METHODS IN CLINICAL

C A N C E RR E S E A R C HT H E 1 7 T H E D I T I O N

The 17th intensive Workshop for junior clinical oncologists in any clinical research specialty area, to learn the essentials of clinical trial design

Society GrantSupport Prospectus 2015

www.ecco-org.eu

1. Welcome Letter 3

2. Benefits to your Society 4

3. Workshop Objectives 5

4. Message from the Workshop Directors 6

5. Educational Format 7

6. Facts and Figures 8

7. Order Form 9

8. Testimonials: Message from the Fellows 10

TABLE OF CONTENT

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Dear Society partner,

The Flims Workshop is an educational programme that introduces junior clinical oncologists in any oncology subspecialty to the principles of good clinical trial design.

The presence of a strong research base is essential to the future of good quality cancer care. Since 1999, this annual workshop has been organised in the remote Swiss village of Flims.

The format of the workshop is for the participants to propose a trial protocol when applying to the Workshop, of which the actual writing and completion is performed throughout the course of the Workshop, and then the implementation then takes place upon returning home.

This Workshop was established 16 years ago to reverse the decline in the numbers of clinical scientists. The ultimate objective of the Workshop is to develop a robust, expanding base of well-trained clinical researchers by providing them with the training they need to conduct better clinical/translational trial designs.

This well-recognised and CME accredited workshop is a yearly recurring event going into its 17th edition. The Workshop is jointly organised by ECCO (the European CanCer Organisation), AACR (the American Association for Cancer Research), EORTC (the European Organisation for Research and Treatment of Cancer) and ESMO (the EuropeanSociety for Medical Oncology).

Such an enterprise can only be fully successful if all important stakeholders take part. As such, Medical Societies are also invited to be part of this project and show involvement in an educational programme that will ultimately contribute to better research and improved public health worldwide.

Providing grants to fellows is believed to be a form of social responsibility, which will ultimately lead to benefiting patient treatment outcomes

The attached Workshop prospectus and the support booking form hereby will confirm your commitment to this purpose.

Thanking you for your support,

Yours sincerely,

Bruno De ManCorporate Marketing Manager, ECCO

1. WELCOME LETTER

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What is a Society Grant?

The Society Grant allows Fellows the opportunity to benefit from this high quality workshop.These grants enable participants to cover travelling expenses, accommodation, and all of the materials during the Workshop and covers up to 40% of the course. The amount allocated to a Society Grant is set to EUR 3 500. This ensures that students also have to contribute to support their participation and those students selected to receive a Grant will still not be exempt from paying the EUR 2 500 Workshop participant fee.

By awarding a Society Grant, your Society will be contributing to the very specific aims of the Workshop which are:

■ To train a group of young oncologists from any discipline of your choice in the principles of good clinical trial design giving them the tools needed to conduct those trials that will yield clear results and have the potential to impact on future research and clinical practice;

■ To educate oncologists who are in training posts to the full spectrum of challenges in clinical research, from trials involving conventional antineoplastic agents, radiotherapy and multidisciplinary treatment regimens to gene therapy and targeted treatments, in the expectation that they will want to devote all or a portion of their future careers to some aspect of clinical research;

■ To develop an expanding base of well-trained experienced researches whose expertise will foster better clinical trial designs and thereby hasten the introduction of improved regimens for cancer therapy and prevention into everyday medical practice and patient care.

What are the benefits to your Society?

■ Promotion: The Workshop is publicised in numerous leading industry and scientific journals, which demonstrates that your support ultimately is training future oncology stars.

■ Building Networks: Opportunity to select the recipient(s) of the Society Grant from the final list of participants, and in return gain testimonials from your Society Grant recipient(s) reporting on their experience at the Workshop.

■ Increased visibility: Brochures and announcements are distributed to all 24 ECCO member societies comprising of over 60 000 professionals in oncology, including all modern media platforms in which the Flims Workshop is showcased and subsequently your Society is recognised for your support to the training of future oncology stars.

■ Acknowledgement: on the 4 organising partners’ websites (calendar of events and all relevant website (sections)), in the Workshop Faculty Manual and Student Manuals as well as during the Introduction Session.

