As part of the 50th Brno Oncology Days, a CZECRIN | ONCO working meeting was held, focusing on the further development of academic clinical research in oncology, the direction of ongoing projects, and opportunities for national and international collaboration.
The focus was on the future direction of the academic studies NeoART, ScrePan, RedPORT, RICArD, DESPERADO, and ZENITH. The discussion also addressed the development of GENESIS, GENESIS PRO, and the National Molecular Tumor Board, as well as new forms of international collaboration that could enable Czech academic projects to participate in joint multicenter studies.
Today, individual projects are driven by more than just research objectives. They are underpinned by specific studies, teams of experts across Czech centers, and a collaborative effort to find answers to clinically relevant questions that can influence the care of cancer patients.
From a National Network to International Collaboration
One avenue for further international collaboration is ENGIC, the European Network for GI Cancers, which connects national academic networks and creates opportunities for joint, researcher-initiated international clinical trials. These include studies that would be difficult to conduct within a single country.
This is precisely where CZECRIN | ONCO’s role lies: connecting experts and centers, supporting the development of high-quality multicenter studies, and paving the way for Czech academic projects to engage in international collaboration.
A strong national professional network is an important prerequisite for conducting high-quality multicenter studies and for further integrating Czech oncology into the European Research Area.
We would like to thank all our colleagues who are part of CZECRIN | ONCO and who contribute to the further development of this network.