About EMN

The EMN is a consortium integrating laboratory research and innovative cancer therapy in multiple myeloma (MM) and Related Disorders". Download the EMN poster 2007.

Background

Multiple Myeloma continues to have a significant impact on the lives of Europeans, despite advances in diagnosis and treatment. A network of 421 experts working in multiple disciplines and institutions will overcome current fragmented research patterns. Combining expertise at all levels required to establish Europe as The or one of the world leaders in research and treatment of MM. Most of the top European scientists in the field will be involved, which includes 14 national and regional European trial groups.

A consortium will control and steer a broad range of activities aiming at translational research based on clinical databases and bio banks. However, the main deliverable will be a durable restructuring and reshaping research forum of international competitive European scientists.

Recent improvements in technology are leading to an improved understanding of the molecular and cellular events involved in MM. However, translation of such knowledge into clinical work requires a multidisciplinary integrated network.

This will accelerate basic insights into the disease and translate these into the clinical arena rapidly. When implemented research priorities will dramatically accelerate progress and provide a bold new strategy for rapid translation of basic research into improvement of public health.

The expectations are that participation in the European network (EMN) will add personal value for each participant. Exchange of experience will create mutual trust and a spirit of cooperation that will improve the quality of translational research and clinical trials throughout the Network and actively involve both laboratory and clinical groups.

Putting in place the network will initiate a political process, which will drive the network forward beyond the end of the FP6th. This will be ensured by the organisational structure and by access to well characterised clinical material and expertise. The network will remain open due to an ongoing process of recruitment of new partners and activities. It is expected that the network will exert political effects outside its specific areas in particular in relation to the development of new drugs and their translation to the marketplace within Europe.

Objectives of the network

Multiple myeloma (MM) is a disorder, where much more knowledge of the essential pathophysiological mechanisms and therapeutic possibilities is needed. The prognosis for MM patients is poor and we have encountered much less progress in the period where improvement has been noted in certain types of leukaemia and lymphoma. However, this situation now seems to improve - after many years of frustration. The introduction of high-dose therapy and autologous stem cell support and the emerge of several new promising agents already have changed the prognosis and tools dramatically improving the therapeutic possibilities. Much of the actual published haematologic research focus on plasma cell disorders. It is therefore a "golden moment" to propose a network of all the important researchers from different countries and groups all over Europe.

We have taken the existing European regional/national myeloma organisations and developed an extended strong network of excellence (NoE), which will be governed by a unified management structure. The consortium will control and steer a broad range of activities, including coordination of research programmes, platforms, facilities and knowledge aiming at translational research based on clinical databases and bio banks (see figure 1). However, the main deliverable will be a durable restructuring and reshaping research forum within which European scientists can continue and compete internationally.

The chairman will coordinate the daily activity and support the governing board and other network bodies, communicate with companies, make financial decisions, solve legal issues, promote gender equality and cover research and society issues related to the topics of the network. The early establishment of an efficient online tool (Home Page) for communication, documentation, education, information and registration will provide a means of cementing the network together early in its inception. This will be a priority in the first months of the networks existence and allow for immediate clinical data and tissue registration.

Europe will capitalize on this network by integrating the latest developments in scientific and technological advances into patient management seeking commitment from all levels of decision-making in the participating institutions. The network has identified 3 major research areas and 16 work packages (WP) with the ultimate goal to improve patient care, including possible preventive measures, identification of individuals at high risk of developing myeloma, timely diagnosis, tumour treatment and supportive care of individuals suffering from monoclonal gammopathies (MG), particularly multiple myeloma (MM).

The expertise will be networked around a joint programme which includes four interlinked objectives:

• Construct an online communication system (Home Page) as a core function of the network for communication, documentation, education, information and registration;
• Establish a European based laboratory and clinical network of excellence for the exploitation and strengthening of translational research, technology and training;
• Integrate the critical mass of resources and expertise needed for Laboratory and Clinical Research, in order i) to validate the clinical impact of new diagnostic and prognostic laboratory tests, including disease monitoring ii) to identify individuals and populations at high risk;
• Regulate clinical oriented research, in particular clinical trials in order i) to improve treatment by evaluation of new drugs and therapeutic strategies based on industrial partnerships and finally ii) to encourage and disseminate the development and implementation of evidence-based guidelines for good clinical practice.

In the USA there are already a number of integrated networks translating basic research and pharmaceutical discoveries into the clinical arena. If Europe is to compete effectively, we need to develop the network, integrating basic science, translational research and clinical evaluation. A concerted pan European effort to improve the therapeutic perspectives will facilitate new drug discovery. The use of a strong, steering and focused managed network of excellence in this setting very likely will permit an understanding and interaction between basic, translational and clinical research groups with external bodies such as the pharmaceutical and biotechnology industries.

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