Founded in 1962, the EORTC is the largest European clinical research organisation in the field of cancer, with a worldwide reputation. It is headquartered in Brussels and its network comprises over 300 hospitals in over 30 countries with a database of 180,000 patients. The EORTC aims to create Europe’s first biobank for the study of cancer treatments – a unique scientific pan-European initiative, building on the mapping of the human genome. Biobank research will support a new era of personalised medicine as the type and course of treatment will be increasingly tailored to an individual’s disease and genetic profile.
The EORTC and Alliance Boots wish to create a biobank for colorectal cancer and also a platform for blood sampling for genetic profiling. The challenge is to raise €5 million over the next five years to ensure the biobank is created and funded.
Further details of this programme will be available in next year’s corporate social responsibility report.
Ornella Barra (Chairman of the social responsibilities committee) said: “Without improvements in research, beating cancer will become an even harder challenge.
We are therefore convinced that we can bring an even stronger contribution to cancer research. This international partnership with the EORTC Charitable Trust complements Boots UK’s existing one with Macmillan Cancer Support and further supports our commitment to the research and treatment of cancer.”
Alex Gourlay (Chief Executive, Health & Beauty Division, Alliance Boots) commented: “The partnership is a really great fit with our work with Macmillan Cancer Support. The EORTC is a significant preventative healthcare partnership – it is vital for helping treat cancer, sometimes before it starts.”