A label of excellence for multidisciplinary and integrated research

The designation by the French National Cancer Institute (INCa) of Integrated Cancer Research Sites (SIRIC) is a policy of the French government who supports, through the Plan Cancer, the national effort to reduce the mortality and morbidity from cancer.

In order to continue the momentum initiated, the French National Cancer Institute launched in 2017 in partnership with Ministry of Health (DGOS) and Inserm a new call for application for SIRIC designation. The new campaign was opened to previously designated sites as well as to new projects. Following an international scientific evaluation, 8 projects out of the 16 applications submitted were selected for SIRIC-designation for a 5-year period (2018-2022).

The SIRIC Montpellier Cancer

The SIRIC Montpellier Cancer is the only labeled site in the Greater South of France. It brings together the medical and research teams of the Montpellier Cancer Institute, Montpellier University Hospital, five biomedical research institutes, and three university research centers in human and social sciences, i.e. nearly 500 clinicians and researchers whose ultimate goal is to improve the understanding, prevention, screening and treatment of cancer.

Professor Marc Ychou, Montpellier SIRIC Director: “Our goal is to optimize the organisation of cancer research, to engage in innovative research programs and to strengthen the means of translational research: our ambition is to discover new pathways leading towards personaliszd medicine for the benefit of each patient with cancer.”

The SIRIC has a threefold mission of integration, structuring and valorisation:

Mission 1:

To develop and drive innovative research programs around three major themes which integrate such fundamental factors as translational and clinical dimensions and are conducted within a national and international collaborative network:

◦ Colorectal cancer: from the improvement of current treatments toward therapeutic innovation

◦ Optimizing delivery of internal and external radiation therapy

◦ Tumor escape: exploration of mechanisms and search for targets

Mission 2:

To set up the necessary conditions, in terms of infrastructures and resources, to carry out a research that responds to the expected criteria of excellence, innovation, integration and multidisciplinarity (technological platforms, research support structures, protected time, attractiveness for new researchers, etc.).

Mission 3:

To develop a program for the dissemination of knowledge and new practices to health professionals and the general public in order to promote access to new medical practices and screening.

• Presentation leaflet of SIRIC Montpellier Cancer

 8 SIRICs certified for 5 years