Work in Parliament International Childhood Cancer Awareness Day

Other Activities | 07-02-2012

Today in the European Parliament, Maria da Graça Carvalho participated in event that marked the International Childhood Cancer day. The event was organized by MEP Glenis Willmot and SIOP Europe - European Society for Paediatric Oncology.

The treatment of children with cancer can be considered a success story, with approximately 80% of young cancer patients surviving in Europe today, thanks to pan-European partnerships and quality-assured clinical care. However as a non-preventable and life-threatening disease, treatments are complex and require specialist input in order to counter long-term effects and provide a good quality-of-life for the increasing number of survivors.

On the occasion, Members of the European Parliament joined a multi-stakeholder audience to raise awareness at EU level of the many challenges of these rare cancers and jointly identify a political pathway to instigate change. Discussions centred around providing solutions for optimal clinical research through the revision of the EU Clinical Trials Directive, combating differences in outcome across Europe and improved diagnosis at an early stage, particularly for brain tumours.

Maria da Graça Carvalho participated in the painel discussion concerning the Revision of the EU Clinical Trials Directive to facilitate multinational clinical research. During the debate Ms. Carvalho spoke about "how H2020 might best enhance multinational clinical research.  This might be summed up by two key concerns: one is the funding aspect and the second is the structural effect of the programme".

Agenda:

  • 11.30 Networking Reception
  • 12.00 Introductory Remarks - Glenis Willmott, MEP
  • 12.05 Ensuring the best possible care and outcome for children and young people with cancer in Europe - Assoc. Prof. Ruth Ladenstein, SIOPE President/ St. Anna Children's Hospital Austria

SESSION ONE: Revising the EU Clinical Trials Directive to facilitate multinational clinical research - Chair: Glenis Willmott, MEP

  • 12.15 Revision of the EU Clinical Trials Directive: State-of-Play - Anastassia Negrouk, EORTC
  • 12.25 Panel Discussion: Prof. Graca Carvalho MEP; Prof. Ruth Ladenstein, SIOPE President/ St. Anna Children's Hospital, Austria; Dr. Decebel Bora, Europabio
  • 12.40 Conclusions and Questions and Answers - Dr. Pam Kearns, University of Birmingham

SESSION TWO: EU Paediatric Regulation: Current Status and Where to Go- Chair: Glenis Willmott, MEP

  • 12.55 Innovative Drug Development for Children and Adolescents with Cancer - Prof. Gilles Vassal, Institut Gustave Roussy, France
  • 13.10 Panel Discussion: Patricia Blanc, 'Imagine for Margot' charity, France - Raphael Rousseau, Roche
  • 13.20 Questions and Answers - Glenis Willmott, MEP

SESSION THREE: Accessibility to optimal treatment and care: Focus on Early Diagnosis: Chair: Alojz Peterle, MEP

  • 13.35 Video on early diagnosis and Headsmart campaign, introduced by Dr. Sophie Wilne, Children's University Hospital, Nottingham, UK
  • 13.45 Panel Discussion: Linda McAvan, MEP; Anita Kienesberger and Sabine Karner, ICCCPO; Elżbieta Pomaska, 'Communication without Barriers' Foundation, Poland; Prof. Lars Hjorth, PanCare SurFup
  • 14.05 Conclusions and Questions and Answers: Prof. David Walker, Children's Brain Tumour Research Centre Nottingham, UK
  • 14.20 Take-home message - Glenis Willmott, MEP
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