Scientific research projects will receive strengthened support in the future following a multi-year collaboration agreement signed by the Fonds national de la recherche and the Fondation Cancer.
Chairman of the FNR, Yves Elsen, and President of the Fondation Cancer, Carlo Bock, welcomed the new cooperation between the two institutions, which will finance basic and applied scientific research on cancer from 2015 to 2019. The idea behind the partnership is to facilitate the development of high quality scientific research in this area.
The collaboration will seek to be mutually beneficial, with the Fondation Cancer using a scientific evaluation service from the FNR for research project proposals, after which the FNR will scientifically evaluate the proposal according to international quality standards and will offer the Fondation Cancer an expert assessment and recommendation for a decision.
At the same time, a cancer research project which has been positively assessed can be sent to the Fondation Cancer with a funding or co-financing proposal.
The two associations have also planned regular exchanges to explore funding opportunities and financial instruments for joint research projetcs, especially with regards to the implementation of the National Cancer Plan, launched by the government in September 2014 to integrate the fight against cancer at the national level.
For Martine Neyen, Director at Fondatin Cancer, the partnership will allow the Fondation to benefit from the ability of the FNR and its professional network in the implementation of expert project proposal assessments; whilst according to Marc Schiltz, Secretary General of the FNR, the collaboration agreement will harmonise Luxembourg cancer research nationally whilst making it more competitive on an international scale.
The agreement followed the celebration of the 30th anniversary of Europe Against Cancer, at which European Commissioner for Health and Food Safety, Vytenis Andriukaitis, commented: "Prevention policies and access to early diagnosis are crucial. They can change a lifetime".
Photo by FNR (L-R: Secretary General of FNR, Marc Schiltz; Head of Strategic Programmes Unit of FNR Research, Flank Glod; President of FNR Board, Yves Elsen; Chairman of Fondation Cancer, Carlo Bock; Director of Fondation Cancer, Martine Neyen; Director and Board Member of Fondation Cancer, Tom Loesch; Member of Scientific Council of Fondation Cancer, Jos Even)
