The new National Consortium for Translational Cancer Research, presented Tuesday, June 9, by German Research Minister Annette Schavan, would work toward seeing scientists' findings implemented in medical treatment for cancer patients.

"More than 436,000 people in Germany develop cancer annually and 210,000 patients die of it every year," Schavan said. "That's why it is important for current cancer research results to make their way into treatment faster."

The consortium would be made up of the German Cancer Research Center and the German Cancer Aid and would be funded annually with 40 million euros ($56 million). The organization would also work closely with the Heidelberg University clinic and up to six other partner institutes.

From labs to patients

Getting current research into doctors' hand will be one of the consortium's first priorities.

"Cancer research in Germany has attained enormous insight over the past few years," said Otmar Wiestler, the German Cancer Research Center's director. "Now we have to transport this knowledge into the care of people who are suffering from cancer."

The consortium will also serve as a cancer research clearing house, collecting and organizing research conducted at clinics and preventing research teams from duplicating trials of new or improved treatments.

"It is an open secret that the quality of cancer treatment is improved when the number of clinical studies increases," Wiestler said.

sms/dpa/BMBF

Editor: Kate Bowen