Applications and end-user projects inApplications and end-user projects inMediterranean countries: Mediterranean countries: MedGeNetMedGeNet

EURO-MEDITERRANEAN NETWORKEURO-MEDITERRANEAN NETWORKFOR GENETIC SERVICESFOR GENETIC SERVICES

EU-MED Event – Brussels, 23 – 24 October 2007

Michele BiancoManaging Director – European Genetics Foundation

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EGF is a Not for Profit Organization established in Italy in 1995;it was founded as a continuation and formalization of the missionof the European School Of Genetic Medicine (ESGM) that startedits activities in Sestri Levante (Italy) in 1987 with the 1st course inGenetic Medicine directed by Victor McKusick and GiovanniRomeo.

Since then, the ESGM has become the leader in Europe for theadvanced training in the field of genetics, attracting over 5000students from over 70 European and extra-European nations overthe past 20 years.

The development of ICT tools in the field of distance training haswidened the perspective of the Foundation and led to thepresentation and achievement of many European Projectsdedicated to the transfer of knowledge between Europe andSouthern Mediterranean countries.

European Genetics Foundation (EGF)

The European Genetics Foundation(EGF) has the following aims:

Advanced TrainingPublic AwarenessResearch

The Ge-Med Network (EUMEDISprogram)

… a powerful mean of communicationbetween the research communities…

PLAT-ONE (Platform for On Line E-learning) .

Where it all started

ProjectsProjects

•• GeGe-Med Network (EUMEDIS Program)-Med Network (EUMEDIS Program)•• IthanetIthanet (FP6) (FP6)•• Health e-child (FP6)Health e-child (FP6)•• EUROGENE (FP7 EUROGENE (FP7 –– eeContentContentplusplus))•• MedGeNetMedGeNet (FP6) (FP6)

MedGeNetMedGeNet

Full title: Euro-Mediterranean Network for Genetic Services

Call: FP6-2004-INCO-MPC-3

Instrument: Coordination Action (CA)

Start date: October 2006 (M1)

Duration: 24 Months

Budget: 749.000 € funded at 100% by the EC

Contract n.: 031968

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General ObjectiveGeneral Objective

MedGeNet Project aims at expanding the humanexpertise in Clinical Genetics and Cancer Genetics in

Mediterranean Partner Countries (MPCs)

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ConsortiumConsortium

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P

Role

P.

No. Participant name

Participant short

name Country

CO 1 European Genetics Foundation EGF Italy

CR 2 The National Research Centre NRC Egypt

CR 3 Kypriako Idryma Erevnon Gia Ti Myiki

Distrofia CING Cyprus

CR 4 Université Saint Joseph USJ Leban on

CR 5 Ministry of Health, Israel Ministry of Health Israel

CR 6 Università di Bologna UniBo Italy

CR 7 Università di Cagliari UniCa Italy

CR 8 Università di Modena e Reggio Emilia UniMoRe Italy

CR 9 Cesnet, Zajmove Sdruzeni Pravnickych Osob CESNET Czech Republic

CR 10 Aktsiaselts Asper Biotech ASPER Estonia

CR 11 Hôpital IBN SINA IBN SINA Morocco

CR 12 National Center for Diabetes, Endocrine and

Genetic Diseases NCDEG Jordan

CR 13 Hospital Charles Nicolle HCN Tunisia

CR 14 Centre Hospitalo - Univ ersitaire Mustapha CHU Mustapha Algeria

CR 15 Istanbul University DETAE Turkey

CR 16 Hôpital d'Enfants Het Tunisia

CR 17 Cairo University Cairo University Egypt

CR 18 The Chronic Care Center CCC Lebanon

Areas of interventionAreas of intervention 1- Medical diagnosis and Integrated Medical Management:• Creation of a Euro Mediterranean Network of Genetic

Telecounselling and Genetic Pathology consultation• Setting up of a medical genetics database• Introduction of a new mutation screening technology as a

routine in the MPC labs/institutes based on DNA Chiptechnology.

2 - Information and Telecommunication Technology:• Setting up of a common information/communication

environment in order to facilitate collaborative research,diagnostic activities, exchange of data and protocols usingInternet based tools and services.

3 - Education for health professionals and the general public:• Extension of an already existing Remote Training Centres

Network

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Areas of InterventionCoordination & Management (WP1)

1) Administration and Finance

2) Strategy implementation and project management

Transfer of knowledge & technology Integrated Medical Management

Technological platform, distant learning and knowledge transfer (WP2)

Genetic Telecounselling (WP3)

1) ICT assessment, update & delivery 1) Assessment and Telecounselling Protocol definition

2) Infrastructure & tools for training and Integrated Medical

Management 2) Implementation of Telecounselling Servic e

3) Knowledge Transfer 3) Result analysis and Model diffusion in Mediterranean

Partner Countries

Public Awareness, Visibility and

Dissemination Strategy (WP5) DNA Chip (WP4)

1) Public understanding and awareness raising activities

1) DN A Chip Implementation

2) Visibility Actions 2) Validation

The Focus for TodayThe Focus for Today

The RTC network andStreaming technology

Genetic Telecounselling

Telepathology

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The RTC NetworkThe RTC Network

Aims at:

• The extension of the existing Network to the MPCsinvolved in the Project.

