advanced stages of solid cancers, particularly colorectal cancer (CRC), pancreatic cancer (PDAC), lung cancer, and breast cancer. There is potential for future expansion into other cancer types as insights from this partnership are realized. The collaboration aims to advance Indivumed’s ongoing research initiatives and asset development while providing clinicians with valuable guidance for therapeutic decision-making.

Hartmut Juhl, CEO and founder of Indivumed, commented on the collaboration, saying, “We are thrilled to deepen our collaboration with URMC, significantly enhancing our ability to identify novel cancer therapeutics in a truly patient-centered approach. We will develop primary tumor models for the testing of novel compounds against targets identified through our unique AI-powered data analytical capabilities, bringing novel therapeutics to patients as quickly and precisely as possible.”

With this agreement, URMC joins the Indivumed Global Clinical Network, which already includes numerous esteemed hospitals and leading oncology institutes across North America, Europe, and Asia. This partnership builds upon successful previous collaborations, including a recent publication on a novel classification method for distinct types of colon cancer.

The Wilmot Cancer Institute, part of the University of Rochester, is recognized as an NCI-Designated Cancer Center. It serves over three million individuals across 27 counties in Western and Central New York, providing specialty cancer care through its network of 13 locations. The institute boasts a team of more than 190 oncology physicians, over 500 oncology nurses, and approximately 115 scientists dedicated to cancer research.

Indivumed is a biotech company specializing in precision oncology, focusing on discovering therapeutically novel targets for the development of precision cancer treatments. With over two decades of experience, Indivumed emphasizes a standardized collection process that ensures cold ischemia times of under ten minutes, aiming to redefine oncology and improve patient outcomes.

This partnership marks a significant step forward in the ongoing fight against cancer, demonstrating a commitment to innovative research and patient-centered care.