ESMO calls for oncology-specific safeguards in EU joint clinical assessments of medical and in vitro diagnostic devices in the new EU public consultation

The European Society for Medical Oncology (ESMO) has compiled a detailed response to the European Commission's public consultation draft regarding Implementing Regulation for Joint Clinical Assessments of medical and in vitro diagnostic devices.  The 4 key strategic priorities noted in the framework include systematic inclusion of oncology expertise, structured stakeholder involvement, proportional and feasible evidence requirements, and clear and consistent guidance on comparators and outcomes. 

To learn more and read the full submission, click here. 

Practicing oncology during the COVID-19 pandemic: protecting medical staff to ensure cancer patients can safely receive care

The European Society of Medical Oncology (ESMO) has launched a new series, Practicing Oncology During the Pandemic, sharing experiences and perspectives from medical personnel during the COVID-19 pandemic.  Via a series of interviews, readers will learn about current COVID-19 testing policies, daily routines of medical oncologists, along with treatment and follow-up strategies for cancer patients.

Click here for further information

Canadian Cancer Society: Knowledge to Action grant application forms available

The Canadian Cancer Society is pleased to announce that the online application form is now available for the upcoming Knowledge to Action competition. Please visit the newly redesigned Canadian Cancer Society Research Institute website for application information and research news.

Knowledge to Action Grants: This grant program is designed to support primary knowledge translation (KT) research projects in behavioural and psychosocial sciences that build on existing cancer research findings and aim to improve outcomes and experiences through KT for people and populations at risk, patients, their families and communities across the cancer trajectory. Read more here.

1IN3 CancerViewDigest: Focus on HPV Vaccine

This month's edition of the 1IN3 CancerViewDigest focuses on the HPV Vaccine. Included in this curated collection of cancer news is a video interview with Dr. Heather Bryant entitled "HPV vaccine 101," a Q&A interview with Dr. Catherine Popadiuk on the HPV vaccine, an infographic on which cancers are associated with HPV, and data visualization on the link between HPV and oral cancers. Visit the website here.

Request for information on proposed NCI policy ensuring public availability of results from NCI-supported clinical trials

With this Notice, the National Cancer Institute (NCI) announces and seeks public input on NCI’s plan to promote and ensure public availability of results from all commenced, NCI-supported clinical trials.

Background

NCI, a component of the National Institutes of Health (NIH), is dedicated to improving the health of Americans by conducting and funding biomedical research through an extensive portfolio of clinical trials and clinical trials-related research. A fundamental premise of all NIH-funded research is that the results of such work must be shared in order to contribute to the general body of science and ultimately, to the public health. Grantee institutions are expected to make the results and accomplishments of their activities available to the research community and to the public at large.

NIH funding recipients ensure the timely disclosure of their scientists’ research findings through publications, presentations at scientific meetings as well as by sharing research tools, depositing information into databases and materials into repositories and through other means. NIH has many policies in place to educate funding recipients about their responsibility to share the results of NIH-funded work, and to facilitate such sharing. For example, the NIH Data Sharing Policy (http://www.grants.nih.gov/grants/policy/data_sharing/data_sharing_guidance.htm), the NIH Public Access Policy (http://publicaccess.nih.gov/), the NIH Research Tools Policy (http://www.ott.nih.gov/policy/research_tool.html), and the NIH Genome Wide Association Policy (http://gwas.nih.gov/03policy2.html) are all important examples of critical information and materials sharing policies that ensure that NIH research funding is used productively and to the best advantage of science and the public health. Such sharing is fundamental to biomedical research program performance. Read more here.

Moving forward together: New progress report from the Canadian Partnership Against Cancer

The Canadian Partnership Against Cancer is proud to launch a new interactive Progress Report 2012-2017 on Canada’s cancer strategy. Visit this dynamic microsite for highlighted achievements from past and present years. Visit site here.

Ontario Institute of Cancer Research and Cancer Care Ontario Knowledge Translation Network announce the 2013 request for proposals

Funds are available from the Knowledge Translation Research Network (KT‐Net) of the Health Services Research (HSR) Program for projects that address important knowledge translation aspects relevant to the clinical priority areas defined in OICR’s 2010 to 2015 strategic plan (outlined below). Total funding available for the 2013 competition is at least $150,000. It is anticipated that 1 or 2 teams will be funded under this initiative. Read more here.

Podcast: Smoking cessation in children and adolescents

Each week Dr. Mark Ebell, POEMs Editor, joins Dr. Michael Wilkes, NPR correspondent and Vice-Dean of the UC-Davis Medical School, for a five minute discussion about an important recent POEM. The discussion provides additional depth and insight into the issue covered by the POEM synopsis. In this episode, Dr. Ebell and Dr. Wilkes discuss the POEM titled "Smoking prevention counseling works in adolescents, cessation efforts don't." Download the podcast here.

Collaboration key to better health

A collaboration announced Wednesday at the University of Calgary between Eli Lilly Canada Inc. and Alberta Innovates - Health Solutions – the Alberta/Lilly Translational Research Collaboration Fund – will provide $1.475 million to support health research at publicly funded Alberta post-secondary institutions. “Collaboration is the key to leading-edge health research,” said Fred Horne, Minister of Health. “These funds will help researchers turn collaborative ideas into solutions that will have a positive impact on the health of Albertans.” The research collaboration aims to provide health care workers with more of the tools and medicines they need to support quality primary care and promotes a stronger innovation and entrepreneurial culture in Alberta. More information is here.