The Steering Committee of DCCC has decided to continue to support national and multidisciplinary initiatives in the field of cancer in 2019. The first round of applications has just closed and six projects have been allocated DKK 1 million in total. Photo: Torben Kjeldsen. RM Kommunikation.
01-03-2019
The Steering Committee has decided to retain the opportunity to apply for funding of national and multidisciplinary networks and initiatives in the field of cancer in 2019. The funding covers an area which previously hasen't been covered.
Since the first call for applications in 2017, DCCC has supported 45 projects and networks by a total of DKK 6.3 million. The first call for applications in 2019 has just closed and six new initiatives have been allocated just over DKK 1.0 million.
The six new initiatives cover preparation of pre-application processes to national and international projects and the establishment of a national Danish circulating tumor DNA-network to preparation of investigator-initiated studies on cryotherapy as a way of reducing nerve damages following chemotherapy.
More information about the six initiatives
National Database for Metastatic Breast Cancer
Multidisciplinary/professional organisation
DBCG – Danish Breast Cancer Coorperative Group
Project description
The aim of the project is to expand the current treatment database of DBCG to contain treatment information on all patients with metastatic breast cancer. The expansion is both a retrospective expansion covering all patients diagnosed since 2000 as well as establishing the means for continued coverage of future patients with metastatic breast cancer.
Primary contact
Ann Søegaard Knoop, Consultant, PhD, Medical Leader, Clinical Research Centre, Department of Oncology, Rigshospitalet
DCCC Danish circulating tumor DNA network (DCCC ctDNA)
Multidisciplinary/professional organisation
DCCC, DACG, DaBlaCa, DUCG and DaProCa.
Project description
Establishing a national multidisciplinary DCCC circulating tumour DNA network (DCCC ctDNA) to improve the collaboration, research and clinical implementation of ctDNA based biomarkers in the management and treatment of cancer.
The aim of DCCC ctDNA is to stimulate and optimize Danish ctDNA research by facilitating national research studies lead by the DMCG’s. With the network we will create a unique forum, where researchers and clinicians with interest in ctDNA can meet, collaborate and formulate national protocols with the aim of improving cancer treatment in all of Denmark.
Primary contact
Claus Lindbjerg Andersen, PhD, Professor, Department of Molecular Medicine, Aarhus University Hospital
Workshops for generation of organ at risk contours for national automatic contouring atlas
Multidisciplinary/professional organisation
DMCG
Project description
One of the cornerstones of modern radiotherapy is the ability to identify organs at risk on medical images, which is a time consuming routine task. New computer-based algorithms like machine learning and artificial intelligence (deep learning) are able to help automating this process. The project aims to create the opportunity to utilize these automatization features across various cancer sites and to gather oncology experts from across the country covering various anatomical groups to develop and validate future national contouring atlases.
Primary contact
Christian Rønn Hansen, Medical Physicist, Danish Centre for Particle Therapy, Aarhus University Hospital
Danish network of preclinical radiobiology research
Multidisciplinary/professional organisation
DCCC Radiotherapy, WP10
Project description
A Danish network of preclinical radiobiology research is currently being established. The aim is to further develop radiobiological research in Denmark by establishing and advancing collaborations between basal and clinical research. The expected outcome of such a network is a stronger national collaboration leading to optimized radiobiological research in Denmark.
Primary contact
Brita Singers Sørensen, PhD, Associate Professor, Department of Experimental Clinical Oncology, Aarhus University Hospital
Effects of Cryotherapy on Objective and Subjective Symptoms of Paclitaxel-Induced Neuropathy in Patients with Early Breast Cancer
Multidisciplinary/professional organisation
DBCG – Danish Breast Cancer Group
Project description
Taxane-based therapies are integral to the treatment of breast cancer. Chemotherapy-induced peripheral neuropathy (CIPN) is a common, disabling and dose-limiting side effect of these agents. CIPN adversely affect survival and quality of life. It presents as a distal sensory neuropathy, including pain, numbness and tingling in hands/feet. Symptoms may improve but for some patients it is permanent. No established strategy exists for CIPN management.
The funds will be used to start a trial to study the efficacy of frozen gloves and socks to prevent paclitaxel chemotherapy induced peripheral neuropathy.
Primary contact
Maria Elisabeth Lendorf, MD, PhD, Department of Oncology, Rigshospitalet
National collaboration in immunoradiotherapy
Multidisciplinary/professional organisation
Aarhus University Hospital
Project description
Research indicates that the effect of radiation therapy is a combination of direct cell killing and immune stimulating effects. The immune stimulation may be enhanced in combination with immune checkpoint inhibitors and the combination may represent a breakthrough in cancer therapy. There is a number of research groups in Denmark engaged in preclinical and clinical research in immune- and radiation therapy. On workshops, we wish to bring these efforts together with the aim of strengthening research in immune radiotherapy and give birth to new research activities across the country.
Primary contact
Morten Høyer, MD, PhD, Professor, Danish Centre for Particle Therapy, Aarhus University Hospital