The project Parisian alliance of Cancer Research Institute (PaCri) received the IUH label in Cancer Research (Phuc). This project is part of the « Investissement d’Avenir » program and aims to enable the emergence of centers of excellence that will enhance the attractiveness of France in the field of cancer research. It is coordinated by Prof. Kroemer (University Paris Descartes, AP-HP, IGR, INSERM).

 

Under the PRES "Sorbonne Paris Cité", it meets the Institut Gustave Roussy, the Institut Curie, the University Institute of Hematology at St. Louis Hospital and other laboratories of excellence and service Assistance Publique-Hôpitaux de Paris (HEGP and Cochin) to be the engine of the fundamental, translational and clinical oncology in Ile-de-France, which already concentrates more than half of the national scientific production peak in research on cancer. This concentration of regional expertise provides international visibility to this alliance that has all the qualities to become a world leader in oncology.

 

Indeed, the Pacri project aims to advance knowledge in the field of cancer more quickly and to offer new therapeutic approaches improving the quality of the management, monitoring and long-term consequences of patients cancer.

 

It aims to carry out research programs for the treatment of cancer with emphasis on the integration of genetic and epi-genetic data heterogeneity of cancers, as well as the innovative studies of cell biology for screening anticancer component. Conventional and targeted cancer therapies and their efficiency when they induce an immune response against tumor antigens will be evaluated.

 

PaCri also promote trans-institutional collaborative networks and establish and consolidate platforms dedicated to the (epi) genetic, bioinformatics in tumor immunology and screening in cell biology.

 

 The Paris Alliance of Cancer Research Institutes (PACRI) aims at federating, strengthening and increasing the efficiency and visibility of Cancer research in the Paris area. PACRI will primarily stimulate the scientific exploration of promising research concepts developed by internationally recognized leaders in the field, and promote their industrial exploitation and clinical implementation. Practically, PACRI will promote trans-institutional research networks, particularly in the fields of molecular genetics, cell biology (integrated Omics: genomics/proteomics/metabolomics/systems biology), mouse models relevant to human cancers, preclinical studies, as well as immune exploration, focusing on practical, therapy-relevant aspects. 

 

PACRI will organize a series of shared technological platforms including bioinformatics, screening through cell biology imaging or immune cellular interactions. A significant effort will be put on preclinical mouse models, through implementation of a networked “mouse clinics” dedicated to production of xenograft or genetically defined models of tumors and efficient exploration of therapeutic interventions, notably with approved drugs or those under development. Particular emphasis will be placed on immuno-modulation and direct targeting of driving oncogenes. PACRI will contribute to equipment, personnel and/or running costs and ensure that these core facilities remain technologically up to date and widely accessible to investigators in the Paris area. 

 

Finally, PACRI will create an integrated educational system for recruiting, training and tutoring the next generation of cancer researchers and clinical oncologists. It will also organize foreign exchanges to ensure the highest visibility to Paris as a key actor in the global cancer research field.

With these programs, platforms and know-how, PACRI will accompany clinical trials. In particular, genomic and preclinical platforms will be used to evaluate new molecules in preclinical models, select patients for targeted therapies, characterize responsive patients and allow rapid progress in the area of personalized cancer medicine. Altogether, this strategy should stimulate top-notch research in the Paris area, at all levels (basic, translational, clinical), strengthen the bidirectional flux from the bench to the bedside, stimulate public-private partnerships, attract industrial and biotechnology investments into the Paris area, and in fine ameliorate patient care.

Interactions with national and local research networks

PACRI unites all major comprehensive cancer research centers of the Paris area, placing particular emphasis on translational research activities that have a broad impact, at the clinical, industrial and economical levels. A broad clinical impact is sought by privileging research on frequent cancers on which the consortium possesses a particular expertise (breast, colon, lung, leukemia, melanoma, neuroblastoma). A broad industrial impact is sought by offering a common platform to pharmaceutical or biotechnological partners. A broad economic impact will be achieved by applying state-of-the-art science & technology to a major public health problem with unmet medical demands. A broad educational impact will result from collaborations with Universities and their best courses in the field of oncology.

Medical, scientific and economic environment

The founder institutions of PACRI (see above) together provide cancer-related health care to 25-30% of the French population (65 Million), in the area of cancer, reaching peak levels of over 50% in some areas (such a pediatric cancer). These founder institutions employ some 600 physicians specialized in oncology, 1800 other physicians, 3000 nurses, 3600 life scientists (including students and post-docs) and manage an annual research budget of approximately 200 million €. They generate more than 50% of all high-level research publications (with an IF>20) published on cancer research in France.  

Moreover, they perform more than 40% of all oncological trials in the Nation. Notwithstanding this performance, cancer research in the Paris area needs to be ameliorated by eradicating several of the structural problems that limit the efficacy of cancer research in the capital. These problems (that must be overcome by PACRI) include the competition between separate institutions; limited technical, financial, human and biological resources; the absence of a common translational strategy vis à vis of industrial partners; as well as the lack of a common educational strategy. Thus, by defining and stimulating the most promising research projects, by improving the current technology platforms, by developing the Public-Private Partnership through the “Medicen” Cluster, and by implementing common strategies, PACRI will generate considerable scientific, medical and economic benefits.