CANCURE · CANcer CURe Early stage research training

Final Activity Report Summary - CANCURE (Cancer cure early stage research training)

CANCURE provided an interdisciplinary programme to train early stage researchers (ESRs) in the knowledge, techniques and processes of translational cancer research. The principal focus of the programme was prostate cancer, the most common male cancer in the European Union, but researchers entering this programme were also trained for other areas of translational research. The programme provided a multidisciplinary and integrated approach to train the next generation of researchers so that they could develop research teams and projects that would better respond to the challenges posed by advances in translational research, including systems biology, imaging, functional analysis, high throughput screening and bioinformatics. The CANCURE programme brought together leading specialists from seven countries to conduct research into the development and progression of prostate cancer, a demanding area of biomedical research. Prostate cancer is one of the most intractable cancers, known to be slowly growing in half of men by the time they reach the age of 40 years. Eleven ESRs entering the CANCURE programme were initially assessed, so that courses, skills training and project work could be tailored to their needs. ESRs were guided and monitored by an advisory committee, comprising complementary experts in translational research, experienced university professors, external experts and by specific local mentors. They attended multiple workshops, dedicated CANCURE training workshops, international training courses and taught courses that included personal skills, languages and ethics. The training programme was focussed on enabling ESRs to return to laboratories or industry, to develop integrated multidisciplinary research projects and research teams, to use the latest advanced technologies, to build on collaborations established through the programme and thus enhance Europe's ability to compete in this extremely competitive area. Eleven complementary laboratory projects were devised to cover several areas of prostate cancer research. These included: 1. how androgen receptor (AR) regulation was bypassed in hormone refractory cancer 2. how prostate cancer cells changed their properties in order to relocate and grow in the bone and 3. how new pathways contributed to prostate cancer progression. We concentrated on teaching fellows how to translate findings in these three areas into the clinic. The experimental data we obtained from the CANCURE programme was presented widely at European and international conferences. Important research findings of the programme regarding how prostate cancer developed were published in specialist scientific journals.

Data: CORDIS, © European Union