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Network Structure
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| The International Transplant Skin Cancer Collaborative is our sister organization in North-America and Australia. | |
| Development of a collaborative on skin care and –research in organ transplant patients – SCOP What has already been done ? Paying tribute to the increasing numbers of organ transplant patients presented in general dermatologic outpatient departments with significant skin problems like tumours and infections in December 2000 a German collaborative for the specialised dermatologic care for these was founded. Parallel developments in France and Italy led to similar processes in Italy (GISED) as well as in France (skin and organ transplantation group from the French Society of Dermatology . On a first international meeting January 2002 in Berlin Australian, US-American and European physicians met to share experience and research results in this field and to discuss global strategies to fight the excessive burden of skin cancer in this group of patients. A close cooperation regarding epidemiologic and basic research as well as the need to develop new therapeutic and prophylactic strategies was settled. This meeting was followed by a first European Meeting parallel to the World Congress of Dermatology in Paris (June 2002). An other Global Meeting was held in northern Minnesota / USA in August 2002. Aspects and projects resulting form the Berlin Meeting were picked up and multinational working groups were established. In December 2002 a second European SCOP Meeting was held in Berlin to discuss and commence working and research activities for 2003. Meanwhile the European network comprises 30 members in 11 countries. Multiple fields of cooperation with the Australia-American ITSCC (International Transplant Skin Cancer Collaborative) emphasize the importance of a global answer onto the challenge of skin cancer in organ transplant patients. |
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| Network Structure (click on link or picture for a larger version) | |
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| Main Tasks The main tasks of the European SCOP Collaborative Network I. Standardize and collect epidemiological data on skin diseases in organ transplant patients II. Establish a consensus for prophylaxis and therapy of NMSC and skin infections in organ transplant recipients III. Define further fields of common research interests (i.e. novel therapeutic options) IV. Extension of surveillance and knowledge on skin disease in organ transplanted patients Outlook The goal of our international network is to establish the conditions for a European collaboration of national surveillance networks to produce an accurate overview on incidence and prevalence of skin diseases in organ transplant recipients (OTR) and the specific impact of various risk-factors on this. Meaningful analysis of this data is crucial to provide reference data for further research in several medical domains as well as effective prevention strategies and new therapeutic methods. Consultation with SCOP members has also identified a need for consensus in clinical definitions as well as providing certain standard of care regarding the aftercare of OTR in daily praxis. Multi centre studies are needed to evaluate the efficacy of current preventive and therapeutic strategies. Since it is important to identify important trends for subsequent follow-up occurrence studies and interventional approaches a board of directors supported by organisation task forces will coordinate the scientific working groups. The close integration of basic researchers will encourage the use of new therapeutic innovations and will result into a most advanced therapy for our patients. Harmonisation and sharing of experiences will provide support for countries wanting to join the network of networks. Since there is much duplication of guidelines in the Europe we will explore the applicability of European evidence based scientific advices and recommendations. The areas for investigation chosen here were selected as they are medically important and interact with the surveillance studies. This initiative will also be of great importance to the harmonisation of the SCOP educational activities so vital if there is to be a sustained improvement in EU skin cancer control activities. A fellowship programme will build and reflect on these. The SCOP internet site already enable the rapid exchange of data, guidelines, surveillance protocols, computer software, information on training and other topics as well as providing for the rapid diffusion of information on new or threatening events or situations. It is also pivotal to the creation of the conditions for an increasing co-operative European attitude in all activities related to the surveillance and uses of data for quality improvement and reductions of the burden imposed by skin diseases – especially skin cancer – in the EU. |
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17.03.2003
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16.10.2003
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24.09.2003
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27.11.2003
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Credits
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| Concept Claas Ulrich, MD Dirk Wippermueller Graphics & Layout Duc Van Dang Coding & Database Dirk Wippermueller |
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Copyright Note - All content of this website is property of SCOP Network ( T ). Any further use or distribution of this site's content or parts of this site requires written permission of SCOP Network ( T ).
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