VCCC Alliance’s Post

The EU Joint Action on Networks of Expertise on cancer (JANE-2) started on November 1st 2024 with the signature of the Grant Agreement (GAP-101183265) between the European Health and Digital Executive Agency (HaDEA) and 29 beneficiaries from 25 Member States and 4 Associated Countries. The consortium includes 121 partners (competent authorities and their associated entities) and is coordinated by Fondazione IRCCS Istituto Nazionale dei Tumori (INT), Italy. The duration of the Joint Action is four years (2024 – 2028). Based on the outcomes of JANE, JANE-2 is aiming at building seven Networks of Expertise (NoEs) that will cover the cancer areas of complex and poor-prognosis cancers, palliative care, survivorship, personalized primary/secondary prevention, omic technologies, hi-tech medical resources, adolescents and young adults with cancer. JANE-2 will provide NoEs, already envisaged in the context of JANE, the means to develop and fulfill their mission to the benefit of European citizens. #HealthUnion #EU4Health #EUCancerPlan EU Health and Food Safety European Health and Digital Executive Agency (HaDEA) #cancer

Congratulations to Dr. Katrin Julia Kaal for receiving a New Health Investigator Grant for research exploring a provincial framework to organize and deliver survivorship care for adolescent and young adult cancer survivors. Young adult cancer survivors - survivors diagnosed during childhood, adolescence, or young adulthood - experience unique challenges in accessing quality follow-up care given personal and professional changes that happen over these years, and current healthcare system challenges. This research will design, implement, and evaluate a new approach in the context of the Nova Scotia health system to provide young adult cancer survivors with the care they need. This research could help improve young adult cancer survivors’ care experiences and health outcomes, as well as enable access to high-quality, safe, and effective survivorship care for survivors of pediatric, adolescent, and young adult cancer. View the full list of 2023/24 New Health Investigator Grant recipients: https://bit.ly/49h1Q75 Nova Scotia Health Authority Nova Scotia Health Innovation Hub #youngadultcancer #cancersurvivor #cancersurvivorcare

We need to raise this conversation again and look to how we can solve for equity from the start - we have much to learn from what the data shows us and we must listen to what citizens tell us are the barriers to participation - can’t wait to share the full report

It is a great honour to share with you our very first article that describes the EU NAVIGATE project as a whole and explains our expected outcomes and impacts to advance practice, science and society in relation to navigation interventions for older people with #cancer and their family caregivers. EU NAVIGATE is a 5-year EU-funded project that aims to adapt, implement, and evaluate a navigation intervention using an international pragmatic randomized controlled trial (RCT) in Belgium, Ireland, Italy, the Netherlands, Poland, and Portugal. Embedded in its core are mixed-method process evaluation, cost-effectiveness analyses and pre-defined subgroup analyses focused on factors that are known to affect healthcare access and inequalities (2022-2027). Through this project, we hope to deliver high-quality evidence on a navigation intervention for older people with cancer in Europe and to develop practice and policy recommendations for sustainable implementation of navigation interventions in Europe and beyond. The coordination and implementation of such a large-scale cross-country project and research is not without hiccups. If you want to learn more on what we are doing and how we are managing the challenges in implementing the project and the international pragmatic randomised RCT, please follow us here or our website www.eunavigate.com, or you may subscribe to our newsletter.

📲 🏥 Join the TRANSiTION Project Stakeholder Forum: From Gaps to Growth - Delivering Digital Skills in Cancer Care Digital transformation in cancer care is vital, yet ensuring healthcare professionals and patients possess the right skills remains a challenge. The TRANSiTION project is addressing this by developing an advanced education programme to equip healthcare professionals and non-clinical staff with the digital skills necessary for providing top-tier care. This Stakeholder Forum offers a unique opportunity for key stakeholders and policymakers to shape the programme's development and ensure it meets real-world needs. The Forum's outcomes will play an important role in enhancing digital literacy in cancer care across Europe. 🗓️ 9 October, 15:00 - 17:00 CEST 📍 Virtual 🔗 Registration and detail: https://lnkd.in/eeFWzZYH 👉 Be part of the future of healthcare. Join the discussion and contribute to meaningful change! #EHMA #DigitalHealth #CancerCare #HealthcareInnovation #StakeholderForum #DigitalSkills #HealthcareProfessionals #CancerTreatment European Cancer Organisation PCE Pancreatic Cancer Europe European Cancer Patient Coalition European Federation for Cancer Images (EUCAIM) European Observatory on Health Systems and Policies EUREGHA - European Regional and Local Health Authorities EuroHealthNet COCIR EIT Health European Forum for Primary Care (EFPC) ESNO, European Specialist Nurses Organisation

