JANE-2 - Joint Action on Network of Expertise 2

The main objective of JANE-2   is to establish and foster the growth of seven new Networks of Expertise (NoEs) focusing on specific challenging cancer conditions. The initiative aims to support their development, harmonize their operations where necessary despite their diverse focus areas at the EU level with the different Member States (MSs), and maintain alignment with other EU networking efforts. As a follow-up project to the previous Joint Action, JANE (Joint Action on Networks of Expertise), JANE-2’s specific objectives include promoting the tailored growth of each NoE to address their unique challenges and priorities. By the conclusion of the initiative, it is anticipated that each NoE will be well-positioned to advance independently in a sustainable manner.
JANE has speculated that NoEs need to be viewed as high-profile EU networks assembling the best expertise and facilities available in the EU focusing on transversal aspects of cancer to provide the highest standard of cancer care and prevention to each European citizen. These EU NoE aim to rely on national networks of expertise in the different cancer conditions, with the support of comprehensive cancer centres (CCC).

The different NoE will have to address the following areas of intervention in their field of interest:

1. development, or support to the development, of clinical practice guidelines or policy recommendations;
2. advocacy/policy/awareness building;
3. development of healthcare organizational models, keeping in mind the variegated nature of EU member States;
4. education of healthcare providers;
5. promotion of research;
6. development of quality criteria and programmes to be possibly implemented at the national/regional level;
7. patient and public engagement and literacy.

Some of these areas are already covered by existing networks, scientific and professional societies, educational providers. Thus, NoEs may either develop new products or collaborate with third parties optimizing already available products.

Consortium cooperation and division of roles

The core group of participants is composed of leading European health institutions (hospitals and research centres), on one hand, and national authorities with public health institutes, on the other. The consortium involves 29 MSs, with a total of 121 participating institutions. 

• WP1: Coordination, Leading institute INT (Italy)
• WP2: Dissemination and communication, Leading institutes NHRF (Greece), CSGV (Spain)
• WP3: Evaluation, Leading institute RSYD/Lillebaelt Hospital (Denmark)
• WP4: Sustainability, Leading institute Biosistemak (Spain)
• WP5: Complex and poor prognosis cancer, Leading institute MSCI (Poland)
• WP6: Palliatieve care, Leading institutes OUS (Norway) Co-lead; INT (Italy)
• WP7: Survivorship, Leading institutes HSJD (Spain) Co-lead ; Sciensano (Belgium)
• WP8: Cancer prevention, Leading institutes IOCN (Romania) Co-lead; FPG (Italy)
• WP9: Omics, Leading institute Sciensano (Belgium) Co-lead: Unicancer (France)
• WP10: Hi-tech medical resources, Leading Institute Unicancer (France) Co-lead; Zealand University Hospital (Denmark)
• WP11: AYA, leading institute INT (Italy)

NoE on Omics (WP9)

Sciensano will be

• leading the NoE on Omics technologies
• co-leading the NoE on Survivorship
• leading a task within the NoE on AYA with cancer

Definition

These cutting-edge technologies allow for the comprehensive study of biological molecules (DNA, RNA, proteins, metabolites, etc.) within cells, tissues, or organisms. By analysing different layers of biological information, omics enables a deeper understanding of how these molecules interact and influence health and disease. In cancer research, omics can reveal new biomarkers for early diagnosis, identify therapeutic targets, and help personalize treatments based on a patient’s unique molecular profile.

Mission

The NoE will work to strengthen the fast integration of innovative omics technologies into all EU healthcare systems to improve clinical decision-making in precision (haemato-)oncology at the different steps of the cancer management in a sound and sustainable manner in order to provide equal access to high quality services for all European citizens.

Objectives & fields of application

The NoE on Omics will be dedicated to the needs of ‘end users’ of omics platforms and will incorporate platforms from the entire breadth of applications, from translational and clinical research to standard of care, to accelerate the integration of innovations into “precision” cancer medicine as well as public health. 
To achieve this overarching goal, ten major objectives have been defined for the NoE:

1. Identification of unmet needs
2. Simplified organisation and procedures
3. Interoperability of omics platforms
4. Data sharing
5. Equitable access for patients within the EU
6. Guidelines and recommendations
7. Education and capacity building
8. Patient and citizen engagement
9. Synergies and collaborations
10. Health policy and funding

Organisation

The governing headquarters of the NoE consists of a secretariat, steering committee (executive decisions) and a general assembly (strategic decisions). Expert meetings and workshops will be organised in the four thematic areas that were defined based on clinical readiness (Figure 1, orange). Across these areas, core facilities will work on four cross-cutting tasks (Figure 1, green) to achieve the objectives of the NoE. EU expert partners will be included from different domains and services, relying on national and regional networks.

Synergies, collaborations & funding opportunities

To maximize knowledge and resource sharing among partners, the NoE on Omics will undertake efforts such as the establishment of a matchmaking platform, collaboration with existing network initiatives, patient and public engagement, funding applications and joint (clinical trial) projects (Figure 2).

Collaborative stakeholders (scientific societies, European official bodies, national/regional decision-making bodies, life science infrastructures, patient advocacy groups, …) are invited to engage with the NoE to participate in these efforts, to map existing infrastructures relevant to the NoE’s mission and activities, to identify and tackle currently unmet needs and to foster the sustainability.

Through these collaborative efforts, partners and stakeholders of the NoE will participate in shaping the future of cancer patient care through the improved and accelerated integration of innovative omics technologies into the standard of care. Through the NoE, connections will be fostered between existing national/regional networks, as well as between (EU) networks in different fields to form transdisciplinary relationships. Partnerships between healthcare providers, omics technology platforms, decision-making bodies and industry partners can improve access to funding with support from the NoE.

Contact us

JANE-2 website