Cancer Research - Europa

• Supporting clinical research, particularly early stage (phase I and II) clinical trials, targeted
at validating new and improved interventions.
• Funding translational research that takes basic knowledge through to applications in clinical
practice and public health.
• Other cancer related issues, such as ageing and cancer, gender related cancer; regional
diff erences, psycho-social aspects, palliative care, and guidance for support groups.
During the lifetime of FP6, many research groups applied and 108 projects were selected for funding.
Among the funded ones are 37 large Integrated Projects (IP) or Networks of Excellence (NoE);
64 Specifi c Targeted Research Projects (STREP) and 7 Coordination or Support Actions (CSA).
The EU is committed to funding excellence in European biomedical research. All submitted
proposals were subject to a rigorous, transparent and equitable peer-reviewed evaluation carried
out by independent international panels of high-level experts from academia, public and private
research organisations, and industry.
Connecting European academic excellence with innovative research-based industry is the key to
the success of translational research. Therefore, the Commission particularly encouraged small and
medium-sized enterprises (SME) to participate in its research programmes.
The present catalogue includes cancer projects on a variety of topics. No less than 1 500 research
teams are collaborating in European Union Member States and other European countries associated
with the Framework Programme, as well as selected third countries, such as USA, Chile,
Australia, Russian Federation etc., thus consolidating an important critical mass to fi ght cancer.
In fact, virtually all major European cancer research centres are taking part in one or several of
the Commission-funded support schemes.
The presentation of the catalogue follows the Common Scientifi c Outline (CSO) fi rst presented as
a classifi cation system of scientifi c interest in cancer research, in the framework of the Cancer
Research Portfolio (CRP) of the National Institute of Health, USA.
They include 7 broadly defi ned research areas:
• Biology
• Aetiology (causes of cancer)
• Prevention
• Early detection, diagnosis and prognosis
• Treatment
• Cancer control, survivorship and outcomes research
• Scientifi c model systems
The division into the diff erent groups is not always straightforward; therefore some of the
projects could be classifi ed in one or more of the above areas. The essential fact is that these
projects are all present in the catalogue and represent the enormous eff ort and constant
devotion of the European research society to fi ght cancer.
Manuel Hallen Maria José Vidal Ragout
Acting Director Health Research Deputy Head of Unit
DG Research, European Commission Medical and Public Health Research
8
DG Research, European Commission
CANCER RESEARCH PROJECTS FUNDED UNDER THE SIXTH FRAMEWORK PROGRAMME