# NKI

academic TIL programs at cancer institutes.

Source: https://en.bioecon.ru/companies/nki/
Updated: 2026-06-24

- Country: Netherlands

## Verifiable facts

| Fact | Value | Source |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Affiliation | The Netherlands Cancer Institute (NKI) is a comprehensive cancer center connected to the Antoni van Leeuwenhoek (AVL) hospital and is a member of EU-LIFE, Cancer Core Europe, and the Oncode Institute. | https://emerald-mdphd.eu/hosting-institutions/nki/, https://eu-life.eu/about/members/nki-netherlands-cancer-institute, https://pragmatil.eu/ |
| Research focus | Cancer immunotherapy, with specific emphasis on tumor-infiltrating lymphocytes (TIL) therapy, breast cancer immunology, and cell-based screens. | https://emerald-mdphd.eu/hosting-institutions/nki/, https://eu-life.eu/about/members/nki-netherlands-cancer-institute, https://www.nki.nl/research/research-groups/john-haanen, https://www.nki.nl/research/research-groups/marleen-kok/breast-cancer-immunology-immunotherapy |
| Facility | Biotherapeutics Unit (BTU), which features four class A/B GMP-compliant cleanrooms for the production of T-cell products. | https://www.nki.nl/research/facilities-platforms/biotherapeutics-unit/ |
| Grant | Includes funding from the Dutch Cancer Society (KWF), the European Union’s Horizon 2020 program (grant No 101034290), and other national/international project grants. | https://emerald-mdphd.eu/hosting-institutions/nki/, https://eu-life.eu/about/members/nki-netherlands-cancer-institute, https://pragmatil.eu/, https://www.nki.nl/news-events/news/eight-research-groups-netherlands-cancer-institute-to-receive-dutch-cancer-society-grants |
| Principal staff | John Haanen (Group leader, Cancer Immunotherapy), Cynthia Nijenhuis (Head, Biotherapeutics Unit), and Marleen Kok (Group leader, Breast Cancer Immunology & Immunotherapy). | https://www.nki.nl/research/facilities-platforms/biotherapeutics-unit/, https://www.nki.nl/research/research-groups/john-haanen |
| Headcount | Over 750 scientists and scientific support staff members. | https://eu-life.eu/about/members/nki-netherlands-cancer-institute |
| Publications | Researchers are highly cited, with key publications in journals including Nature and Cell. | https://www.nki.nl/research/research-groups/john-haanen |

Independent sources: emerald-mdphd.eu, eu-life.eu, nki.nl, pragmatil.eu

## Technologies

- [TIL therapy (tumor-infiltrating lymphocytes)](https://en.bioecon.ru/technology/til-therapy/)