The WCT EVI MAP project partners, in both Europe and Asia, have been working together, joining forces in the effort to continuously improve tumour classification and, hence, research in cancer, as demonstrated by their publication records (including some joint scientific publications), including many in high-impact journals. They contribute as members or associate entities to the International Collaboration for Cancer Classification and Research (IC3R), a collaboration that aims to aid in the coordination of the multiple fields that provide evidence in tumour classification and cancer research. The development of this project under the umbrella of IC3R ensures the extensive dissemination of its results and provides an excellent platform for the discussion of results, recruitment of participants, and promotion of the final tool. Also, the link to the WCT programme and its editorial process through the coordinating partner makes this consortium uniquely able to develop a tool with a guaranteed impact and a well-informed basis.
The International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC) is the specialized cancer agency of the World Health Organization (WHO). One of its objectives is to promote international collaboration in cancer research. The WHO Classification of Tumours (WCT) programme is involved in international projects on diagnostic research, evidence synthesis, and other pathology studies. Dr Ian Cree, the current head of the WCT programme, has led several grant-funded projects in the United Kingdom and was the director of the Efficacy and Mechanism Evaluation (EME) Programme of the UK National Institute for Health and Care Research (NIHR) Evaluation, Trials and Studies Coordinating Centre. With this expertise and outreach, IARC is the coordinating partner, which establishes links with all the other partners through the WCT programme, IC3R, and the WCT EVI MAP consortium. Its participation is essential for the successful conduct of the WCT EVI MAP project, and the Principal Investigator’s role as head of the WCT programme and of IC3R makes him the ideal coordinator for this project, which is focused on evidence for the WCT. The partners all have complementary expertise in the field of clinical diagnostic and epidemiological research related to different cancer types.
The Maria Skłodowska-Curie National Research Institute of Oncology (Poland) is a multidisciplinary cancer research centre that produces varied research on tumour biology, epidemiology, molecular characteristics, biomarkers, prevention, detection, diagnosis, and treatment of different cancer types.
Instituto de Salud Carlos III (Spain), which belongs to the main public research entity carrying out biomedical research in Spain, conducts research focused on cancer on a wide range of topics related to etiological and epidemiological studies and the development of innovative methods, including evidence synthesis.
The expertise of the German Heart Centre Munich (Germany) is in laboratory medicine and cancer, and it leads multiple projects in modern laboratory diagnostics in oncology, such as the development and evaluation of new biomarkers, pharmacogenomics, and new technologies such as liquid profiling.
All of the project partners have developed, to some extent, interdisciplinary research related to general aspects of cancer classification and research. This broad spectrum of experience ensures the thorough assessment of the evidence retrieved by the WCT EVI MAP project, by a multidisciplinary, integrated working group for the evaluation of the evidence and the identification of the needs of end-users of the tool. All the partners have been involved in different international projects, and most of them have participated in multicentre studies or large joint actions.
This consortium brings together world leaders in cancer-related research and connects clinical pathologists, epidemiologists, and oncologists with specialists in evidence-based medicine and public health professionals. The team members are a diverse and active group of leading investigators with a long and successful history of working in international collaborations. The consortium includes all the necessary elements to ensure the successful conduct of the WCT EVI MAP project, as well as a productive continuation of the collaboration after the development of the WCT EVI MAP tool.
All of the partners have experience in cancer-related research, and IARC and the Nuffield Department of Surgical Sciences at the University of Oxford (United Kingdom) have developed specific expertise in evidence-based pathology and the evaluation of evidence in the field of cancer classification and research.
The University of Newcastle (United Kingdom) has experience in applying the EGM method to support decision-making and in the development of multiple EGMs for international institutions such as WHO, and brings global expertise in the provision of training and methodological support in this specific evidence synthesis method. Such a level of expertise in EGM is currently hard to find, and the University of Newcastle is the only university in Europe that offers regular training on this method.
Singapore Breast Surgery Center Pte Ltd (Singapore) is an integrated breast cancer care group in Singapore, operating through its brands Solis and Luma. The group provides comprehensive services that cover the entire breast cancer theranostic process, including screening, diagnostic imaging, pathology, and surgery. The in-house pathology at Luma enhances the multidisciplinary care team, underscoring Solis and Luma’s commitment to offering bespoke breast care. In addition, the pathology division participates in translational studies on breast fibroepithelial lesions and breast cancers, further demonstrating its dedication to advancing breast cancer treatment.