Shortly before completion of its first year of operation, the German Oncology Center (GOC) officially ratified an agreement in October 2018, with the Cyprus University of Technology (TEPAK) for the establishment of a Research Unit under the name “Cancer Research Center” (KEK).

During the first week of October 2018, an inaugural scientific meeting was held at the TEPAK facilities, where scientific staff from the GOC, researchers from the Cyprus University of Technology, representatives of local biotechnology companies and distinguished scientists from abroad presented their latest research findings and developments in the advancement of modern technologies in Oncology.

According to Prof. Nikos Zamboglou, GOC Medical Director, “the Cancer Research Center (KEK) will be supported by innovative research facilities and will focus on clinical issues related to diagnosis, treatment, cancer prevention and patient care. KEK’s goal is to bring together researchers in biology, engineering, medicine, mathematics, physics, public health and nursing, as well as pharmaceutical and biotechnology companies from all over Cyprus”.

It is evident that TEPAK have an excellent team of researchers and possess the scientific potential in terms of know-how, biomedical infrastructure, nursing care, and the ability to conduct epidemiological studies. The GOC, needs the range, diversity and expertise offered by these research teams so that, at the technological level we can continue our own research which we have already started in Germany and expand upon it.

In terms of patient care we need to have access to more scientific knowledge in order to adapt or better apply our research findings in a more targeted manner towards the Cypriot psychology and patient care model.

The biomedical infrastructure which TEPAK possess will contribute towards a more detailed expansion of the genome of patients, in particular Cypriots, in order to see if there are any peculiarities, and what they may be. In addition, this will help us epidemiologically to better approach the prognosis.

TEPAK therefore possesses a network of scientific infrastructures, which GOC may use right away, without having the need to set them up ab initio. At the same time, TEPAK will be able to identify with clinical applications existing in our Center. In essence, cooperation is based on the mutual capabilities of each other, where one covers the potential gaps in research of the other.

According to Prof. Nikos Zamboglou, GOC Medical Director, “this creates an environment, which I believe will help the patienst in the future on many levels, whilst at the same time bringing distinction at the research level for our Center, TEPAK, and of course Cyprus. In other words, it will offer young scientists the opportunity to also engage in research in Cyprus, something that is currently woefully underrepresented”.

The cooperation agreement between GOC and TEPAK was approved in Cyprus by the Ministry of Education, the Ministry of Finance, the Legal Service, the Council of Ministers, and was unanimously approved in a vote by the House of Representatives.

The German Oncology Center (GOC) participates in the BioS programme, which is part of the European framework of the Erasmus + / Sectoral Skills Alliances programme.

The BioS programme aims to upgrade the digital skills of clinicians. This is achieved through the design, development and delivery of new vocational training programmes in Computational Biology, as well as offering horizontal skills which are directly aligned to the needs of the industry, as reflected in their respective research studies.

BioS is implemented by a multi-corporate consortium of 13 partners in 8 EU Member States and presents all its results in 9 European languages, ensuring a broad impact in Europe and beyond.

It addresses the need for cooperation between politicians, education and training providers, and health and medical professionals, by producing policy proposals and assisting with the drafting of relevant policies at national and European level.

The objective of BioS is to equip physicians with the knowledge, skills and competencies that will enable them to effectively meet current challenges in European health systems, services and policies for the benefit of the health of all European citizens.

For further information please visit the following webpage: https://www.bios-project.eu/site/