Congratulations to  Dr Marcel Doerflinger and Dr Rhea Longley, awarded 2024 Viertel Senior Medical Research Fellowships 👏 👏     Bellberry-Viertel Fellow Dr Doerflinger is working to revolutionise the treatment of lung infections. His  research seeks to address the challenge of antimicrobial resistance by developing RNA-based therapies that manipulate the body's own defence mechanisms — specifically, a process known as programmed cell death. Rather than directly targeting bacteria with antibiotics, which can lead to resistance, these therapies focus on enhancing the body’s immune response.    Dr Longley will focus on developing effective surveillance of malaria, a critical step in the final stages of malaria elimination. Unfortunately, settings poised for elimination of malaria are also the most challenging for surveillance due to the inefficiency of detecting infections when there are low case numbers. Dr Longley’s research will address these gaps by expanding knowledge of naturally acquired immune responses following malaria infections, to develop new tools and approaches to accelerate malaria elimination.     The pair will each receive $1.375 million over five years to support their projects through the Sylvia and Charles Viertel Charitable Foundation in association with Bellberry Ltd. Read more about the fellowships 👇

Just three more days until I’m on my way to Washington DC for the National Coalition for Cancer Survivorship’s CPAT conference.  I have reserved time today to do my homework and to view the videos that Veronika and Shelley sent on “Preparing for Hill Meetings” and “Legislative Ask Details 2024.” There are different “levers” that can be "pulled" to drive success in improving survivorship and supportive care for our survivors and care partners.  Implementation science research, Learning Health Systems/Networks, quality improvement projects but all of these require funding. Most importantly, there is a lack of payment models that create robust ROI on supportive and QoL services. The Comprehensive Cancer Survivorship Act (CCSA) addresses the need for increased payment in cancer centers for survivorship clinics and the diverse range of programs that provide QoL care (cancer rehab/PM&R, cancer exercise, mental health, sexual health, cognitive care, navigation, education, support groups, integrative medicine, lifestyle medicine, and so on). I have made it a priority to attend CPAT this year since Veronika mentioned NCCS needs to have clinicians join the survivors as they go to the Hill.  It’s very powerful to hear from survivors and care partners but we also need the voice of the professionals that are working to care for these individuals.  Congress has to hear first hand about how the lack of funding limits Survivorship Directors, Managers and clinicians in building out robust programming.  As the population of survivors grow and more individuals are now living with cancer as a chronic illness, the urgency to address treatment related toxicities also increases. I’m looking forward to connecting with those that I’m working with nationally to make a difference.  They are some of  the most special people around (see a list below).  I also can't wait to add to my list of friends. #CPAT24 #NCCSHillDay2024 #cancersurvivorship #canceradvocacy National Coalition for Cancer Survivorship Alique Topalian, PhD, MPH Stephanie Gayhart, MHI, RN Sally Wolf Georgia Anderson Veronika Panagiotou, PhD

