Excellent research and expertise of quality of cancer care by internationally trained staff

Project Information

INEXCA

Grant agreement ID: 645634

DOI

10.3030/645634

Project closed

EC signature date 25 November 2014

Start date 1 March 2015

End date 28 February 2019

Funded under

• EXCELLENT SCIENCE - Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions

Total cost

€ 913 500,00

EU contribution

€ 913 500,00

Coordinated by

ITA-SUOMEN YLIOPISTO
Finland

Periodic Reporting for period 2 - INEXCA (Excellent research and expertise of quality of cancer care by internationally trained staff)

Reporting period: 2017-03-01 to 2019-02-28

Summary of the context and overall objectives of the project

The MSCA RISE -project “Excellent research and expertise of quality of cancer care by internationally trained staff” (INEXCA) aimed to utilize expertise across the globe to improve the research, researcher training and care of cancer patients, their family caregivers and patient and public involvement in international and inter-sectoral collaboration and exchange of staff. The objectives were to create innovative opportunities to improve research as well as researchers’ skills and increase knowledge transfer from research to business and clinical practice. The participants were representing academic, non-academic and clinical settings as well as Information technology and health related business experts. The participants in this project were from Belgium, Denmark, Finland, Great Britain, Italy and United States of America. Cancer is the major health problem globally and it impacts patients and families during diagnosis, treatment, and continues to affect them long into survivorship. In addition, improving quality of care is a high priority in most OECD countries.

Work performed from the beginning of the project to the end of the period covered by the report and main results achieved so far

The project achieved its primary objective to advance research training and research itself on cancer patients’ care as well as their family caregivers and advance scientific knowledge of the quality of care using a range of disciplinary perspectives and methodologies. Several scientific publications are in process and will provide further research and innovation activities in the future. The emphasis was on researcher training through secondments and the main objectives were gained. The project A total of 20 researchers (doctoral students, experienced researchers), clinicians and information technology experts/business experts were seconded in the participating countries. They got training in research methods, leading research groups, new methods and other important activities for their careers. Significant achievements were also gained in developing the ICT platform. The platform includes services for information sharing and communication between researchers and non-academic staff. The development of this platform is continuing after the project.

By the end of the project, February 2019, there were outputs such as publications, presentations, workshops, videos and educational tools, with more in progress. Several grant applications raised from the project work have been prepared and submitted to national and transnational funders and new doctoral thesis are in preparation. An important consequence of the synergy between the participants have created and increased new collaboration activities between business, clinicians and academia.

Progress beyond the state of the art and expected potential impact (including the socio-economic impact and the wider societal implications of the project so far)

The importance of advancing quality of cancer patients’ care and support for their family members is a global challenge and has been ground work for implementing the approach in care. The importance and awareness of patient and public involvement and participation in care processes is the focus in several countries. Patients’ involvement in research proposal planning was highlighted and has already influenced stakeholders’ views and drafting new research plans.

The project has increased the understanding and importance of internationalization in training and research. Training during secondments has supported the seconded staff’s careers in academia (tenure track position, new academic posts in international university), leadership positions at the hospitals as well as business partner’s company’s impact. New collaborations have been created between EU and USA that will support further development.

The project supported experiences of international research collaboration in practice. The experience is important for future research. Several new research methods have been learned during the project influencing research activities in the future.

Testing of the Platform will continue after the project and optional Platform Functionalities will be implemented with several innovative activities.

Participants of the FRAM workshop in May 2016