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ContaCt uS FoR a DEMo anD tRIal plaCEMEnt The Unyvero™ Solution, developed by Germany’s Curetis AG is a fast, compre- hensive diagnostics system for severe infectious diseases in hospitalized patients. In a cartridge-based sample-to-answer format you can diagnose pathogens as well as antibiotic resistance markers for pneumonia as well as many implant and tissue infections. From native patient sample to clinically actionable answer in only 4 to 5 hours – whether in a lab or directly at the “point of need” on an ICU or ward. please contact us for further information: Curetis AG | Max-Eyth-Str. 42 | 71088 Holzgerlingen | Germany Tel.:+49 (0)7031/49195-10 | E-Mail: contact@curetis.com www.curetis.com get to know the Unyvero™ SyStem - FaSt anD RElIaBlE DIaGnoStICS FoR InFECtIouS DISEaSES Anzeige European Hospital.indd 2 24.06.14 06:59 www.european-hospital.com PATHOLOGY Pathology Congress As August turned to September almost 3,350 people from 87 countries gathered in London for the 26th European Congress of Pathology (ECP 2014), organised by the European Society of Pathology in partnership with Pathology London 2014 Ltd, a trading subsidiary of The Pathological Society of Great Britain and Ireland. Representatives included experts from the United Kingdom, Greece, Spain, Germany, Turkey and many more coun- tries. UK science journalist Frank Swain attended on behalf of European Hospital to report on key issues ht to a second opinion Patients are becoming experts in their own diseases between patients, healthcare provid- ers, research institutes and phar- maceutical companies working in the field. ‘Pathologists are the link between lab-based research and clinical practice,’ said Oliver. ‘Yet, we as patients and caregivers, rarely see them, know their names or indeed have a chance to thank them.’ The IBTA manages events such as the Walk Around the World for Brain Tumours, which has been sup- ported by 200 brain cancer chari- ties and other relevant organisa- tions over the past eight years, and the International Brain Tumour Awareness Week, held in October. Oliver added that accurate diagno- sis is essential for improving patient care, but better knowledge about rare cancers like brain tumours was held back by a lack of tumour material. Telling the audience that ‘tissue is the issue’, Oliver identi- fied the lack of tissue donations as a crucial bottleneck preventing improved research into rare can- cers. She encouraged pathologists to meet with patients before surgery to explain the value of these donations and to seek informed consent so that the tissue could be used in urgently needed research. Examples of tis- sue banking initiatives that actively involve patients include the PATH Biobank in Germany, which collects tissue from breast cancer patients, and the US-based Life Raft Group, which gathers samples of rare gas- trointestinal stromal tumours (GIST). Because of the limited tissue avail- able for rare cancers research, the IBTA encourages greater data shar- ing between hospitals, and increased collaboration amongst researchers through the management of tis- sue banks and European Reference Networks. ‘Arriving at an accurate diagnosis is essential for optimal treatment of rare cancer patients,’ she said. ‘It’s crucial that rare cancer patients are dealt with by special- ised, expert pathologists, who are very familiar with their specific type of disease.’ To meet this goal, the IBTA is promoting the development of Centres of Expertise at national level, with pathologists who are knowledgeable about rare cancers and experienced in treating them. Oliver is also on the advisory board of the European Patients’ Academy on Therapeutic Innovation (EUPATI), which empowers patients’ roles in guiding medical research, e.g. clinical trials. Finally, she called for tools to help patients actively participate in their care, e.g. a ‘patients dictionary of pathological terms’. ecipients of medical care, and are instead tak- the co-director of a patient advocacy group Kathy Oliver is Chair and Founding Co-Director of the International Brain Tumour Alliance (IBTA). Involved in a range of high-level projects and committees addressing brain tumour and rare cancer issues in Europe, she is also a frequent plenary and session speaker at international neuro-oncology and cancer conferences. Oliver was recently appointed to the European Commission’s new Expert Group on Cancer Control where she will be the alternate representative from the European Organisation for Rare Diseases (EURORDIS) Policy Action Group on Rare Cancers. She was presented with The EANO (European Association for NeuroOncology) Award 2011, as well as the Advocacy Award conferred by the 5th International Conference on Future Trends in the Treatment of Brain Tumours. 19 Anzeige European Hospital.indd 224.06.1406:59

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