MONTREAL, June 2, 2020 /CNW Telbec/ - Oncopole, product of a unique co-creation process led by the Fonds de recherche du Québec - Santé (FRQS) and made possible by an initial $15M investment from Merck Canada, plays a key role in the oncology ecosystem in Quebec. It strives to bring together stakeholders to support research projects and promote the discovery of innovations that will have a positive impact on patients.
The current health crisis has taught us several lessons, particularly the need for better coordination between research, innovation, and the health and social services system. Oncopole's priority of action is to combine those sectors in oncology and to address their frequent partitioning. As a result, Oncopole has surrounded itself with various key partners to develop two competitions: Innove-Onco and Priorité patient. The results of the programs will be revealed shortly.
The Innove-Onco Competition seeks to optimize the adoption of innovations in oncology
Oncopole launched Innove-Onco, a funding program developed in partnership with the Fonds de recherche du Québec - Santé (FRQS), le Bureau de l'innovation, le Programme québécois de cancérologie du ministère de la Santé et des Services sociaux and the collaboration of l'Institut national d'excellence en santé et services sociaux (INESSS). Thanks to an additional contribution of $200,000 from GlaxoSmithKline (GSK), the total budget for the competition amounts to $1,700,000, making it possible to fund two projects over 2 years. The general objective of Innove-Onco is to bring together the improvement of clinical practices, the integration of innovation, and oncology research. At the same time, it will provide an opportunity to gain a better understanding of the factors that facilitate or limit the integration of innovations. The recipients will be announced shortly.
The Priorité patient Competition seeks to improve the care and services provided to patients and caregivers
Oncopole also offers the Priorité patient grant program, in partnership with the FRQS and the Québec Strategy Patient-Oriented Research (SPOR) Support Unit, and with the collaboration of the Programme québécois de cancérologie (PQC) du ministère de la Santé et des Services sociaux. The total budget for the competition is $600,000 with a maximum amount per project of $200,000 over 2 years.
The objective of Priorité patient is to fund research projects that will improve the care and services being provided, as well as the quality of life of cancer patients and their loved ones. Patient involvement is at the heart of the program. Oncopole's Patient-Partners Committee has raised issues that the selected projects will have to address; patients make up part of the Evaluation Committee; and the team of each project taking part must include at least one patient or one caregiver.
"We are very proud to support promising research projects within the framework of these two programs bringing together research, innovation and care. These initiatives serve as a concrete illustration of the key role of our hub: mobilizing teams and partners around innovative projects and programs seeking to improve patient care." points out Renaldo Battista, Executive Director of Oncopole.
After 3 years in existence, Oncopole not only intends to continue to support the most promising projects in oncology, but also to strengthen its vital role in harmonizing the actions and strategies of the various players in the cancer field and to have a definite and direct impact on cancer patients.
About Oncopole
Oncopole is a Quebec hub for research, development and investment to accelerate the fight against cancer. Created in February of 2017, it is the product of a unique co-creation process led by the Fonds de recherche du Québec - Santé (FRQS) and made possible by an initial $15M investment from Merck Canada. Oncopole's mission is to act as a catalyst leveraging actions made by the key players in Quebec's oncology and innovation research ecosystem. As a result, it aims to position the province as a leader in the field. Its priorities of action, namely research, entrepreneurship, commercialization and integration of innovation, as well as clinical relevance, are orchestrated in order to foster the mobilization of stakeholders, the discovery of innovative approaches to fight cancer and, ultimately, a positive impact for the benefit of patients.
SOURCE Oncopole
or interviews: Catherine CARDINAL, Communications Director, ONCOPOLE, (514) 220-9209, [email protected]; Sandy THIBERT, Communication Advisor, ONCOPOLE, (514) 206-5420, [email protected]
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