This week, it was great to attend the Westminster Hall debate on health inequalities in liver disease and liver cancer to hear from Preet Kaur Gill MP Shadow Minister for Primary Care and Public Health, Sharon Hodgson MP, @Navendu Mishra MP and others on the stark health inequalities that exist for liver disease. Did you know that liver cancer is currently the fastest rising cause of cancer death in the UK? And hospital admissions due to liver disease have risen by almost 80% in the last decade. Importantly, the debate shed a light on the crucial role early diagnosis plays in addressing the inequalities that exist and improving patient outcomes. In March 2023, NHS England launched the early diagnosis programme for liver cancer, marking a milestone in the fight against this disease. However, further progress is still needed, such as the development of a new nationally endorsed pathology pathway, if the Govt is to deliver on its ambitious target of 75% stage 1 & 2 by 2028 for early diagnosis of liver cancer. Pleased to represent Roche Diagnostics UK & Ireland to raise awareness of this important disease area and lend support to The British Liver Trust to make a difference in the lives of those affected by liver disease. #earlydiagnosis #livercancer #Roche

In 2024, after careful analysis, the second Australian Cancer Atlas comes with good news on improved survival rates for people in metropolitan areas and most regional areas. However, there is an unwanted conclusion regarding '' the lack of changes in the geographical patterns [for cancer patients] across Australia since the mid-1990s. That is, the extent and characteristics of geographical disparities across Australia in 1996 was very similar to that observed in 2019. In 2007, reducing inequalities in cancer was highlighted as one of the most important health challenges that Australia faces. While it must be acknowledged, and appreciated, that Australia has one of the best health systems in the world, the challenge to ensure all Australians have access to this best care remains a very difficult one. '' Delivery of services for cancer patients has not improved access to care or improved outcomes for many rural patients despite significant investment in medical research and improvements in clinical care. How we deliver healthcare that is equitable, accessible and effective remains a challenge in every state with the Northern Territory, Tasmania, S.A., W.A and Queensland facing significant challenges. Delivering for all Australians is a challenge for each state but is also a national challenge. Business as usual by Health departments has delivered for urban patients but not for the most disadvantaged Australians the Atlas shows. Systemic, informed and researched national planning for health services has been out of fashion for many years. Is it time to reignite population-focussed Health Planning at state and national levels for improved service delivery across Australia? # cancer # research #health services #healthplanning # equitablehealthcare #health outcomes #healtheconomics https://lnkd.in/gEqpvgeP

🌸 Proud to Support the PinkDrive Initiative – Empowering Health & Saving Lives 🌸 Last week, I had the privilege of attending the PinkDrive mobile cancer screening initiative, a cause that is close to my heart. Aspen has partnered with PinkDrive NPC, a recognized leader in cancer screening and awareness, to fund and launch a new mobile cancer screening clinic – the fourth in the PinkDrive fleet. This mobile clinic will play a critical role in bringing gender-related cancer screenings to rural and peri-urban communities that often lack immediate access to medical care. As an Aspen SED Strategic Trade graduate, I am proud to be part of an organization committed to addressing some of the most pressing public health challenges. Our partnership with PinkDrive is a testament to Aspen’s commitment to making a meaningful difference in communities where access to essential healthcare resources is limited. The mobile clinic will provide mammograms, clinical breast exams, pap smears, PSA testing for prostate cancer, and education on breast, cervical, prostate, and testicular cancers. This will help catch potentially life-threatening conditions early, giving individuals the best chance for treatment and survival. Unfortunately, many individuals in underserved areas only receive care when their cancer is diagnosed at an advanced stage, reducing survival chances and causing devastating consequences for families. It’s deeply moving to witness how this initiative empowers vulnerable communities with early detection, education, and the tools to fight cancer. By addressing these challenges head-on, we are helping to reduce the burden of cancer, especially breast and cervical cancer, which remain significant public health concerns in South Africa. The work that PinkDrive is doing – reaching people where they are and ensuring that cancer screening is accessible, affordable, and timely – is truly inspiring. I am incredibly grateful to be part of an organization that prioritizes health equity and supports initiatives that have the potential to save lives. Together, we are making a real impact and creating a healthier, more equitable future for all. #PinkDrive #AspenSED #CancerAwareness #EarlyDetection #HealthEquity #CommunityHealth #SocialImpact #AspenPharma #MakingADifference #PublicHealth #WomensHealth #MensHealth #CervicalCancer #BreastCancer #ProstateCancer #FightCancer