Accelerating cancer research and innovation in comprehensive cancer infrastructures

Chairs: Maja Čemažar, Mef Nilbert, Johan Van Lint

Introduction

CCI4EU (Comprehensive Cancer Infrastructures for the European Union) is a European project aiming to help Member States and Associated Countries improve or develop their existing or future Comprehensive Cancer Infrastructures (CCIs), by helping develop their research & innovation-related capacities.

The CCI4EU project will run over 3 years, it will define and create a Maturity Model with quality indicators, to map the status of CCIs in all Member States and in five Associated Countries. Up to 9 sites will be selected for Deep Dive interventions, with 3 onsite visits to help them build their capacity in particular domains. Along with this, tailored online courses, resources and conferences will be developed to open up the capacity building to a wider audience, with the overall aim of contributing to the Horizon Europe Mission of ensuring that 90% of eligible cancer patients have access to Comprehensive Cancer Infrastructures by 2030.

This Conference is the second of three that will be held over the course of the project. It will give individuals and teams from developing CCIs direction in helping them build their capacity and develop their infrastructures. The topic of this second conference is: Accelerating cancer research and innovation in comprehensive cancer infrastructures

The gap between research findings and clinical implementation poses a significant challenge in healthcare. Bridging this gap is essential to ensure that the latest evidence is incorporated into patient care effectively. This conference is aimed at professionals involved in translational research, clinical trialists, directors of science and hospital leaders.

Learning Objectives:

• Understand the importance of capacity building in research and innovation.
• Learn how to develop/improve biobanking, registries and screening programmes.
• Identify the ways to bring research findings into clinical settings.
• Enhance collaboration between stakeholders and other research centres.
• Explore real-world case studies and examples of successful/unsuccessful of ongoing research, innovation and patent cases.

ATTENDANCE TO THE CONFERENCE IS BY APPLICATION ONLY

This conference is part of the CCI4EU project funded by the European Union

Conference Structure:

The conference will be a combination of lectures by international experts, discussions and breakout sessions.

During the breakout sessions some selected participants will be given the opportunity to present case studies of their own experience in research and clinical implementation (success stories, trials that didn’t work, trials that are ongoing with issues that need to be resolved).
The faculty & participants will discuss these cases studies in small groups.

Participant’s profile:

As this is an EU funded project, the conference is open to anyone coming from EU Member States and the following associated countries: Albania, Georgia, Moldova, Ukraine and Norway.

Priority will be given to delegates from CCIs with a low maturity according to the Maturity Model Mapping. Priority will also be given to multidisciplinary teams from such CCIs, not isolated individuals. In particular we are looking for:

• People/researchers involved in translational research
• Clinical trialists
• Directors of science/department leaders
• People involved in IP and TT offices
• Hospital leaders

Attendance to the conference is on application basis, 100 participants will be selected to attend.
All participants will have their flights and accommodation organized and paid for by the project.

Fluency in English is required.

Location:

The conference will be held at Fondation Universitarie Brussels
It will begin at 08:30 on 9 April 2025 and end at 12:15 on 10 April 2025.

Accommodation and Travel:

2 night’s accommodation (8 & 9 April 2024) at The Hotel Brussels will be organized for all selected participants.
Flights/Trains to and from Brussels will be organized by the conference travel agency.
Extra accommodation and accompanying guest will not be covered or organised by the project, nor will extra travel costs such as taxi, car park, etc.

Language

The course will be held in English and translation will not be provided.

Insurance

The organisers bear no responsibility for untoward events in relation to the participation in the event. Participants will be advised to take out their own personal and travel insurance coverage.

Organising Secretariat

Attendance to the conference is on application basis, 100 participants will be selected to attend. Interested candidates should apply online providing the following:

• CV & list of publications;
• Motivation letter (if you are applying as a member of a team, please state this here);
• Completed template for the Research and Innovation Case Studies (template here)
  

Priority will be given to delegates from CCIs with a low maturity according to the Maturity Model Mapping. Priority will also be given to multidisciplinary teams from such CCIs, not isolated individuals.

Research and Innovation Case Studies

Please complete the attached template giving an example of research and innovation you have worked on: it could be a study that worked and was a success, something that didn’t work or that is ongoing with issues that need to be resolved.

Some selected participants will have the opportunity to present their example in the format of a slide presentation (max. 10) to the participants and faculty members during the breakout sessions (as mentioned in the programme). Please don’t submit presentations at this stage in the application process.

Case studies from teams will also be accepted and the whole participating team should be mentioned in the template.

ATTENDANCE TO THE COURSE IS BY APPLICATION ONLY

Successful applicants are granted:

- free registration, accommodation and meals (as stated in the programme), flights to and from the location.

APPLICATION DEADLINE: 02.02.2025

Adriana Albini, IRCCS European Institute of Oncology IEO, Scientific Directorate Dpt., Milano, IT
Maja Cemazar, Institute of Oncology Ljubljana, Head of Research and Education, Ljubljana, SI
Tarec Christoffer El-Galaly, Aalborg Universitetshospital, Department of Clinical Medicine, Aalborg, DK
Zisis Kozlakidis, International Agency for Research on Cancer, Head, Laboratory Services and Biobank Group, Lyon, FR
Mef Nilbert, Lund University, Dept. Oncology, Institute for Clinical Sciences, Lund, SE
Miroslav Samarzija, Clinical Hospital Center Zagreb, Department of Pulmonary Diseases, Zagreb, HR
Giske Ursin, Cancer Registry of Norway, Norwegian Institute of Public Health, Oslo, NO
Ivanus Urska, Institute Of Oncology Ljubljana, Epidemiology and Cancer Registries, Ljubljana, SI
Johan Van Lint, KU Leuven, Cellular & Molecular Medicine Dpt., Leuven, BE