EORTC Scientific Audit Committee (SAC)

The EORTC Scientific Audit Committee (SAC) gives independent advice to the EORTC Board regarding the activities and scientific output as well as overall priorities and strategies of the Divisions, Groups and Task Forces of the EORTC. Recommendations also include criteria such as conformity with EORTC structure, policies, and interaction with other EORTC Groups.


The SAC evaluates the effectiveness of the research programmes conducted by the Groups. The SAC provides suggestions intended to strengthen the Groups and overall functioning of the EORTC. Each research group bearing the EORTC name is reviewed every 3 to 4 years. About 50% of SAC members have no EORTC involvement. Its members represent a cross-section of opinion and expertise. The choice of EORTC members or non-EORTC members is approved by the Board and revised as appropriate.


Members are committed to a three-year renewable term. The SAC chairman reviews the composition of SAC after his/her appointment and makes a proposal for new members to the EORTC Board. A replacement of only two to three members at a time is recommended to avoid a lack of continuity in SAC reviews.


The SAC also includes one ex-officio member i.e. the EORTC Director General.


Members & Ex-Officio Member

Chairman: J-C. Horiot, Dijon (FR)
Secretary: F. Cardoso, Brussels (BE)


J. Celis, Copenhagen (DK)
E. Eisenhauer, Ontario (CA)
K. Haustermans, Leuven (BE)
F. Meunier, Brussels (BE) (Ex-officio member)
L. Paz-Ares, Sevilla (ES)
U. Ringborg, Stockholm (SE)
M. Tempero, San Francisco (US)
C. Van De Velde, Leiden (NL)


Scientific Audit Committee Report 2007

Our Chairman Professor Pieter De Mulder died on April 7, 2007 at the age of 58. He was Professor of Oncology at Nijmegen (The Netherlands). During his professional life, he was fully dedicated to EORTC research and a Board member for the past 13 years. He was nominated SAC chairman after having held many other responsibilities in several EORTC Groups and Committees. We deeply miss his human qualities, expertise, and generous friendship. Professor J.C. Horiot, one of the past EORTC Presidents, was asked by the Board to assume his function as the Chairman of the SAC.

Other important changes have taken place in the SAC membership due to several members reaching the end of their terms (see above).


The new strategy and philosophy defined by the EORTC Board is fully endorsed by SAC which will ensure that recommendations to the Groups are in line with this new strategy.


In 2007, nine Groups were reviewed in the presence of their chairmen: Infectious Diseases, Head and Neck, Lymphoma, Gastro-Intestinal Group, Cutaneous Lymphoma Task Force, Melanoma, Radiation Oncology, and Gynecological Cancer Groups.


Simultaneously SAC also reviewed the acceptance of previously audited groups, discussed their answers to questions or missing points as well as their compliance or first actions to implement Board approved SAC recommendations.