Consultant and Professor Helle Pappot will assume the position of Deputy Chair of the Sceintific Council in the upcoming year. Photo: Rigshospitalet.
05-12-2023
From the new year, Helle Pappot will assume the position of Deputy Chair of the Sceintific Council. With her unique and diverse background, she will contribute to advancing DCCC and enhancing collaboration and knowledge sharing among Danish cancer researchers and practitioners, assesses the Chair of the Scientific Council, Henrik Frederiksen.
From the upcoming year, Helle Pappot, consultant at the Department of Oncology at Rigshospitalet and professor of clinical oncology with a focus on patient involvement and Patient Reported Outcome at the University of Copenhagen, will join the DCCC Professional Committee's executive committee and at the same time take over the vice-chair position in the committee after Cai Grau. She approaches the tasks ahead with great enthusiasm and passion:
- I'm incredibly passionate about fostering even more knowledge sharing and building stronger networks within the Danish cancer landscape. It's part of DCCC's mission statement, and I'm committed to ensuring that it's not just words but actions. I believe there's still untapped potential in this area, and because we're a small country, it's crucial for us to always unite our efforts, ensuring that our research benefits patients as swiftly as possible.
Helle Pappot's background is versatile and quite unique. Since completing her medical degree in 1990, she has been deeply involved in biological oncology research. She has also contributed significantly to the Danish Health Authority, where she served as a project leader during the formulation of the Danish Cancer Plan III. . In recent years, she has increasingly focused on patient involvement and the broader patient perspective. Additionally, in 2021, she was elected as the chair of the Danish Medical Research Ethics Committee 1 under the Danish National Center for Ethics. Helle Pappot thus brings extensive experience from translational and clinically oriented cancer research, a comprehensive understanding of regulatory processes and a solid appreciation for patient and ethical considerations.
- I believe that my background allows me to approach the field of cancer from various perspectives. It's something I hope to contribute to as the Deputy Chair in DCCC Scientific Council and as part of the Executive Committee, says Helle Pappot.
An outstanding match
Henrik Frederiksen, the Chair of DCCC Scientific Council, expresses his satisfaction with having Helle Pappot as a collaborator for the upcoming two years.
- In my opinion, Helle has all the qualities that DCCC values. She is dedicated to the community, adept at understanding the broader perspective and overarching goals. Moreover, she holds a genuine and strong interest in patient involvement and empowerment of patients. She also has extensive insights into the challenges faced by young individuals with cancer - all of which i belive are essential in healthcare and are demanded by patient. Overall, with her profile and personality, Helle is an outstanding match for DCCC, he says.
Additionally, Henrik Frederiksen looks forward to collaborating with Helle Pappot on a personal level:
- I teamed up with Helle to develop the session 'Follow-up and Late Effects: Do You Think It Matters?' for the Danish Cancer Research Days 2023. Working with her was a pleasure. Helle brought a tremendous amount of energy to the project and she was great at highlighting the crucial elements. I am convinced that our collaboration will be both excellent and productive.
Thanks to Cai Grau
At the same time as we are welcoming Helle Pappot as the Deputy Chair of DCCC Scientific Council, we also express our gratitude to Cai Grau, who has held the role since 2021, and prior to that, served as the Chair of the Scientific Council from 2017-2021.
Cai Grau has had an important role during the organization's formative years as the national, binding collaboration on cancer research and treatment. Throughout this period, Cai Grau played a crucial role in uniting good intentions, setting the professional agenda, and translating political mandates into practical and tangible initiatives. During his tenure, he was instrumental in establishing DCCC's fund supporting national, interdisciplinary activities and networks, as well as the Danish Cancer Research Days, which rapidly evolved into Denmark's largest interdisciplinary cancer conference, annually bringing the Danish cancer community together.
From the new year, Cai Grau will no longer be part of the Executive Committee of DCCC Scientific Council.Anne Bukh, Chair of the Steering Committee for DCCC and Group Director, highlights the considerable importance of Cai Grau's contributions to both the establishment and ongoing evolution of DCCC.
- We owe immense gratitude to Cai Grau for his efforts in strengthening cancer collaboration across the country, says Anne Bukh.
Henrik Frederiksen also extends his gratitude to Cai Grau.
- Cai has a remarkable ability to identify areas where both needs and opportunities for improvements exist in national collaborations and structures. He has been instrumental in getting DCCC off to a strong start, serving as an exemplary embodiment of the principles that underlie the DCCC structure. On a personal note, I regard him as a dedicated advocate for the community, making him a role model for me.
However, both the field of cancer and DCCC won't be parting ways entirely with Cai Grau. He remains a member of the Scientific Council and continues to lead the National Research Center for Radiotherapy, DCCC Radiotherapy, alongside his numerous other responsibilities within the field of cancer.