• To offer advanced training in Genetic Medicinedirectly in the MPCs premises, without travel andaccommodation costs needed for the residentialcourses in Europe

• To organize hybrid or blended training by organizinglocal “hands-on” workshops for the RTC students

• To Create a Media Repository for On demandstreaming of courses.

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Assessment of partners infrastructure,equipment and connectivity

Definition of minimum requirements

Updating when needed

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The RTC Network implementationThe RTC Network implementation

A brief description of theMTC & RTC architecture

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The MTC & RTC DescriptionThe MTC & RTC Description

RTC Network enhancement, implementation andRTC Network enhancement, implementation andcertificationcertification

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WebcastingWebcasting Client Client

RTC Network enhancement, implementation and certification

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Genetic Genetic TelecounsellingTelecounselling

The genetic Telecounsellingservice is a simple but smarttool for distant diagnosis andcase discussion. Six Partnershave already set-up theplatform for the Telecounsellingsessions.

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Genetic Genetic TelecounsellingTelecounselling

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Each Genetic Telecounselling Centre has beenprovided with a laptop, webcam, microphone andearphones set and with the free software employedfor teleconference. Thanks to this system, eachGenetic Telecounselling Centre can communicate(in audio/video modality) with all the other Centresfeaturing the same configuration.

Genetic Genetic TelecounsellingTelecounselling

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Therefore, the specialised medical personnel will be able to:

- show images of the patients to colleagues located in otherCentres, comparing clinical cases live;- share medical charts, video and pictures in electronicversion;- transfer genetic counselling related information, comments,results and analysis live through word messages;- interact with colleagues working in the field of geneticcounselling in order to expand their professional skills thanksto a constant update.

Genetic TelecounsellingGenetic Telecounselling

The system is completed bya Genetic counsellingdatabase that will allow thestorage and the sharing ofpatient data for thetelecounselling sessions.

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Telepathology

Telepathology is a diagnostic aid for difficult diagnoses ofhistopathological samples using teleconsultation ofspecialists in the field.

Fig.1 – Specimen slides are scanned and stored for digital consultation

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Telepathology

The Equipment will be transferred toP13, Hospital Charles Nicolle (HCN) inTunisia for service. All other partnerswill partecipate and have free access tothe Telepathology service.

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Telepathology

ScanScope will serve the scope ofcreating and validating a firstTelepathology service in theMediterranean Area, able to receivespecimen from the whole Network andstore the scanned images in a shareddatabase for distant diagnosis andconsultation.

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Fig.2 – Specimen slides are viewed and discussed remotely through the web

Thanks to this technology, pathologists fromremote locations are able to engage in high-quality remote collaboration and consultation(Fig.2).

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The system is based on a modular design that supports avariety of needs. Besides the creation of digital slides forclassroom teaching, the GL system can be used to archivedigital slides for consultation, presentations at tumorboards, conferences, or for self-education.

Fig.3 – High resolution specimen images can be used in tumor boards, conferences and training

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Some features in briefCREATION OF SLIDES: the system can load and scan a single slide,automatically, with a 20X objective lens in less than 5 minutes; the scanning areacan be monitored remotely (through a web browser)

VIEW DIGITAL SLIDES WITH IMAGESCOPE™ SOFTWARE•Instantly pan and zoom to any region or magnification, while maintaining amacroscopic (thumbnail) view of the entire specimen•Overlay annotations, including arrows, text, contours, and more•Link text to specific, annotated regions•Apply image enhancements for contrast and brightness•Add KickStart for Educators software to support remote viewing of digital slidesfrom a web browser

Objectives of the Telepathology

The main idea consists in the achievement of anadditional prospective for Telepathology throughthe definition of a model protocol in order to betteraddress and strengthen the health policies of theRegion.

This opportunity will allow HCN to be a referencepoint for collection and analysis of histology slides,not only in Tunisia but in all the SouthernMediterranean area.

Conclusions

The transfer of knowledge between southernMediterranean countries and Europe is ashortcut to expand the human expertise inClinical Genetics and Cancer prevention.

Telepathology and Genetic Telecounselling mayinfluence and strengthen the health policies ofthe Mediterranean Region.

All these goals can be achieved at a reasonablecost since the networking infrastructures arealready available.

THANK YOU