Presentation of the Centre

OncoZON, the oncologic network Southeast Netherlands, is a unique network in the Netherlands which has existed for more than ten years. OncoZON is a collaboration between one university hospital, four top clinical hospitals, four general hospitals, and one institute for radiotherapy covering the whole of oncologic care in the South-East of the Netherlands (ca. 2 million inhabitants). Due to its organization and cooperation it is able to function as one single organization at different locations.

Main Research Activities

The (research) focus of OncoZON is ‘survival with preservation of function’ and following the philosophy of ‘Positive Health’ of Machteld Huber meaning improvement of health of the community and restoration of all functions determining personal health, being bodily functions, mental well-being, daily functioning, social participation, meaning, and quality of life. All (clinical and) research lines are committed to this focus and have a strong translational character. (Patient-related) scientific research is a standard agenda item in the regional tumor groups to promote research collaborations and expand the inclusion of patients in clinical trials. The number of scientific publications amounts to more than 500, more than 120 clinical studies are running, and more than 50 PhD theses are finished yearly.

Core Facilities

The network provides the full spectrum of diagnostic, treatment and aftercare options for all types of cancer. It enables the use of the full spectrum of highly specialized diagnostic and therapeutic equipment. All institutions are contractually committed to following the same procedures and protocols which are developed in 16 regional tumor working groups in which each hospital participates.

Education

The full spectrum of education (academic, post graduate, nursing, etc.) is given. Medical bachelor and master education follow the principle of problem-based learning and for all employees there is a strong focus on and support for continuing professional development. Within the network partners assist each other to achieve the required standards of training and educating.

Presentation of the Centre

The Netherlands Cancer Institute encompasses a research institute and a hospital. We help solve the cancer problem through innovations by combining the best scientific research and treatment for people with cancer, and we share our knowledge and insights with partners throughout the country and the international scientific community. We achieve our mission through engagement. That’s just who we are. Our work is cutting-edge and we excel in our innovations. But above all, we do it together. Because only together can we solve the cancer problem.

Main Research Activities at OUH

The Netherlands Cancer Institute is at the forefront of cancer research worldwide. Through close collaboration with the clinic, we quickly work towards new diagnostics and treatments. We distinguish six overarching themes through which we find new knowledge: fundamental research, precision medicine, immunotherapy, image-guided therapy, survivorship, and early detection.

Core Facilities

Research and treatment at the NKI focuses on highly complex, rare, and common tumours. We recently opened our Center for Early Diagnostics, which focuses on (early) diagnostics in case of symptoms or suspected increased risk. The NKI believes that early detection is an important factor in the fight against cancer. The Centre uses the latest technology and keeps wait times low, so clients can receive quick clarity.

Education

The NKI’s own training institute, the AVL Academy, provides training, education and development activities. We train the healthcare professionals of the future with our accredited oncology training courses. The institute offers an inspiring and interactive research environment with state of the art facilities for scientists and students.

Presentation of the Centre

As of November 2013 all patient care, research and education at Erasmus MC related to cancer is concentrated at Erasmus MC Cancer Institute. Both nationally and internationally, we provide excellent cancer care and treatment and innovative research to make sure that increasingly people survive cancer, are cured from cancer and have a better quality of life.

