'Improving Coordination of Cancer Research in Europe'

The objective of this project is to define the best ways to improve cancer research in Europe through better coordination and connectivity of stakeholders.

The research question identified for the project is:' How Europe will answer the increasing challenge of such innovation in the face of stiff competition from the USA and more recently, from many Asian countries?'

The Eurocan + Plus project was funded under the FP6 Framework Programme and finished in December 2007. The International Research Centre on Cancer (IARC) was the coordination centre for this project.

The project results were first publically announced during the Slovenian Cancer Conference in February 2008. For further information, please visit IARC's website.

SIOPE was a Member of its General Assembly representing paediatric oncology. SIOPE expressed its concerns about the lack of resources, particularly the stable long term funding to carry out clinically relevant biomarker studies within clinical trials that take years to complete. It was not considered attractive enough for young researchers who need to produce results within the 3-5 years' funding cycle.

Another concern of SIOPE was the lack of clinical MD/PhD training programmes for young professionals.

SIOPE agreed on the need for harmonisation of tissue storage techniques and improved biological studies with epidemiological data.

SIOPE experessed its interest in building up a 'one stop shop' for contact and exchange between academia and industry. There is indeed an urgent need for a platform through which multinational clinical trials may be harmonised.

SIOPE also tried to stress that Paediatrics must be recognised for future initiatives or collaboration at the European level since it has specific needs that are not necessarily found in adult cancers.

For further information and publications surrounding this project, please visit the EUROCAN PLUS website.