Through the project "Prevention and Early Diagnosis of Cancer and Precancerous Lesions of Cervix, Stomach, Breast and Thyroid" the Institute of Pathology and Molecular Immunology at the university of Porto (IPATIMUP) will organise information sessions to encourage prevention and early diagnosis of cancer. Upper secondary school students and their teachers, undergraduate students from the medical faculties, physicians, health technicians and patients will all be given access to information on specific issues related to cancer prevention and treatment.
The information campaign "CancerMobile" is already being carried out, in which primary and secondary schools are being informed about cancer related issues. IPATIMUP is also in the process of developing a website providing information about cancer, prevention and treatment. The website will also feature an electronic interface between IPATIMUP researchers and the general public, allowing anyone with a cancer related question to be able to contact specialists within the field.
In a addition to the information campaigns, pilot-projects on the identification of individuals with higher risk of developing gastric and cervix cancer will also be carried out, as well as the professional training of physicians and technicians in charge of diagnoses.
"We would be very happy to identify ourselves as promoters of a better quality of life for the Portuguese population. We are looking forward to a reduction in the disparity of the Portuguese outcomes with regard to cancer management in comparison to other countries in the European Economic Area," said Fernando Schmitt of IPATIMUP.
The collaboration with Rikshospitalet University Hospital stretches back to the 1970s, and several researchers at IPATIMUP have carried out their doctoral and postdoctoral studies in Norway. Thanks to the project support from the EEA Grants, the research institutions have been able to continue their collaboration also in this project, and the Norwegian partner is now providing expertise in areas including HPV genotyping and exfoliative cytology.
Photo: His Majesty King Harald of Norway visits IPATIMUP.