Those Involved in Cancer Research

Last updated on: 05/17/2011

The purpose of cancer research is to reduce the mortality caused by this disease and diminish its frequency and severity. Cancer research also aims to improve patients' quality of life by means of more effective and less toxic treatments.  The main cancer research drivers in France are the Ministry of Higher Education and Research, and the Ministry of Health.

Research teams and organisations
Financing of research
The seven cancer hubs ("canceropoles)
Aviesan and the Cancer ITMO

Research Teams and Organisations

Cancer research is carried out in laboratories attached to research bodies, that may be part of hospital facilities or external. The main organisations are:

• Inserm (National Institute of Health and Medical Research). Inserm was set up in 1964. It is the only public French research body devoted entirely to human health.  It comprises 13,000 people, including nearly 3,000 university or hospital personnel and 1,450 foreign researchers. It is made up of 318 research units (laboratories comprising one or more teams coordinated by a unit director, located in hospitals, universities or other institutions, such as comprehensive cancer centres.  36 of these units are devoted to cancer research, representing a budget of roughly €70 million.

• CNRS (National Scientific Research Centre) is a public research body comprising 11,450 researchers. 1,700 of them are working on cancer, located in 53 units (budget: €60 million);

• CEA (Atomic Energy Commission) has 10 centres located throughout France.  It is participating in numerous partnerships with other research bodies, local authorities and universities, and allocates €20 million to cancer research in fields such as radiobiology, diagnosis and imagery;

• INRIA (National Automation and Computer Research Institute) is active in five fields of research, including life sciences and the environment.  For example its researchers are working on imagery and cancer treatment tools;

• The Pasteur Institute comprises 130 research laboratories divided into 10 research departments.  6 of these laboratories (roughly 35 researchers and technicians) are working on cancers of infectious origin (cancers of the liver and cervix of uterus) and vaccines to prevent them.

More and more units are bringing together teams from these bodies with higher education establishments in universities, hospitals, research institutes and comprehensive cancer centres.
In addition to full-time researchers, these teams often include physicians who devote some of their time to research, as well as technicians and students.

Financing of Research

INCa also provides roughly €70 million for cancer research, via "calls for proposals".  This procedure consists in suggesting a general research theme, such as reduction of inequalities in the treatment of cancer for example.  Interested teams send their project to the Institute, where it is evaluated by a committee of experts.  The most interesting, relevant and innovative projects are selected, and receive financial support.  Every year almost 170 projects are supported in this way.
Apart from directly supporting research teams, Inserm also contributes €20 million to cancer research via the Alliance for health and life sciences (Aviesan).
In addition, charities also provide funding for cancer research.  The largest charities to do so are the National cancer league and the Cancer research association (ARC). Together they contribute roughly €65 million per year.  They mainly fund projects, research teams and set up scholarships. They also combine with INCa to co-finance programmes such as the programme for research into cancers of the upper aerodigestive tract, launched in January 2011. This programme aims to improve understanding of the mechanisms leading to development of these cancers, and to develop means of diagnosis and treatments.
Two other foundations are also participating in this research: the Curie Foundation (Curie Institute) and the Gustave Roussy Foundation (Gustave Roussy Institute).

The Seven Cancer Hubs (Canceropoles)

The seven Canceropoles created in 2003 provide a structure for regional and inter-regional research.  They implement the INCa's research support policy and bring together the research body units (Inserm, CNRS, CEA, etc.), the university and hospital services and occasionally industry.  In particular their objective is to enable patients to benefit as quickly as possible from progress in research.
The Canceropoles support research teams as well as scientific events and seminars.  The budget is estimated at €10 million per year.

Aviesan and the Cancer ITMO

National reorganisation of research structures began in 2007. In particular this reform led to the creation of several Alliances, including the Alliance for health and life sciences (Aviesan), which comprises the major research establishment bodies and federations in these fields:

• CEA,

• CNRS,

• Inserm,

• Inra (National Agricultural Research Institute),

• Inria,

• IRD (Development Research Institute) ,

• The conference of university vice-chancellors,

• The regional university hospital centres,

• The Pasteur Institute.

This Alliance breaks down into 10 "thematic multi-organisation institutes" (ITMOs), one of which is devoted to cancer.  The cancer ITMO is responsible for coordinating all those taking part in cancer research, based on strategies which are defined by INCa and its scientific committee. Its director is also the research director of INCa, which creates a natural link between the two bodies.  The director therefore drives coordination of cancer research, in collaboration with the other research organisations.  This organisation is very similar to the organisation set up in the United States with the National Institute of Health and the National Cancer Institute.