EurocanPlatformEurocanPlatform

A Platform of European A Platform of European Cancer Research Centres Cancer Research Centres

for Translational Researchfor Translational Research Ulrik RingborgUlrik Ringborg

CancerCenter KarolinskaCancerCenter Karolinska

Cancer is increasing globally Cancer is increasing globally (WHO)(WHO)

• 2008 12,4 million new cancer patients2008 12,4 million new cancer patients

• 2030 20 million new cancer patients2030 20 million new cancer patients

• 2008 8,3 million deaths2008 8,3 million deaths

• 2030 12.9 million deaths2030 12.9 million deaths

• 2008 28 million patients living with cancer2008 28 million patients living with cancer

• 2030 82 million patients living with cancer2030 82 million patients living with cancer

Conclusions from Conclusions from epidemiological analysesepidemiological analyses

• Cancer is one of the main chronic diseasesCancer is one of the main chronic diseases

• Present time trends of improvement of the mortality rate Present time trends of improvement of the mortality rate in Europe is not enough to decrease the number of in Europe is not enough to decrease the number of cancer deaths over the next decadescancer deaths over the next decades

• At the same time, cancer biology & modern At the same time, cancer biology & modern technologies offer new possibilities to change the technologies offer new possibilities to change the negative trendsnegative trends

Strategies to decrease the Strategies to decrease the problemproblem

• Improve preventionImprove prevention

• Increase cure rateIncrease cure rate

• Early detection is the bridge between prevention & Early detection is the bridge between prevention & therapeuticstherapeutics

There are, There are, however, two main barriershowever, two main barriers

The intrinsic complexity of cancerThe intrinsic complexity of cancer

Fragmentation Fragmentation

(research, clinical care, funding)(research, clinical care, funding)

Fragmentation of cancer Fragmentation of cancer research – main reasonsresearch – main reasons

Suboptimal translational cancer resesarchSuboptimal translational cancer resesarch

Bridging between basic and clinical research Bridging between basic and clinical research

– – early translational researchearly translational research can be improved can be improved

Bridging between clinical research and Bridging between clinical research and implementation implementation

and evaluation in the clinical care and evaluation in the clinical care

– – late translational research late translational research should be improved should be improved

Lack of critical massLack of critical mass

Eurocan project Eurocan project

Critical massCritical mass

• The Comprehensive Cancer Center (CCC) to guarantee the The Comprehensive Cancer Center (CCC) to guarantee the critical mass for clinical care & infrastructures for research & critical mass for clinical care & infrastructures for research & educationeducation

Integration of care, research and education Integration of care, research and education – – the linkage between research & innovationthe linkage between research & innovation

• Network of CCCs to guarantee the critical mass for translational Network of CCCs to guarantee the critical mass for translational

cancer researchcancer research - - Patients Patients - Biological materials- Biological materials - Technological resources- Technological resources - Competences- Competences

A key messageA key message

• Collaboration between individual research groups is no Collaboration between individual research groups is no longer the solution!longer the solution!

• Collaboration between centres is mandatory to Collaboration between centres is mandatory to guarantee infrastructure support, critical mass of guarantee infrastructure support, critical mass of expertise & resources, as well as to improve expertise & resources, as well as to improve coordination.coordination.

A European platform for A European platform for translational cancer researchtranslational cancer research

The platform will bring together The platform will bring together Comprehensive Cancer Comprehensive Cancer CentresCentres with a strong research agenda with with a strong research agenda with

basic/preclinical Cancer Centres basic/preclinical Cancer Centres in an integrated in an integrated network to collaborate and share resources to optimize network to collaborate and share resources to optimize

the translational process and to increase global the translational process and to increase global competitiveness * competitiveness *

Such a platform of centres is the only possible way to reach the Such a platform of centres is the only possible way to reach the critical mass and sustainability that is necessary to innovate and critical mass and sustainability that is necessary to innovate and

deliver in all areas of cancer researchdeliver in all areas of cancer research.

* The Stockholm Declaration, Molecular Oncology, 2, 2008

EurocanPlatform - NoE EurocanPlatform - NoE

Structuring translational cancer research between Structuring translational cancer research between cancer research centres in Europe cancer research centres in Europe

A structure for innovative translational research on A structure for innovative translational research on prevention, early detection and therapeuticsprevention, early detection and therapeutics

The whole cancer research continuum is coveredThe whole cancer research continuum is covered – – 16 WPs16 WPs

* Duration of project – 5 years* Duration of project – 5 years * 12 million euros* 12 million euros * 28 participants from 11 countries * 28 participants from 11 countries

PROJECT COORDINATOR

Supported by Vice Coordinator

Knowledge management

Linking all organisational groups

Project S&T Advisory Board

Project PanelsDissemination

Training/EducationEthical Review

IPRTechnology Transfer

Project Steering Committee

(1 member/partner)

Executive Committee(5 members)

Scientific Steering Committee

(8 members)

Prevention & Therapeutics

WPs 2,3,6(2 coordinators)

TechnologiesWPs 4,5,7,8,9

(2 coordinators)

Biorepositories & Clinical Databases

WPs 10,11(2 coordinators)

Quality Assurance, Education &

DisseminationWPs 12,13,14

(2 coordinators)

European Commission

Project OfficeManagement & Administration

Project Steering Committee Project Steering Committee

• Each partner presented by one personEach partner presented by one person

• WP-leader not representing the partner may be non-WP-leader not representing the partner may be non-voting membervoting member

• Majority required for decisionMajority required for decision

• Meetings twice annualyMeetings twice annualy

Role of the Role of the Project Steering CommitteeProject Steering Committee

• Delegate certain areas of responsibility to the CO or Delegate certain areas of responsibility to the CO or ad ad hochoc groups of consortium members. groups of consortium members.

