). About V485 million were devoted to this theme, which allowed funding of 108 multidisciplinary transnational projects. A significant part of them was large-scale initiatives addressing complex issues through a broad combination of competences. All major types of cancer were covered, as well as the three dimensions such as prevention, diagnostic and treatment, with a particular emphasis on translational research aiming at bringing basic knowledge on medical practice. This approach will be continued in the 7th Framework Programme (2007)(2008)(2009)(2010)(2011)(2012)(2013), together with a strengthened effort to improve the coordination of European cancer research, which is fragmented and in which EU action represents only a small part. EU cancer research will also be addressed within the reinforced efforts in the areas of pharmaceutical and technological developments as well as common aetiological mechanisms of diseases that the 7th Framework Programme will undertake. Published by Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.
IntroductionCancer remains one of the major public health issues and challenges in Europe. According to an estimate (Boyle and Ferlay, 2005), in 2004 alone, 2.9 million people were diagnosed with cancer in Europe and 1.7 million died from it. Due to the strong association between age and the risk of cancer, these numbers are expected to increase further as the European population ages. Major efforts and investments in cancer research over the last decades have resulted in a decrease in the age-standardised mortality rate for cancer by 9% (Boyle et al., 2003), in particular thanks to better prevention, earlier diagnosis and more effective treatments. It has even been speculated that lasting improvements at these three levels mentioned could make cancer a manageable chronic disease in the future (Von Eschenbach, 2003;Sikora, 2006).Yet, in the foreseeable future, cancer will remain a formidable social and economic challenge worldwide, and further investments are therefore required to combat this disease and limit its devastating consequences.
This article discusses the efforts undertaken in the European Union toward basic, translational, and clinical cancer research on prevention, early diagnosis, prognosis, treatment, cancer control, quality of life, and survivorship.
The European Union (EU) is one of the main public funders of research in Europe and its major instrument for funding is the Seventh Framework Programme for research and technological development (FP7). The bulk of funding in FP7 goes to collaborative research, with the objective of establishing excellent research projects and networks. Understanding the functions of proteins is essential for the rational development of disease prevention, diagnosis and treatment, therefore the EU has largely invested in proteomics, in particular for technology development, data standardisation and sharing efforts, and the application of proteomics in the clinic. The scientific community, including both academia and industry, is encouraged to apply for FP7 funding so that the EU can even more efficiently support innovative health research and ultimately, bring better healthcare to patients.
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