Matchmaking Announcement
June 27, 2024
The benefits of meaningful patient involvement have been broadly analyzed and accepted by a wide range of decision-makers, acknowledging that systematic patient involvement generates better and more meaningful outcomes in research.
Currently, the increasing demand for patients, carers and patient advocates with the right expertise to feed into the different stages of research is a challenge for everyone involved. To promote the integration of the research and patient communities, allow meaningful and systematic patient involvement in research, and cover the needs of all parties involved, EPAI, together with other patient organizations, is proposing the set-up of a European matchmaking platform with a wide service offered to both communities, researchers, and patients, providing a point of contact for patient involvement.
This platform will be developed, tested, and refined with the support of Rising Tide Foundation for Clinical Cancer Research, under the commitment to facilitate the involvement of patients in clinical research. The platform is being created with the direct participation of the patients to ensure it addresses not only their needs but also those of the pertinent stakeholders.
About EPAI
The European Patient Advocacy Institute (EPAI) is a non-profit institution registered in Germany that hosts large evidence- and education-related advocacy initiatives and programs for the cancer and hematology patient communities. For example, EPAI currently runs the Secretariat for WECAN and the International MDS Alliance, while hosting many of WECAN’s programs and initiatives, as well as the Training Program for Young Patient Advocates in Rheumatology and Dermatology). Furthermore, EPAI is also assisting the EHA in developing and delivering a training program for Adolescent and Young Adult patients and is a co-founding organization for the HARMONY Foundation. EPAI is deeply interlinked with the cancer patient community on a European and international level, respecting and strengthening the roles of patient organizations, without competing with them.
About Rising Tide Foundation for Clinical Cancer Research
Rising Tide Foundation for Clinical Cancer Research is a charitable, non-profit organization established in 2010 and located in Schaffhausen, Switzerland. RTFCCR’s primary consideration in granting support is given to truly innovative, unique, patient-centered clinical research. With patients at the core of the mission, the foundation strives to support clinical trials resulting in the creation of less toxic therapeutic approaches, better disease burden management, earlier cancer detection, and innovative intervention strategies that will lead to increased survival and quality of life.