About the Project
The SCARLET (SCAling up early and late effects Research in Lithuanian childhood cancer survivors through Education and Twinning) project aims to increase scientific excellence and innovation capacity at Vilnius University Hospital Santaros Klinikos (VULSK) and its affiliated entity National Cancer Institute (NCI) by scaling up research activities in Lithuanian childhood cancer survivors (CCS). The area for twinning was defined based on the emerging importance of survivorship research due to the increasing number of CCS in Europe and identified gaps in Lithuania.
The key challenges to be addressed during the project are:
1) lack of data on the prevalence of CCS in Lithuania exploitable in research initiatives;
2) poor transition from pediatric to adult care depriving young CCS over the age of 18 of advantages of surveillance in a research context;
3) the need to implement innovative solutions for monitoring and prevention of early and late effects through joint research activities;
4) suboptimal competences in management and administration of large-scale research projects.
Four research-intensive institutions from 4 European countries will bring to the consortium their specific expertise to address identified shortcomings. The project aims to build on and exploit current shared research initiatives that will be leveraged to achieve SCARLET's goal and objectives.
The twinning exercise will be implemented through seconds of Lithuanian staff to the partner premises and engagement in the research activities led by partner institutions, organization of educational events, and participation in knowledge-of-transfer meetings. As a result of the twinning activities, VULSK and NCI will improve their research profile and reputation, international visibility, and attractiveness. The expanded networking channels will facilitate Lithuanian professionals to join international research groups focused on survivorship research ultimately improving the quality of survival in Lithuania.
Project Goal
The ultimate goal of the SCARLET project is to bridge the still apparent research and innovation gap in late and early toxicity research in CCS by enhancing the existing networking activities between the Coordinating institution and the internationally-leading project partners. The twinning activities will improve the research profile of VULSK, enhance the reputation and appeal of its staff within the European pediatric oncology community, foster future collaborative research and innovation endeavors and, ultimately, improve the quality of survival in Lithuania .
Project Objectives
- To build up innovative research capacities in survivorship epidemiology research
- To enhance strategic networking with experts from partner institutions to close the transition gap in ALL research
- Gain specific knowledge and skills necessary to implement a neurocognitive assessment of children treated for CNS tumors
- To introduce new approaches to prevent early and late toxicities in pediatric CNS and solid tumors
- Strengthening capacities of the coordinating institution in research management and coordination of large-scale collaborative projects
- To strengthen educational activities on toxicity and survivorship
- To raise awareness, promotion and dissemination of results produced during the project implementation
SCARLET Consortium
- Vilniaus Universiteto Ligonine Santaros Klinikos (VULSK), Lithuania - Coordinator
- Nacionalinis Vezio Institutas (NCI), Lithuania
- University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf (UKE), Germany
- Region Hovedstaden (REGIONH), Denmark
- Princess Máxima Center (PMC, Netherlands)
- European Society for Pediatric Oncology (SIOPE), Belgium
The kick-off meeting took place on October 10, 2024 in Vilnius, Lithuania. The meeting was attended by 30 specialists from 5 countries and 6 hospitals.
During the meeting the key work packages (WPs) and tasks aimed at enhancing pediatric oncology research and survivorship support were introduced. WP1, led by PMC, will focus on estimating the childhood cancer survivor population in Lithuania and analyzing survival, morbidity, and mortality data for pediatric renal tumors. Training in qualitative research methodology, led by UKE, will support data collection efforts across partners. WP2, presented by REGIONH, targets survivorship in Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia (ALL), focusing on bridging the transition gap, monitoring survival outcomes, and providing training in bone toxicity assessment. WP3, led by UKE, emphasizes the specific needs of pediatric CNS tumor patients, including neuropsychological and endocrinology training, a neurocognitive workshop for educational professionals and parents, and a personalized approach to care. WP4 Early and late toxicities in solid childhood tumors led by PMC, is dedicated to ototoxicity and fertility preservation issues.
Additional WPs focus on enhancing project management and dissemination. WP5, introduced by SIOPE, will build management and administration skills across the consortium, with specialized training on European project proposals and communication skills. The objective of WP6 is to ensure overall management, coordination and implementation of the project activities during the entire lifetime of the project, under the leadership of coordinator VULSK. WP7, also led by SIOPE, aims to develop a comprehensive communication and dissemination strategy, featuring peer-reviewed publications to maximize project impact. The meeting concluded with a round table discussion for feedback, followed by a guided tour and team dinner to strengthen collaborative bonds among partners.
Twitter: #ScarletProject