Main Research Activities

In oncology research at the Erasmus MC Cancer Institute, clinical care and cutting-edge research are seamlessly integrated through a comprehensive, multidisciplinary approach that tightly connects scientific discovery with patient care from departments. Embedded collaboration between clinicians and researchers within the institute ensures that insights from patient care directly inform research priorities, while laboratory breakthroughs are swiftly translated into innovative treatments. Multidisciplinary teams—including oncologists, surgeons, pathologists, data scientists, and technology experts—work together to develop and implement new diagnostics, therapies, and personalized care pathways, ensuring rapid adoption of research findings in clinical practice. The institute’s research strategy targets major challenges such as early cancer detection, prevention, and precision medicine, with continuous innovation in genomics, advanced imaging, and digital health tools embedded into both research and clinical workflows. Education and training programs incorporate the latest scientific and technological advances, preparing future oncology professionals to drive further progress. This integrated model positions Erasmus MC Cancer Institute at the forefront of translating scientific advances into high-quality, patient-centered cancer care, with research and clinical practice continually informing and enhancing each other. As such the Erasmus MC Cancer Institute is recognized as one of the leading OECI Comprehensive Cancer Centers in Europe, reflecting its commitment to the highest standards in cancer care, research, and education. As a full member of the Organisation of European Cancer Institutes (OECI), Erasmus MC has undergone a rigorous accreditation and designation process, which certifies that the institute meets validated quality standards for multidisciplinary and comprehensive oncology services. This prestigious status underscores Erasmus MC’s role in delivering integrated, patient-centered cancer care, advancing innovative research, and contributing to international collaborations that shape the future of oncology in Europe.

Core Facilities

Our specialists are highly experienced in diagnosing and treating virtually all cancer types, ranging from the most common to the rarest forms of cancer. We combine our expertise with advanced cancer therapies and innovative treatments and we provide complex, high quality academic care which is based on our scientific research. Patients receive treatment from a dedicated multidisciplinary team of cancer experts. For each tumor type, groups of specialists work together to guarantee the best available care.

Education

Erasmus MC Cancer Institute uses its talents to train tomorrow’s healthcare professionals and enables them to treat cancer most effectively and to be involved in top of the bill research programs. We train the best specialists, scientists, technicians and nurses and by doing so build a strong network of the best healthcare professionals in the field of cancer.

Presentation of the Centre

The Maastricht UMC+ Comprehensive Cancer Center (MCCC) is a collaboration between Maastricht UMC+ Oncology Center (OC) and the Oncology division of GROW – Research Institute for Oncology and Reproduction, of the Faculty of Health, Medicine and Life Sciences of Maastricht University. We work together with our partners inside and outside Maastricht UMC+ to provide the best possible oncological care, scientific research and education and training. We provide patient-oriented, multidisciplinary care for oncology patients and study ways to improve the outcome of oncological (pre-)care along the continuum of prevention, diagnostics, treatment, nursing and care, and rehabilitation/post-care with a strong focus on ‘survival with preservation of function’. Within the oncologic network southeast Netherlands (OncoZON), MCCC cooperates with nine other hospitals with the purpose to provide the best possible oncologic care for all patients regardless of the hospital where they enter.

Our core values are:

Leading the way in healthcare, scientific research and education. In addition to tertiary referral care and top clinical patient care, our core tasks are scientific research, education and training, and knowledge utilisation.

Driven in our pursuit of excellence we distinguish ourselves nationally and internationally by focussing not only on restoring people to health but also on helping them stay healthy and improve their health.

Empathic in our relationships we work together on our strategic focus of Healthy Living, based on four programme priorities that offer everyone the opportunity to contribute to our shared aims within their own context:

• Connecting research, education and healthcare
• The future of our healthcare
• Partner in networks
• Organisational development

Main Research Activities

We feel it is important that our research actually leads to changes and improvements in clinical practice. Thus we can ensure that we supply the best possible care and that tomorrow's care will be even better. There are numerous examples as how to put our ideas into practice. We identify which (environmental) factors may heighten the risks of contracting cancer. Through prevention we ensure that our population is less endangered by these factors. We develop and implement new methods for early detection of cncer and treatments, which have less side-effects. We develop new techniques to treat these side-effects. Simultaneously, we study how patients in their way can contribute to their own treatment and further progression of preservation of function. The circles of innovation (2018) of the MCCC show how our scientists and healthcare professionals collaborate and contribute to the survival of cancer with preservation of function. As mentioned before the MCCC is al collaboration between the Maastricht UMC+ Oncology Center and the Oncology division of GROW-Research Institute for Oncology and Reproduction. GROW Oncology and Developmental Biology aims to prevent cancer, improve diagnosis, increase survival rates, and maintain optimal functional abilities for cancer patients. By collaborating closely with Affiliation Professors working in non-academic hospitals in OncoZON the link is made between MCCC and its partners. Research is organized in three programs. The programme ‘Prevention’ aims at establishing the potential role of environmental factors and lifestyle in cancer development and progression in order to develop targeted strategies for disease prevention. The programme ‘Innovative Cancer Diagnostics & Therapy’ aims at studying, developing and improving novel therapeutic approaches for personalized cancer treatment, and the programme ‘Basic and Translational Cancer Biology’ aims at unravelling basic (epi)genetic and cellular mechanisms that underlie carcinogenesis with the aim to develop and implement innovative diagnostic and therapeutic procedures. In 2023 there were 850 papers in peer reviewed international journals and 49 PhD theses.

