How can we better coordinate and integrate cancer research efforts in Europe?
The European cancer research field is characterized by its fragmentation and its diversity (multiplicity of support mechanisms, funding bodies, etc). Consequently, one of the EU’s key policy objectives is to improve the coordination of cancer research activities throughout Europe, in line with the spirit of the European Research Area (ERA) project, which endeavours to bring together EU, national as well as regional research programs, activities and policies. FP7 supports initiatives designed to help establish a strong, harmonized collaborative framework for cancer research in Europe. With a budget of approximately €5 million, 5 actions are launched in this spirit, i e seeking to identify the needs and potential benefits of a pan-European coordination of national cancer research activities. For instance, EUROCOURSE will tackle fragmentation in the funding and usage of cancer registries in Europe, and the OPCARE9 (http://www.mcpcil.org.uk/faculty_intranet) and PRISMA (http://www.kcl.ac.u
