Presentation of new research results and a vibrant atmosphere where business cards were frequently exchanged characterised the two-day cancer conference and the two organisers, Michael Borre, Chair of DMCG.dk and Anne Bukh, Chair of the Steering Commitee of DCCC are very satisfied with the outcome. Photo: Hung Tien Vu - Danish Cancer Research Days 2018.

02-10-2018

The conference Danish Cancer Research Days in the last part of August was a success with fruitful professional discussions, knowledge sharing and a high number of participants, the organisers behind the conference as well as participants agreed. The next step is to continue the work to strengthen the national collaboration on cancer.

Presentation of new research results and a vibrant atmosphere where business cards were frequently exchanged characterised the two-day cancer conference. 

”I think Danish Cancer Research Days contributes to strengthen Danish cancer research. We managed to gather clinicians from hospitals, researchers from universities, patients from patient associations, health politicians and managers in the field of health. This is quite unique and for the first time, all important stakeholders in the field of cancer were gathered. For the first time, there has been focus on the entire field of cancer”, says Anne Bukh, Chair of the Steering Committee of Danish Comprehensive Cancer Center (DCCC), who had organised the conference together with Multidisciplinary Cancer Groups (DMGC.dk).


Talk to those involved

As many as 134 young researchers participated and presented their results in the field of cancer. ”We have given young researchers from hospitals and universities the opportunity to exchange their research results and in this way we hope to create new networks to strengthen cancer research,” says Anne Bukh.

One of the people hoping that research will be strengthened and prioritised is Helle Nørup, who is the deputy chairman of the patient association for gynaecological cancer (Kræft I Underlivet, KIU).

”We were at the conference to support women who have or have had a gynaecological cancer, and it means a lot to us to have the possibility to participate. We have acquired new knowledge and we have been updated in the field and we also had the opportunity to talk to people who know most about cancer research in Denmark. And equally important – they had the possibility to talk to us, because we know what it means to have cancer,” says Helle Nørup.


Move towards greater collaboration

Michael Borre, Chair of DMCG.dk is also very satisfied with the conference and hopes that DCCC and DMCG.dk next year will be ready to welcome a new team of committed researchers and clinicians.

”I think we had some really good discussions at the conference. I noticed that many focused on collaboration or lack of collaboration in the research environments. Professional selfishness was mentioned, and we have to move away from that. Even though competition can be stimulating to the research environment, there is no doubt that we can become much better at benefitting from collaborating – also with colleagues at another university or another hospital. The new discoveries in the lab must be communicated fast, tested and implemented. We must collaborate to ensure that,” says Michael Borre.

According to Michael Borre, one of the challenges is that researchers fight for the same funding. ”We see each other as competitors rather than collaborators. We must initiate more projects across institutions,” he says.

This is exactly the intention behind the DKK 5 million funding for research distributed annually by DCCC. Researchers and clinicians can apply for funding to start project across professions and regions. The next application deadline is 16 October 2018.