Education

An important aim within GROW is the training of master- and PhD students in these fields of modern medicine and molecular life sciences. Therefore, GROW annually organises master classes, symposia and other events for these master and PhD students, postdocs and senior staff to update their skills and competences, to broaden their academic view, and to increase awareness with respect to research ethics and integrity.

Presentation of the Centre

The UMCG-CCC is the largest cancer center in the Northern Netherlands, providing high quality multidisciplinary cancer care. It focusses on complex and innovative cancer care, and cooperation with regional cancer networks in order to share expertise with other cancer health care providers. The UMCG is one of seven university medical centers in the Netherlands. There are 3.5 million inhabitants within UMCG’s catchment area. The UMCG CCC accommodates 15 multidisciplinary tumor teams and 17 recognized Centers of Expertise for rare cancers.

Main Research Activities

All fundamental, translational and clinical oncologic research activities are brought together in the oncology theme in research institute MoHAD. Key focus areas are:

• Precision Oncology
• Onco-immunology
• Basic and translational cancer research
• Improving the quality of life of cancer patients.

Core Facilities

The UMCG provides highly innovative cancer treatments and technologies, including

• proton therapy
• micro-invasive and image-guided surgery
• molecular diagnostics and targeted therapies, including immunotherapy
• cellular therapeutics with CAR-T cells, produced onsite since 2020.

Education

The UMCG collaborates closely with the University of Groningen in the education of physicians, dentists and movement scientists, nurses, and other paramedical disciplines.

Presentation of the Centre

Rijnstate is a top-clinical teaching hospital which stands for distinctive quality and optimal patient centeredness and holds a stable position on quality at the top of the largest hospitals in the Netherlands. In the field of oncology, Rijnstate is a supra-regional centre of excellence for breast cancer, lung cancer, stomach cancer, colon cancer, prostate cancer, kidney cancer, bladder cancer , penile cancer, thyroid cancer and haematology. Within the the network A.R.T.Z. Oncology and the oncologic network east Netherlands (Onco- Oost), Rijnstate cooperates with eight other hospitals with the purpose to provide the best possible oncologic care for all patients regardless of the hospital where they enter. Since 2017 Rijnstate Cancer Centre is structured as an ‘integrated practice unit’ and all staff involved work within one multidisciplinary unit.

Main Research Activities

Doing research and developing innovations is essential for a top-clinical hospital. Rijnstate carries out or participates in scientific research to improve the care of cancer patients. We carry out tumour-oriented research and we specifically occupy a later position in the translational chain so we are closer to the implementation in practice. Therefore, cooperation with the business and industrial partners is of great importance. We also involve universities, municipalities and health insurers. For example, we closely collaborate with the Radboud University Medical Centre and the University of Twente.

Core Facilities

• Fully equipped surgical complex, with 2 surgical Da Vinci Xi robots and 2 hybrid theatre rooms
• European training centre for robotic surgery
• Immunotherapy Centre for Lung Cancer
• Radiotherapy via the Radiotherapy Group, located next to Rijnstate Arnhem (5 linacs) and Ede (2 linacs)
• Regional Center for preventive Colorectal screening and certified gastroenterologists
• Member of the largest pathology lab cooperation in The Netherlands
• Long standing expertise in (ESMO accredited) palliative care services
• Leading position in reactivating nursing and healthy lifestyle programmes

Education

Rijnstate is among the 27 large training hospitals in the Netherlands to provide highly specialized medical care. Rijnstate is a teaching hospital and collaborates to provide full (or a part of) the training for 26 medical specialties. In total 100 residents are employed annually and, every year, 450 medical students do their internships at Rijnstate.