Applications to the workshop can be made online www.ecco-org.eu/Flims17

2. BENEFITS TO YOUR SOCIETY

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WORKSHOP OVERVIEW

The ECCO-AACR-EORTC-ESMO Workshop on Methods in Clinical Cancer Research, better known

as the ‘Flims’ Workshop, is an educational programme that introduces junior clinical oncologists

in any oncology subspecialty to the principles of good clinical trial design. Since 1999, this

extremely successful joint Workshop has taken place in a remote village in Switzerland; very

conducive for a focus on education and a high commitment to gaining new knowledge and skills.

WHY DO WE NEED A WORKSHOP?

The presence of a strong research base is essential to the future of good quality cancer

care. Clinical scientists who are able to set up and run high-quality clinical trials are

vital to the advancement of new therapies. This Workshop was established to reverse

the decline in numbers of clinical scientists. The ultimate goal: to develop a robust,

expanding base of well-trained clinical researchers by providing them with the training

they need to conduct better clinical/translational trial designs.

KEY BENEFITS FOR ATTENDEES■ Exclusive access to and mentoring by up to 40 highly experienced clinical experts in the field of oncology from Europe and the U.S.A;

■ Exceptional opportunity to meet and network with an elite group of 80 junior clinical oncologists from all over the world;

■ Outstanding educational experience in a unique setting conducive to professional relationship building, learning and development;

■ Access to a variety of educational tools designed to enable participants to develop their initial protocol proposal into a complete protocol;

■ Active promotion of productive dialogues between young cancer specialists and the European and non-European Cancer Societies;

■ Establishment of a network for educational exchanges between young cancer clinicians worldwide.

3. WORKSHOP OBJECTIVES

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4. MESSAGE FROM THE WORKSHOP DIRECTORS

Representing ECCOStefan SleijferErasmus University Medical Centre, Rotterdam, Netherlands

Representing AACRStephen M. HahnUniversity Hospital of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, USA

Representing EORTCCorneel CoensEORTC Headquarters, Brussels, Belgium

Representing ESMOChristian DittrichKaiser Franz Josef-Spital,Vienna, Austria

Having attended Flims Workshops several times as a faculty member, I noticed that everyone experiences this course as I did as a student in 2004. This is a once in a life time experience where you will learn how to perform clinical research in an unique environment with highly motivated students and top clinical researchers. 

I have worked over the years with fellows and junior faculty members who have attended the Flims course and have found them to be exceptionally well-prepared to perform high quality clinical research.

A unique and stimulating environment optimising interactions between leading international faculty and young oncologists. An exceptional place for the next generation of cancer clinical researchers to build from their peers the foundations of the 21st century cancer treatment therapeutic strategies.

Exceptionally rewarding experience in gaining a practical insight into the actual methodologies of developing clinical trial protocols. Nowhere else in Europe exists a higher density of distinguished faculty members including biostatisticians working so closely together with a selection of highly motivated young oncologists on the elaboration of oncological clinical trials on the basis of the most recent findings in preclinical and translational research.

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The Scientific Sessions have been specially formulated to cater for all learning needs and will use one of the formats:

5. EDUCATIONAL FORMAT

Protocol Development SessionsThese sessions form the core activity of this Workshop and allow students to complete the writing of their protocol by applying the knowledge acquired during the Workshop. Students will receive detailed critiques of their proposals from the experts in the field in small groups comprising a maximum of 10 people.

Lectures and Panel DiscussionsPresentations by experts in the field on specific topics will provide participants with an overview of the design and conduct of high-quality clinical trials. This will be followed by a panel discussion or round table session during which Faculty and students can explore issues raised during the talks in greater depth.

Meet Your Expert SessionsOne-to-one sessions where students will have access to experts providing individual counselling and advice on protocol and career development.

Small Group Discussion SessionsThese sessions focus on topics that are essential to the success of clinical trials as well facilitating discussion on and around the difficulties and challenges of a particular type of trial. They are limited in size to maximise exchange of information.

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Applicants versus the Number of Students Accepted 2000-2014

Applicants versus Selected Participants by Region 2000 - 2014

North America: 187 / 131

Latin America & Caribbean: 64 / 33

Europe: 1.525 / 952

Eastern and Central Europe & Central Asia: 253 / 77

North Africa & Middle East: 77 / 31

Africa: 14 / 4

Asia Pacific: 81 / 40

Participants by Oncology Specialty 2014

Although the vast majority of workshop participants specialised in medical oncology there has been a significant rise in other specialties such as surgery, radiation and paediatric oncology in recent years.

NEW: A survey/report is being compiled mapping out the career trajectory of Flims Workshop alumni followed by an assessment of the activation of protocols developed during these Workshops, which will once again re-establish the essence and importance of this educational programme.

