60 mio. kr. til immunterapi

Over the next four years, DKK 60 million will be allocated to immunotherapy research in Denmark. Photo: Torben Kjeldsen, Central Denmark Region

09-02-2018

The Danish Health Authority will administrate a total of DKK 60 million, allocating DKK 15 million each year from 2018 to 2021 involving Danish Comprehensive Cancer Center (DCCC).

The funding is a result of the National Budget agreements to strengthen Danish research and development in immunotherapy.
Immunotherapy uses the body’s own immune system to fight cancer cells. In recent years, there has been a major breakthrough with immunotherapy, which has been shown to have an exceptionally positive effect and improved survival in some patients. It means that survival has improved in some of the patients with e.g. melanoma who previously had a very poor survival.

In approximately half of the patients immunotherapy, however, has no effect and some patients experience side effects demanding hospitalisation. Research is thus intensified to find a method to identify the patients who will actually benefit from the treatment.
The many new treatment methods in immunotherapy will constantly have the potential to spread treatment to other types of cancer or improve targeted treatment of those who may benefit from immunotherapy.

The call for applications will be announced on the DCCC website.