Presentation of the Centre

Netherlands comprehensive cancer organisation (IKNL) is the quality institute for oncological and palliative research and practice. IKNL collaborates with healthcare professionals, managers and patients on the continuous improvement of oncological and palliative care. It also assists in policy-making and the development of creating networks such as the Comprehensive Cancer Networks (CCNs) and consortia for palliative care.

Aims

With data from the Netherlands Cancer Registry (NCR) - the oncological hospital registry in the Netherlands collecting data on all cancer patients at national level from 1989 onwards - IKNL enables health care professionals, policy makers and others to reflect on cancer care and prevention. Data from the Netherlands Cancer Registry is used for several purposes:

• to support epidemiological studies
• to support and evaluate clinical studies
• to develop and evaluate guidelines
• to evaluate screening programmes
• for (inter)national comparisons of incidence and survival
• to answer political questions and for the development of policy of institutes and government
• for descriptive statistics in studies on clusters of cancer

Main Research

Data from the NCR currently is used in over 250 publications per year in peer reviewed medical journals and have a proven impact on cancer. For example, quality improvement based on insights from the NCR resulted in decreased postoperative hospital mortality rates, being most outspoken for patients with pancreatic cancer: from 24 to 4%. The NCR is also used as a primary source for evaluating effectiveness of treatment. Prediction models based on NCR data help individual patients and care professionals in shared decision making. IKNL's clinical trials office supports more than 200 clinical trials each year, including more than 10000 patients in clinical trials.

Presentation of the Centre

The Radboudumc Centre of Oncology’s ambition is to have a significant impact on cancer care. This is achieved on a daily basis through integrating education, research and care by 2500 doctors, nurses, teachers, scientists and many other professionals. The needs and wishes of our patients inspire us to offer the highest quality of care, which we continuously improve. Our care is organized in multidisciplinary teams dealing with specific tumor types. Patient management is discussed in these teams, along with opportunities for research. Our role as an academic oncology centre gives us the responsibility to be a last resort for complicated clinical problems, rare cancers and highly complex interventions. At the same time we strongly believe that high quality care should be given as close as possible to where a patient lives. Our care is therefore organized in regional comprehensive cancer networks.

Main Research Activities

The research in the centre is organised in 13 research programs. Research programs oncology:

• Gynecologic oncology
• Precision Medicine in patients with solid cancers
• Supportive cancer care
• Breast cancer
• Academic drug therapy development
• Cancer Immunotherapy
• Prostate, Bladder and Kidney cancer
• Thoracic Oncology
• Hereditary cancer
• Non-/Minimally Invasive Cancer Treatment
• Sanity: Synergistic combinations of Ablation and Immunotherapy
• 3D biology and disease mechanisms
• Treatment improvements for severe hematological diseases

Core Facilities

Within the research structure of Radboudumc, a large number of medtech and non-technological facilities are available through so-called Technology Centers:

• Imaging, including a Preclinical Imaging Centre
• High-throughput genomics
• Proteomics
• Clean-room facilities
• Unit for the clinical application of new drugs (a phase 1 unit)
• Unit for psychosocial research tools
• Biostatistics
• Microscopy center
• Central Animal Facility
• Bio-informatics
• Center for Minimal Invasive Treatment (MITeC)
• Biobank

Education

The Radboud university medical center offers the following teaching programs: BSc and MSc in Medicine, Biomedical sciences (BMS) and Dentistry, and an MSc in Molecular Mechanism of Disease (MMD). In the field of oncology, the activities are spread over these programs in different courses. In addition to the basic course of Oncology for 2nd year Medicine and BMS students and a cancer research course for 3rd year BMS students, a number of specific topics such as Gene and Immunotherapy, Pathophysiology are highlighted in the Master program BMS and in the form of Master classes within the MMD program.