Open AccessQuality‐assured research environments for translational cancer research
Author(s) -
Berns Anton
Publication year - 2019
Publication title -
molecular oncology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 2.332
H-Index - 88
eISSN - 1878-0261
pISSN - 1574-7891
DOI - 10.1002/1878-0261.12441
Subject(s) - translational research , quality (philosophy) , posttranslational modification , computational biology , computer science , medicine , biology , microbiology and biotechnology , biochemistry , physics , quantum mechanics , enzyme
In order to secure high‐quality cancer care for increasing numbers of cancer patients in the upcoming decades, the complete continuum of cancer research and cancer care needs a thorough overhaul, with more emphasis on prevention and early detection, and a greater focus on the development of innovative treatments that are also scrutinised for effectiveness and quality‐of‐life aspects. Therefore, under‐resourced research areas, such as primary prevention, early diagnosis/secondary prevention (Song et al ., [Song M, 2018]; Wild et al ., [Wild CP, 2015]) and outcomes research (Cavers et al ., [Cavers D, 2017]), should be given more emphasis, whereas basic, preclinical and clinical cancer research requires more innovation and effective collaboration to develop more effective treatments at an affordable cost. Innovative collaborative research in this translational trajectory requires the participation of well‐resourced and well‐organised institutions that are committed to high scientific and ethical standards. Offering focused funding to distinct segments of this research continuum concomitant with incentives to aspire to high‐quality standards is the most effective route to achieve these goals. Therefore, a rigorous quality assessment system for institutions operating in this research continuum is a high priority.