Number of applicants

Number of students accepted

source: ECCO

source: ECCO

source: ECCO

Medical Oncology

Radio Oncology

Surgical Oncology

Haemato- Oncology

Paediatric Oncology

Nuclear Medicine/Imaging

Neuro Oncology

57%

20%

9%

5%

4%

3%

2%

187

131

64

33

1525

952

253

77

81

40

77

31

14

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6. FACTS & FIGURES

0

50

100

150

200

250

2003 2004 2005 2 006 2 007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013 20142000 2001 2002

Applications

Participants

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7. ORDER FORM

2015 FLIMS Society Grant Order Form

Organisation:

Contact Person:

Address:

Postal Code: City:

Country:

Telephone: Fax:

E-mail:

Invoicing data:

Organisation to be invoiced:

VAT number (if applicable):

Address:

Postal Code: City:

Country:

We would like to award participant(s) with a Flims Society Grant.(1) This application is legally binding on the company pending its acceptance in writing by the Organiser.

Terms of Payment:Invoices will be sent within 2 weeks following the confirmation. Payment is due within 30 days following the date of the invoice. Direct transfer payments should be made to the Flims 17 bank account: IBAN: BE76 7330 4182 3295, BIC/SWIFT: KREDBEBB, KBC Bank, Chaussée de Wavre 1662, 1160 Brussels, Belgium, stating the number of the invoice. Sender’s bank charges are at the expense of the sponsor.

Selection of Flims Society Grant Recipient(s):We understand that we will be entitled to award this/these Society Grant(s) to (a) selected student(s) of our choice.

Date: Signature:

Please complete and return by post to:

The Flims Secretariat, c/o ECCO – the European CanCer OrganisationAvenue E. Mounier 83, 1200 Brussels, BelgiumAt the following email or fax number:

Bruno.deman@ecco-org.eu Fax: +32 (0)2 775 02 00

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Thanks to the generous support of a number of cancer societies over 24 Grants were awarded to students to attend the 2014 Methods in Clinical Cancer Research Workshop. Here is just a small selection of testimonials from Grant recipients.

8. TESTIMONIALS: MESSAGE FROM THE FELLOWS

The workshop was excellent from all aspects and was beautifully organised! We all enjoyed the warm and welcoming hospitalityDavid HausnerIsrael, 2012

I feel very lucky to take part in the Flims Workshop, which included brilliant colleagues and professors from all over the world.

Mehtap CoskunSwitzerland, 2014

This was honestly the most impressive and inspiring course I ever had. César SerranoUSA, 2013

Excellent. Taught me what I need to know in a short time period.

Alastair GreystokeUK, 2011

2012 I thank ASCO for sponsoring my participation at this workshop and for the opportunity to start my career in research. I am determined to complete my protocol and will work to be part of a body of scientists in Zambia that will contribute to data and evidence in the management of cancer. Catherine Kasongo Mwaba (Zambia, 2012)

2013 I want to thank the Flims Workshop organisers and especially ESTRO for giving me this opportunity to enrich my career. If I have one piece of advice to give to the radiation oncologist who is interested in clinical research, that is ‘go to Flims’. Dr. Lien Van De Voorde (The Netherlands, 2013)

2014 I had a wonderful learning experience. I would like to thank the Flims Workshop and ESSO for giving me the chance to attend this highly sophisticated workshop. Kozo Kataoka (Japan, 2014)

We thank our society partners for their generous grant support over the years: AACR, AICR, ASCO, Avon Foundation for Women, CROF, Dutch Cancer Society, EANO, ECCO, ESSO, ESTRO, Flims Alumni Club, Pezcoller Foundation, ITCC, OICR, SIOPEurope, WINC

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1 8 - 2 4J U N E2016

1 7 - 2 3J U N E2017

www.ecco-org.eu

Contact Us

Flims 17 Workshop SecretariatECCO – the European CanCer OrganisationAvenue E. Mounier 83B-1200 BrusselsBelgium

Future Workshop Dates

Programme queriesSamira EssiafProgramme ManagerE-mail: samira.essiaf@ecco-org.euTel.: +32 (0)2 775 0249 Fax: +32 (0)2 775 02 00

Society Grant Opportunities Bruno De Man, ECCOCorporate Marketing Manager E-mail: bruno.deman@ecco-org.euor Tel.: +32 2 775 02 04

Venue: Flims, Switzerland