(Approved by the NCU Board on May 13 2005)

* The strategy period has been extended to include 2011

1. Preamble

This strategy is an expression of the common priorities of the Nordic cancer organisations during an initial 5-year-period, years 2006-2010. The main emphasis is to support cancer research focused especially on cancer epidemiology.

The strategy will direct allocation of NCU funds in line with the stated priorities. An update of the activities based on the strategy shall be made on a yearly basis and a final evaluation after 5 years.

The Nordic Cancer Union wishes to raise the awareness of decision-makers and authorities at the national, Nordic and EU level of the relevance of the priorities stated in this strategy.

The Nordic countries have a total population of approximately 25 million people. This is a population characterised by being relatively homogeneous in a number of fields, such as culture, living conditions, public health services and level of registration.

The Nordic countries have special preconditions for carrying out extensive representative studies of the population by involving the many databases that exist in the Nordic countries. The Nordic countries have well-functioning national registers – including cancer registers established already in the 1940ies and 1950ies, personal identity systems, free access to the public health service, biological banks of a high quality and populations that are actively contributing to healthcare research. The unique Nordic environment is a favourable soil for collaboration and joint projects in research and documentation within the cancer field.

There is also long-lasting collaboration between national cancer organisations in the Nordic countries. The Nordic Cancer Union (NCU), established already in 1949, is comprised of six organisations: Danish Cancer Society, Cancer Society of Finland, Icelandic Cancer Society, Norwegian Cancer Society, Swedish Cancer Society and Faroese Cancer Society.

An important part of the collaboration within the NCU has been to finance Nordic cancer research of high quality. This co-operation has stimulated Nordic cancer research in general and created synergy. Joint programs have increased knowledge on Nordic cancer problems and ways to solve them and illustrated which joint actions are not cost-effective. Networking has also stimulated individual cancer societies and led to fruitful advocacy in international arenas.

The aim of the Nordic Cancer Union is collaboration to improve knowledge and understanding of cancer diseases, effective prevention, results of cancer treatment and rehabilitation; and to enhance their effective application in the Nordic area.

In order to promote this aim NCU focuses on the following objectives:

• to fund Nordic research and strategic projects of high standards within the field of cancer
• to be a body for exchange of experiences and co-operation on relevant strategic issues.

Cancer research

Research orientation will be the first priority of NCU in the coming 5-year-period. NCU takes a leading role in encouraging collaborative cancer research of high quality within the Nordic research community.

Recognising the importance of patient oriented basic research and clinical trials special attention will be given to cancer epidemiology in order to increase understanding of the causes of cancer, cancer incidence and the course of cancer diseases. This is the basis for developing effective and goal-oriented prevention of cancer. It is estimated that 85% of the total cancer incidence is due to detrimental influence from the environment and from life style. Today we know the specific causes of cancer with regard to approx. 35% of the cancer incidence.

Further knowledge on health promotion in line with recommendations based on epidemiological research is needed. This is crucial in developing effective methods of prevention.

Another priority area is rehabilitation of cancer patients including increased understanding of psychological, social and physical aspects in relation to cancer diagnosis, cancer treatment, living with cancer as well as the changes in life after being a cancer patient. Still more patients are being cured or live longer with cancer. Many of these people have serious late consequences of the treatment and therefore special initiatives are needed in order to ensure that they have the best possible life. There is a need for knowledge of the best way to organise the rehabilitation efforts.

Strategic projects derive from the needs of cancer societies in defining future political initiatives. Funding for other strategic projects and initiatives will be considered with increased emphasis on the quality and evaluation of the projects.

Special emphasis in this area is given to research-related projects like monitoring, documentation and analysis of data. Knowledge and documentation on cancer diseases (e.g. cancer incidence and mortality, survival after a cancer diagnosis) in each individual country identifies fields in which improvements are needed. Comparisons between the Nordic countries are extremely essential for the work on cancer programmes, including the prioritising of the efforts.

Developments are taking place continuously with regard to diagnostic and treatment issues. The gathering of data, analysis and evaluation of these developments provide essential knowledge for improving results of cancer prevention, treatment, rehabilitation and palliative care. Continuous monitoring and evaluation also raise media attention in the field.

Strategic projects and issues can also include the training of researchers as well as other projects on problems of current interest that are essential to cancer control.

5. Improved quality control and follow-up

Project assessment

The composition of the scientific committee shall be reviewed in order to ensure an extensive and profound expertise. With regard to grants a distinction is made between cancer research and strategic projects and issues. In both categories grants are based on the demand for the best quality and peer review.

The scientific committee makes final decisions concerning grants for cancer research, and gives consultation concerning applications for strategic projects to the secretaries general for their final decisions on grants to such activities. The secretaries general shall have control of strategic projects by identifying the themes of high value to the NCU.

Evaluation of funded research and strategic projects shall be enhanced in order to ensure effective use of resources and to follow-up the application of the research results in the Nordic countries.

Presentation of a final report will be required in the grant allowance. Evaluation guidelines shall be developed in collaboration between the secretary generals and the scientific committee. Evaluation of funded projects will be the responsibility of the scientific committee.

It is important to ensure an effective collaboration between the secretaries general and the scientific committee.

In addition to funding research and strategic projects, NCU is a body for exchange of experiences and co-operation between its member organisations. This function is fulfilled through regular meetings between the secretaries general.

Information is exchanged about campaigns, activities, discussions and other ongoing processes at national level. Developments in the international field (especially ANCR, Nordic Council of Ministers, ECL, UICC, EORTC and EU) are also monitored and discussed.

The secretaries general may launch joint statements and advocacy on issues of NCU-relevance.
 

Finances

The basis for this strategy is that an amount of 1 million euro per year is allocated for a 5-year period starting as of 2006, i.e. a total amount of 5 million euro. Also funds from the 2005 budget, which are not granted to specific projects and activities will be reserved for the priority areas stated in this strategy.

The funding of the secretariat function will be secured in addition to these amounts.

The basis is that the yearly allocation of funds is 0.75 million euro for cancer research and 0.25 million euro for strategic projects. This distribution is flexible, depending on the prioritising of the issues by the Board.

The NCU allocates funds to cover max. 3 years. In connection with the decision on the budget for the coming year decisions are also made on the budgeted amounts for the following 2 years.

The share of costs between the NCU members in the coming 5-year-period is based on the following table:

(% of the NCU budget)

Country	2005	2006	2007	2008	2009	2010
Denmark	24,6	26,8	27,0	28,0	28,0	28,0
Faroe Islands	0	0,2	0,2	0,2	0,2	0,2
Finland	10,3	11,0	12,0	13,0	13,8	15,0
Norway	21,3	24,0	25,8	28,0	28,0	27,8
Sweden	42,8	37,0	34,0	29,8	29,0	28,0
Iceland	1,0	1,0	1,0	1,0	1,0	1,0
TOTAL	100,0	100,0	100,0	100,0	100,00	100,0

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