last updated: 19 June, 2007

Summary

Leukemias are a challenge to society and a cost factor in health care systems because of their frequency in all age groups. They also serve as a model for a variety of diseases and possess exemplary relevance for basic research and patient care. Leukemia research and therapy have achieved high standards and even a leading position in several European countries with regard to clinical trials, standardization of diagnostics and molecular studies of signal transduction and gene expression.

A true European world leadership, however, has not been accomplished yet due to national fragmentation of leukemia trial groups, diagnostic approaches and treatment research activities and a need for central information and communication structures.

The objective of the planned European Leukemia Network is to integrate the leading leukemia trial groups (CML, AML, ALL, CLL, MDS, CMPD), their interdisciplinary partners (diagnostics, treatment research, registry, guidelines) and industry across Europe to form a European cooperative network for progress in leukemia related research and health care. Integration will be supported by central information, communication, education and management structures. The main goals are to intensify discovery of therapeutic targets and new drugs, to shorten the time period to clinical translation, to apply advanced genomics, telematics and biotechnology to therapeutic progress and to promote translational research relevant also for solid cancers by large clinical trials. Furthermore, metaanalyses of specific subaspects, elaboration of prognostic scores, recognition of gender specific differences, creation of uniform data sets for trials and registration, introduction of standards for diagnostics and treatment procedures and development of evidence based guidelines will be promoted throughout Europe.

The proposed network will have the expertise and critical mass for European added value and world leadership. It will structure European research durably, spread European scientific excellence in the field of leukemias and can start immediately.

In this project, 237 associated scientists from 22 countries are cooperating to apply for funding of an European Leukemia Network, within the 6th Framework Program of the European Community