Development of a research capacity building programme on cancer with and for Ukraine

Expected Outcome:

This topic aims to develop a wide capacity building programme between EU Member States/Associated Countries and Ukrainian cancer centres, to support improvement or development of research & innovation-related capacities and integration with cancer care.

To this end, proposals should aim at delivering results that are directed and tailored towards and contribute to all of the following expected outcomes:

• Researchers, clinicians and health care professionals will have access to improved research capacities, supporting better integration with care.
• Patients and citizens will have access to improved screening, diagnostics and treatments, while increasing their participation in clinical trials.

Scope:

Ukraine has a very high cancer burden with more than 155,000 new diagnoses every year^[1]. The country has also one of the highest childhood cancer mortality rates globally^[2]. Disparities in access and quality of cancer care in Ukraine were high before Russia's unprovoked aggression and worsened because of the conflict, which has also led to increased cancer mortality and morbidity, due to discontinuation of treatments and shortage of medical supplies.

Proposals should address all of the following:

A research capacity-building programme should be set up between EU Member States/Associated Countries and Ukraine, in order to support Ukraine to develop or to further improve research & innovation-related capacities of future or existing Cancer Infrastructures.

The capacity building programme should include the following components:

• Development of a joint-research training programme, including distance-learning modules
• Twinning research activities, including staff-exchange for the implementation of targeted research projects and access to cutting-edge services

The capacity building programme should cover at least the following areas;

• Enhanced involvement in quality scientific research, including development and implementation of clinical trials and other epidemiological studies and related training^[3];
• Better integration of research and care to improve patient outcomes. Particular emphasis should be given to cancer in children, adolescents and young adults;
• Improvement of digital capacity to support primary and secondary use of patient data, including through improvement of data exchange capacities^[4] and development of cancer registries where needed.

Gender-related aspects, with respect to representation in research and career pathways and any other relevant aspects, should be duly taken into account.

The research capacity-building programme should be tailored to the needs of the participating entities. This concerns in particular the required participants / stakeholder groups, duly reflecting health and research system specificities. The training module shall consist of balanced theoretical and practical parts, including simulations, case studies, group exercises, mutual learning exercises and on-site visits (when possible) to gather practical experience. Safety of participating staff/researchers should be prioritised.

Advantage should be taken to the extent possible of experience gained under current and previous initiatives such as CCI4EU^[5], Jane^[6], Jane 2^[7], Crane^[8], CanSERV^[9] and others. The relevant EU research infrastructures in the life science domain^[10] and other EU initiatives should be exploited for available research services, as appropriate.

[1] 04-ukraine-fact-sheet.pdf

[2] 9789289057615-eng.pdf

[3] Topics to be covered include but are not limited to study design, process of trial approval, ethical aspects, recruitment, staffing and training requirements including digital skills, data management and data analysis, organisational aspects, regulatory requirements, clinical core facilities, patient participation and empowerment

[4] e.g. interoperability of standards, data protection related aspects and others as appropriate

[5] CCI4EU

[6] Shaping the EU Networksof Expertise on cancer!

[7] Home - Jane 2

[8] CraNE4Health European Network of Comprehensive Cancer Centres

[9] canSERV - Cutting Edge Cancer Research Services Across Europe

[10] Home | LifeScience