EORTC Translational Research Advisory Committee (TRAC)

The Translational Research Advisory Committee (TRAC) was created to support and provide expert advice from a scientific and practical perspective on Translational Research projects conducted within the EORTC. The aims of TRAC are to ensure the independence of the EORTC, the relevance of translational research efforts and to guarantee scientifically sound results so as to increase the scientific visibility of the EORTC. As a pre-clinical scientific advisory committee, TRAC acts also as a permanent EORTC forum between the Clinical and Laboratory Research Divisions by fostering interest in translational research within Clinical Research Division Groups and promoting clinical development ideas/concepts emerging from Laboratory Research Division Groups.


Missions of the TRAC:
• To lead the Strategic Translational Research developments within the EORTC
• To assist EORTC Clinical Groups in optimisation of Translational Research studies and integration of Translational Research approaches into their scientific strategy
• To stimulate EORTC TR projects either as side studies of new EORTC clinical trial protocols or on the existing sets of clinically annotated bio-samples
• To provide expert advice on any Translational Research Project conducted within the EORTC both from a scientific and a practical perspective
• To ensure optimal flow of information between EORTC Laboratory and Clinical Research Divisions and contribute to the reinforcement of the EORTC platform of pathogists and laboratory scientists.
• To support the Early Project Optimization Department (EPOD).


TRAC is comprised of 15 permanent members and 3 ex-officio members. In 2008 the TR contact
persons from the disease-oriented Groups and PathoBiology Group members involved in biobanking
will become TRAC (ex-officio) members. All main disciplines of translational research in oncology
are represented on the review panel. Each member of TRAC is elected for a renewable three-year
term.


Members

Chairman: F. Sweep, Nijmegen (NL)
Vice-Chairman: S. Sleijfer, Rotterdam (NL)


N. Brünner, Frederiksberg (DK)
F. Cardoso, Brussels (BE)
J. Foekens, Rotterdam (NL)
O. Hoekstra, Amsterdam (NL)
R. Iggo, Fife (GB)
A. Larsen, Paris (FR)
S. Michiels, Paris (FR)
G. Peters, Amsterdam (NL)
M. Schmitt, München (DE)
C. Sotiriou, Brussels (BE)
A. Spatz, Paris (FR)
I. Stratford, Manchester (GB)
N. Zaffaroni, Milano (IT)
S. Stroobants, Leuven (BE)


Ex-Officio Members:
D. Cameron, Edingburg (GB)
A. Passioukov, Brussels (BE)
L. Serfass, Brussels (BE)