You also want an ePaper? Increase the reach of your titles
YUMPU automatically turns print PDFs into web optimized ePapers that Google loves.
European LeukaemiaNet<br />
Strengthen and develop scientifi c and<br />
technological excellence in research<br />
and therapy of leukaemia (CML, AML,<br />
ALL, CLL, MDS, CMPD) by integration<br />
of the leading national leukaemia<br />
networks and their interdisciplinary<br />
partner groups in Europe<br />
Summary<br />
Leukaemias are a challenge to society and a cost factor<br />
because of their frequency in all age groups. They also serve as<br />
a model for a variety of diseases and possess exemplary relevance<br />
for basic research and patient care. Leukaemia research<br />
and therapy have achieved high standards and even a leading<br />
position in several European countries with regard to clinical<br />
trials, standardisation of diagnostics and molecular studies of<br />
signal transduction and gene expression. A true European<br />
world leadership, however, has not been accomplished yet due<br />
to national fragmentation of leukaemia trial groups, diagnostic<br />
approaches and treatment research activities and a need for<br />
central information and communication structures.<br />
Problem<br />
Leukaemia trial groups, diagnostic approaches and treatment<br />
research are currently fragmented. There is a clear<br />
need for benchmarking, information and communication<br />
structures at a clinical level in Europe.<br />
Aim<br />
Keywords | Leukaemia | CML | AML | ALL | CLL | MDS | CMPD |<br />
The objective is to integrate the 95 leading leukaemia trial<br />
groups (chronic myeloid leukaemia (CML), acute myeloid<br />
leukaemia (AML), acute lymphoblastic leukaemia (ALL),<br />
chronic lymphoid leukaemia (CLL), myelodysplastic syndromes<br />
(MDS), chronic myeloproliferative disorders (CMPD),<br />
their 102 interdisciplinary partner groups (diagnostics, treatment<br />
research, registry, guidelines), industry and SMEs across<br />
Europe to form a cooperative network for advancements in<br />
leukaemia-related research and health care. Integration will be<br />
supported by central information, communication, education<br />
and management structures. Other goals are to intensify<br />
target and drug discovery, to shorten the time period to<br />
clinical translation, to apply advanced genomics, telematics<br />
and biotechnology to therapeutic progress and to promote<br />
research relevant also for solid cancers by large clinical trials.<br />
Furthermore, meta-analyses of specifi c subaspects, elaboration<br />
of prognostic scores, recognition of gender-specifi c<br />
diff erences, creation of uniform data sets for trials and registration,<br />
introduction of standards for diagnostics and treatment<br />
and development of evidence-based guidelines will be promoted<br />
throughout Europe. The proposed network will have<br />
the expertise and critical mass for European added value and<br />
world leadership. It will structure European research durably,<br />
spread European scientifi c excellence in the fi eld of leukaemias<br />
and can start immediately. The 95 leukaemia trial groups<br />
and their 102 interdisciplinary partner groups representing<br />
several thousand participating centres and ten thousands of<br />
study patients treated within the trial groups form the backbone<br />
of the network. The network consists of 16 work<br />
packages. Of these, six deal with the various diseases (AML,<br />
ALL, CLL, CML, MDS, CMPD) and represent sub-networks on<br />
their own. Seven work packages represent interdisciplinary<br />
platforms which provide the support and research expertise<br />
required for high quality networking and excellence. Three<br />
core work packages provide central communication and management<br />
services for the whole network. The integration and<br />
interdisciplinary cooperation brings together 133 participants<br />
and approximately 1 000 researchers from 28 countries. The<br />
network will overcome national fragmentation and provide<br />
the critical mass to achieve research and treatment goals that<br />
cannot be achieved by single European countries.<br />
Expected results<br />
1. Establishment of central information and communication<br />
structures to create networks and platforms for all leukaemias<br />
and their interdisciplinary partners.<br />
Integration is mediated by exchange of current trial protocols<br />
and procedures, information on participating centres and<br />
recruited patients and employment of uniform common data<br />
sets for comparable study outcomes and evaluations provided<br />
by the biometrical center (WP 17). This objective will be<br />
achieved through central services: Network Management Center<br />
(NMC, WP 1), European Leukaemia Information Center (ELIC,<br />
WP 2) and Central Information and Communication Services<br />
(CICS, WP 3). The central service groups benefi t from a three<br />
years’ experience in similar tasks for the German Competence<br />
Network for Acute and Chronic Leukaemias funded by the German<br />
Ministry for Education and <strong>Research</strong> (BMBF) and provide<br />
the basis for a head start of the network. These groups will also<br />
provide training programmes, workshops, symposia, exchange<br />
of researchers and information programmes, thereby spreading<br />
excellence to health care personnel, researchers and to<br />
other countries not yet participating in the network. With the<br />
support of NMC (WP 1) the network will be managed in a twolayer<br />
networking organisation. Clinical trial groups for each<br />
leukaemia and their interdisciplinary partner will form their own<br />
European subnet organizations with coordinators, steering<br />
196 CANCER RESEARCH PROJECTS FUNDED UNDER THE SIXTH FRAMEWORK PROGRAMME
Change language