The application for a paediatric oncology European Reference Network (PaedOnc ERN) submitted to the European Commission by partners of the ExPO-r-Net project has been approved. ERNs create connections among European hospitals and institutions to tackle complex or rare medical conditions that require highly specialised healthcare and a concentration of knowledge and resources.
As concerns childhood cancer patients, the aim of this initiative is to reduce inequalities in survival by providing high-quality, accessible and cost-effective cross-border healthcare to all European children and adolescents, regardless to the region or country where they live. Over the past years, ExPO-r-Net partners managed to consolidate the preconditions for this large multinational network, which will represent a clear framework for healthcare providers across Europe.
The European Committee of Childhood Cancer International (CCI) – the organisation representing cancer parents, patients and survivors – has been working closely with project partners also in this regards, and will be also involved in the PaedCan ERN implementation.
Project Extended
Moreover, the ExPO-r-Net project has been officially extended until August 31st 2017. ExPO-r-Net will therefore continue for a few more months and project partners will have the opportunity to finalize all the different preparatory work, discussing it at the next meetings in 2017:- ExPO-r-Net Workshop on Very Rare Tumours, March 29-30, 2017 Padova, Italy
- 7th ExPO-r-Net biannual meeting, March 30-31, 2017 Padova, Italy (deadline for registration 10 Feb. 2017)
- Final ExPO-r-Net Meeting, June 29-30, 2017, venue and location: TBC