• Provide overall project management policy.Provide overall project management policy.• Make formal decisions on the project & project strategy.Make formal decisions on the project & project strategy.• Define, allocate and develop tasks.Define, allocate and develop tasks.• Check the progress of the work.Check the progress of the work.• Ensure full integration and coordination of the research Ensure full integration and coordination of the research

teams.teams.• Plan for change and risk management.Plan for change and risk management.

Role of theRole of theProject Steering Committee, Project Steering Committee, contcont

• Author and implement the Quality Assurance Plan.Author and implement the Quality Assurance Plan.• Coordinate the preparation of technical reports.Coordinate the preparation of technical reports.• Define the budgets for the individual parts of the Define the budgets for the individual parts of the

project.project.• Reviewing and proposing budget reallocationsReviewing and proposing budget reallocations• Identify potential new project partners.Identify potential new project partners.• Permit formal exchanges of information between the Permit formal exchanges of information between the

partners.partners.• Ensure optimal use of project results.Ensure optimal use of project results.• Develop decision-making structures.Develop decision-making structures.

ManagementManagement

• Co-ordinator Ulrik RingborgCo-ordinator Ulrik Ringborg

• Vice Co-ordinator Rolf LewensohnVice Co-ordinator Rolf Lewensohn

• Project Manager Christina von GerttenProject Manager Christina von Gertten

• Project Administrator Evelyn GöranssonProject Administrator Evelyn Göransson

• Support – Grants Office KI, Miles DaviesSupport – Grants Office KI, Miles Davies

– – Legal Council at KILegal Council at KI

Executive committeeExecutive committee

• Ulrik RingborgUlrik Ringborg• Rolf LewensohnRolf Lewensohn• Anton BernsAnton Berns• Anne-Lise Börresen-DaleAnne-Lise Börresen-Dale• Julio CelisJulio Celis

Day-to-day responsbilities delegated by the Project Day-to-day responsbilities delegated by the Project Steering CommitteeSteering Committee

Scientific Steering CommitteeScientific Steering Committee

Anton Berns (chairman) Anton Berns (chairman) Alexander Eggermont Alexander Eggermont

René BernardsRené Bernards Marco Pierotti Marco Pierotti

Carlos CaldasCarlos Caldas Ulrik Ringborg Ulrik Ringborg

Julio CelisJulio Celis Thomas Tursz Thomas Tursz

Role of Role of Scientific Steering CommitteeScientific Steering Committee

• Scientific co-ordination of the projectScientific co-ordination of the project• Propose & evaluate research projectsPropose & evaluate research projects• Propose sharing of research resourcesPropose sharing of research resources• Support the scientific integration in the EurocanPlatformSupport the scientific integration in the EurocanPlatform• Deal with legal & ethical issuesDeal with legal & ethical issues• Participate in discussions with the industryParticipate in discussions with the industry• Prioritize training & exchange of researchersPrioritize training & exchange of researchers• Work for research support & sustainabilityWork for research support & sustainability

Scientific Advisory BoardScientific Advisory Board

• Hedvig HricakHedvig Hricak

• Mark IsraelMark Israel

• John MendelsohnJohn Mendelsohn

• Richard SchilskyRichard Schilsky

A Comprehensive Platform for A Comprehensive Platform for Translational Cancer ResearchTranslational Cancer Research

• Increase the interaction between cancer biology & Increase the interaction between cancer biology & clinical researchclinical research

• New strategies for research on prevention, early New strategies for research on prevention, early detection & therapeuticsdetection & therapeutics

• Increase infrastructure support & critical mass overallIncrease infrastructure support & critical mass overall• Cover the cancer research continuum including late Cover the cancer research continuum including late

translational researchtranslational research• Involve methods to measure innovation prevention & Involve methods to measure innovation prevention &

cancer carecancer care

Scientific Co-ordination (WP1) and Management (WP16)Scientific Co-ordination (WP1) and Management (WP16)

Quality assurance of centres (WP12), Ethics (WP15), Education (WP13)

ResearchPrevention (WP2)

Early detection (WP3) Therapeutics (WP6)

Preclinicalresearch (WP7)

Implementation and evaluation of prevention and therapeutics (WP11)

Dissemination (WP14)

Technological structures/resourcesKinome analysis (WP4)

DNA damage response (WP5)Technological resources (WP8)

Bioinformatics (WP9)Biobanking (WP10)

Patient data registries (WP11)