Swiss working group for clinical cancer research
| Swiss Working Group for Clinical Cancer Research SAKK
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| legal form | Association / NPO |
| founding | 1965 |
| Seat | Bern , Switzerland |
| management |
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| Number of employees | 82 (2018) |
| Branch | clinical research |
| Website | www.sakk.ch |
The Swiss Working Group for Clinical Cancer Research (SAKK) is a non-profit organization that has been carrying out multi-center clinical studies in oncology at hospitals in Switzerland and partly abroad since 1965 . In accordance with recognized ethical and regulatory requirements, these studies, which are independent of the industry, examine whether new cancer therapies are effective, tolerable and safe. Another goal is to further develop and improve existing cancer treatments. The studies take into account various forms of treatment such as surgery, radiotherapy and drug therapies. As part of studies, SAKK also asks questions about prevention, early detection, diagnosis and follow-up care of cancer and examines the quality of life of patients and the costs caused by treatment.
Areas of activity
The focus of research is on the treatment of breast cancer, tumors of the gastrointestinal tract, leukemia, lung cancer, lymphomas and urogenital tumors. The studies are carried out as part of the usual oncological treatment in a hospital or in the practice of a specialist. All university hospitals and many cantonal and regional hospitals throughout Switzerland are part of the SAKK network and offer their patients study participation. In 2018, around 1,500 adult patients were treated in clinical studies, and the number is rising.
The scientific work of the SAKK is mainly carried out in the project groups, as well as in the working groups and sections. In particular, the project groups develop studies to improve the treatment of the most common tumor types (breast cancer, gastrointestinal tumors, leukemia, lung cancer, lymphomas and urogenital tumors). The project group "New Anti-Cancer Treatments", in cooperation with the other project and working groups, tests new substances that may later be used as cancer drugs. For rare tumor diseases for which the number of patients in Switzerland is too small to conduct its own studies, the SAKK merges with foreign research groups.
In November 2015, the SAKK set up the patient council with the aim of better understanding the experiences and needs of cancer patients and their relatives and integrating them into their research projects. The currently five-member patient council actively advises SAKK on the three levels of strategy, study development and communication.
SAKK is financially supported by the federal government with a basic contribution. The goals that SAKK has to fulfill with the funds made available by the federal government are set out in a performance agreement between the State Secretariat for Education, Research and Innovation (SERI) and SAKK.
history
Swiss doctors who returned from the USA after research stays founded the Swiss chemotherapy group in 1965, which was later renamed SAKK. In the 1970s, SAKK maintained close cooperation with American cooperative study groups. In the 1980s she carried out and published studies on gastrointestinal tumors and breast cancer - thanks to her participation in studies by the International Breast Cancer Study Group (IBCSG).
In 1991 the SAKK was transferred to the Swiss Institute for Applied Cancer Research (SIAK). The three-branch model of applied oncological research was created under the umbrella of the SIAK:
- Swiss Working Group for Clinical Cancer Research (SAKK): Clinical cancer research in adults
- Association of Swiss Cancer Registries (VSKR): Epidemiological studies on cancer incidence, research into risk factors and evaluation of prevention programs
- Swiss Pediatric Oncology Group (SPOG): Clinical cancer research in children and adolescents
In 2007 SAKK merged with SIAK. The newly created organization has since been run under the name SAKK and comprises a broad network of around 20 research groups throughout Switzerland and a coordination center in Bern. Since then, the regional cancer registries have been working together within the framework of a Swiss foundation, the National Institute for Cancer Epidemiology and Registration (NICER). The Swiss Pediatric Oncology Group (SPOG) will remain an independent association and will continue to be dedicated to cancer research in children and adolescents.
Structure of the organization
The SAKK is a non-profit organization with the legal form of an association within the meaning of Article 60ff of the Swiss Civil Code. The full members of the SAKK are the main clinical oncological centers at the cantonal and regional hospitals and the university clinics. Each main center works together with other hospitals and doctors, creating a network whose center is the SAKK coordination center in Bern. The employees of the SAKK coordination center develop new studies in cooperation with doctors, collect data, evaluate them after the studies have been completed and are responsible for their publication. In addition, the coordination center takes on administrative and financial duties of the association.
The board of directors decides on the research activities of the SAKK. The coordination center in Bern employs around 80 people.
Web links
Individual evidence
- ↑ Support from the federal government. Retrieved March 7, 2019 .