We are delighted to announce the official launch of the ANA-KIN Doctoral Network website! This new platform will be your go-to resource for everything related to the program — from our scientific mission and consortium partners to training opportunities and, soon, open PhD positions.
We are also happy to announce the opening of our call for applications, starting 10 September 2026, for PhD positions within this collaborative and interdisciplinary research program. This is an exceptional opportunity for highly motivated and outstanding candidates to join an innovative team of researchers redefining kinase targeting in precision oncology — moving beyond the classical ATP-binding site to explore the phosphorylation substrate site and the dimerization interface as novel therapeutic avenues.
Successful candidates will have the chance to work in a dynamic, multidisciplinary environment, receive comprehensive training, and benefit from mentorship provided by leading experts across academia and industry. The program offers the unique opportunity to develop both specialized and transferable skills, preparing researchers for diverse career paths within and beyond academia.
Application Process
Applications for the 12 Doctoral Candidate (DC) positions will open on this website:
- Call opens: 10 September 2026
- Application deadline: 10 October 2026
- Selection and interviews: October 2026
- Expected start date: 1 December 2026
About the ANA-KIN Network
ANA-KIN is a premier Horizon Europe MSCA Doctoral Network uniting 11 beneficiaries and 9 strategic partners across 8 European countries to train a cohort of 12 outstanding Doctoral Candidates (DCs).
Our mission is to redefine protein kinase targeting in precision oncology by pioneering a fundamental shift in drug discovery methodology.
While more than 85 kinase inhibitors are currently approved for clinical use, their long-term therapeutic efficacy remains constrained by off-target promiscuity at the conserved ATP-binding cleft and the rapid emergence of resistance mutations. To overcome these critical bottlenecks, ANA-KIN trains a new generation of researchers to pioneer kinase drug discovery by moving beyond the ATP site toward non-conserved interfaces — specifically the phosphorylation substrate site and the dimerization interface.
Integrating chemical biology, structural biophysics, cheminformatics, AI-driven discovery, and cell biology in close collaboration with global industrial partners, the program equips doctoral researchers with advanced workflows and modular assays. By providing these specialized tools and fostering an interdisciplinary mindset, ANA-KIN empowers its researchers to design highly selective, resistance-resilient cancer therapies, strengthening Europe’s technological sovereignty in the oncology drug space.
The network is coordinated by Prof. Dimitris Korovesis (Aristotle University of Thessaloniki). A kick-off meeting will be organised in October 2026 (exact date to be confirmed).
