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Together We Can Make A Difference
For Those Affected By Sarcomas!

The SPAEN Sarcoma Research Group

Research in sarcomas needs to become more patient-centric!

We feel that research decision making sometimes depend on other reasons than actual needs and most important questions for patients. Therefore, we would like to work towards developing a strategy and clear direction to ultimately improve outcomes for sarcoma patients – in a collaborative effort of patient advocates, patients, carers and sarcoma experts.

We have therefore created a patient-led research group of patient advocates, a project leader and a medical advisor:

 

Richard Davidson2jpgRichard Davidson
Sarcoma UK
UK
"If we are to significantly improve sarcoma patients’ outcomes and experience, we need to ensure that they are central to decision-making when it comes to informing, designing and developing research programmes and projects. Personal experiences of sarcoma are essential to improved understanding and knowledge."
Natalia FernandezNatalia Fernandez
AEAS
Spain

 

Phil GreenPhil Green
Bone Cancer Research Trust
UK
 
Deck 2016 SPAEN 714Gerard van Oortmerssen
Patientenplatform Sarcomen
The Netherlands
 
Kai Pilgermann
Kai Pilgermann

Deutsche Sarkom-Stiftung/German Sarcoma Foundation
Germany
 

Deck 03 04 02 18 SPAEN Mailand 643
Sami Sandakly

Info Sarcomes
France

 
Lotta VadeLotta Våde
Sarkomer Norway
Norway
 

"Involving patients in research will give the studies an extra, and very important, perspective. The experience the patients and their relatives have is valuable and can not be found elsewhere. I also belive that including patients will bring up new areas that should be investigated. A collaboration between the medical expertise and the people who has the personal experience will be the best team!"

Deck 2016 SPAEN 711Roger Wilson
Sarcoma UK/SPAEN Honorary President
UK

"Giving the patient a voice in the design and development of cancer research recognises that the lived experience of treatment brings knowledge and creates challenges to which researchers do not otherwise have access. The result is better research, which may be delivered more quickly because the questions being answered are seen as relevant by patients. The culture of research also changes as patients are recognised as partners bringing value, often in hidden ways, to the process and the projects."

 

Project lead:

Deck 2016 SPAEN 519

Kathrin Schuster
Deutsche Sarkom-Stiftung/German Sarcoma Foundation/SPAEN
Germany

 

Support and input:

Bernd Kasper

Prof. Bernd Kasper
Medical oncologist, Mannheim, Germany

 

Read more about our first project "The Sarcoma Research Priorities Paper"coma Research Priorities Paper":
We want to know what needs to be improved about the diagnosis, treatment and care of people
living with or beyond sarcoma (incl. GIST and desmoids) – and we need your help to do this!