EHA’s president-elect speaks at the European Cancer Summit
Last week, EHA’s President-Elect Brian Huntly spoke at the European Cancer Summit in Brussels, organized by the European Cancer Organisation.
The Summit is attended by stakeholders across the cancer spectrum, as well as many influential politicians and policymakers.
Prof Huntly participated in a multi-stakeholder, dynamic session titled “Bringing European Cancer Research to the Next Level: Cooperation, Innovation and Transformation.”
The panel
The panel was chaired by former EHA President Christine Chomienne, currently vice-chair of the Cancer Mission Board and chair of the Research Policy network of the European Cancer Organisation.
It included Annika Nowak, responsible for the Cancer Mission at the European Commission, and leading patient advocate Gilliosa Spurrier-Bernard. Other speakers included Hugo Soares of Portugal’s research agency, AICIB, Muriel O’Byrne of biotech company Regeneron, and Prof Roy A. Jensen of the University of Kansas Cancer Center.
Challenges around clinical research
Prof Huntly highlighted the promise of personalized medicine and cellular therapies, while noting challenges such as manufacturing and regulatory complexity and the need for advanced tools to harness big data.
He called for streamlined, patient-centered clinical trials with less bureaucracy, a harmonized regulatory framework, and greater diversity in patient populations, stressing the need for closer engagement with EMA and the FDA.
While generally positive on innovation in blood cancer research in Europe, Prof Huntly sees a need for better distribution of centers of excellence across the continent. Huntly also warned of mounting pressure and burnout risks for researchers, urging stronger support for talent and sustainability in science.
Common themes across the interventions from panelists and audience were the importance of collaboration across disciplines and the need for reducing complexity and bureaucracy in clinical research. Both are central to the work of the EHA-led Coalition for Reducing Bureaucracy in Clinical Trials, which has recently finalized its recommendations.