The excellence of cancer research in the Pays de la Loire region has once again been honored with the renewal of the “ILIAD” SIRIC label by the National Cancer Institute (INCa) for a period of five years (2023-2027). This is one of eight nationally recognized cancer research excellence projects. The SIRIC ILIAD had already received this recognition from INCa in 2018.
National Expertise on Multiple Myeloma and Breast Cancer
Led by Professor Philippe Moreau, a hematologist at the Nantes University Hospital and project director, the SIRIC ILIAD is one of eight new projects selected through a competitive evaluation by an international jury following INCa’s new labeling round in December 2022.
The Nantes-Angers SIRIC
The SIRIC (Integrated Cancer Research Site) Nantes-Angers brings together expert care and research teams in oncology from across the region:
- Three healthcare institutions: the Western Cancer Institute (ICO) Nantes-Angers, the Nantes University Hospital, and the Angers University Hospital;
- Laboratories (INSERM, CNRS, the engineering school Centrale Nantes, the Arronax cyclotron, the Loire-Atlantique-Vendée cancer registry);
- And the universities of Nantes and Angers.
This consortium, supported by the Pays de la Loire region, also involves two national patient associations (Europa Donna and AF3M) and covers a population of over 5 million people.
This second consecutive labeling is a source of great pride for the consortium. It reflects the very high level of expertise in cancer research in the region, both in clinical and translational aspects, and its leadership on the project’s two main tumors: multiple myeloma and breast cancer.
“This labeling is the most prestigious recognition of cancer research in France and places Nantes-Angers as a national reference site. This distinctive label offers a unique opportunity to strengthen the momentum of cancer research in the Pays de Loire region and gives us international visibility.”– Prof. Philippe Moreau, Director of SIRIC ILIAD
Innovative and Personalized Treatments for Patients
Over the next five years, SIRIC ILIAD’s mission will be to conduct high-level multidisciplinary research to improve the detection, treatment, and job retention of high-risk multiple myeloma and breast cancer patients.
The project includes three integrated research programs: PRECIZE, DECIPHER, and SICAJOB, focusing on patient care and life pathways. These programs rely on unique expertise in nuclear medicine, translational research, and an original approach in social sciences and humanities.
Three Integrated Research Programs
- PRECIZE addresses the critical need for early detection of high-risk patients, aiming to offer tailored therapies as soon as possible.
- DECIPHER, through multi-scale and multi-parametric characterization of tumor resistance, seeks to identify and assess new therapeutic vulnerabilities.
- SICAJOB tackles both disparities in access to care and the issue of returning to work after cancer. It will improve evaluations of social and territorial disparities and enhance integrated prevention programs, supporting long-term return to work post-cancer.
A Collective Effort – Doctors, Researchers, Educators, Patients, and Patient Associations – Leveraging Top Expertise
The ILIAD project relies on the technological platforms of the Nantes-Angers site and benefits from the medical and scientific expertise of 30 teams across 9 institutions. With a patient-centered strategy, the project is developed in close collaboration with patient associations such as AF3M (National Association of Myeloma Patients) and EUROPA DONNA (Breast Cancer Patients Association). This original collaborative approach ensures that the project is truly “patient-centered.”
Ultimately, the project’s goals are to increase patient remission and recovery rates and to raise awareness among employers on how to better support employees affected by cancer.
Find the 8 SIRICs Labeled for 2023-2027
