Colorectal cancer screening research symposium
Description: 1.Topics / research questions and relevanceThe symposium will be about colorectal cancer (CRC) screening, with a particular focus on implementing personalized screening. CRC screening is strongly recommended and has been reimbursed by basic insurance for Swiss citizens aged 50 to 69 years since 2013. Two screening tests are provided without a deductible in the context of the organized screening programs now found in 14 cantons. The first test, colonoscopy, has 95% sensitivity for cancerous and precancerous lesions, thus preventing CRC diagnoses, but carries a risk of bleeding and perforation (1-2 events/1000 colonoscopies) and offering only colonoscopy lowers participation rates. The second, faecal immunochemical tests for occult blood in stool are less costly with fewer risks, can be performed at home without preparation, and have higher acceptability. While FIT has lower sensitivity (75% for CRC and 30% for advanced adenomas), its impact on CRC mortality is likely similar to colonoscopy over multiple rounds of screening, especially in moderate or low-risk individuals. Most people in Switzerland are screened with colonoscopy, placing considerable burden on the healthcare system. However, wait times for screening colonoscopy in cantons with screening colonoscopy are now up to 9 months and certain areas cannot meet demand.Personalized CRC screening could improve the use of limited colonoscopy resources by better differentiating low-risk individuals who should get FIT (easy, non-invasive, benefits over time) from high-risk individuals who should get colonoscopy (high sensitivity in a single test). Between 2021 and 2023, we have been conducting a pilot randomized controlled trial testing such an approach within the Vaud organized screening program (https://clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/show/NCT05357508). There is considerable interest, currently, in CRC screening research in Switzerland, using modelling, implementation science, insurance data, and other information sources. By convening a diverse group of researchers from abroad and Switzerland, we hope to increase the number of partnerships and explore potential collaborations. We believe that research in CRC screening, notably personalized screening, could improve the quality and efficiency of this important service in Switzerland and abroad.2.Aims and objectivesOverall aim: Share the latest research in colorectal cancer (CRC) screening in Switzerland and internationally, with a specific focus on personalized cancer screeningObjective 1: Present recently completed research about personalized cancer screening in the Vaud CRC screening program and place these results in contextObjective 2: Explore the use of modelling, implementation science, patient and public involvement in research (PPIR) and administrative data sources as means of advancing CRC research in Switzerland3.Format and organisationThe meeting will be in-person (no hybrid offering planned) at the main Unisanté site in Lausanne (Route de Berne 113). We have one large room booked that can accommodate up to 50 persons, as well as two smaller rooms for 20 and 10 persons respectively. The meeting will primarily occur in English, though we are currently exploring options for simultaneous translation of the morning plenaries. There will be one workshop in French in the afternoon.The program for the symposium is attached. The morning will be dedicated to 6 plenary presentations, each with 15 minutes of presentation and 10 minutes for discussion, broken up by a 30-minute coffee break. Lunch will be provided, followed by 3 parallel, 1.5-hour workshops. After reports back from the workshops, there will be concluding remarks and time for comments. Finally the day will end with an informal aperitif.4.Active participantsThere will be 10 active participants (see attached program), all of whom are researchers, including 2 practitioners and 1 patient partner. There will be 6 plenary presenters, 3 workshop moderators, and 1 overall moderator. There will be 6 women and 4 men taking active roles. There will be 3 junior researchers (Plys, van Duuren, and Albers).We are requesting support from the SNSF for 3 active participants:-Prof Douglas Corley, a gastroenterologist and epidemiologist based at the Kaiser Permanente Division of Research and the University of California, San Francisco in California, United States will give a plenary talk. Prof Corley is a world leader in CRC screening quality, modalities for improving quality, and CRC clinical trials. He will already be in Europe, so we are only requesting support for travel from Europe, room and board.-Prof Ulrike Haug, a pharmacist and researcher at the Leibniz Institute for Prevention Research and Epidemiology in Bremen, Germany will give a plenary talk. She is a leader in personalized CRC screening. We are requesting support for her travel, room and board. -Prof Iris Lansdorp-Vogelaar, an economist and public health researcher at Erasmus Medical Center in the Netherlands will facilitate a workshop. We are requesting support for her travel, room and board.Luuk van Duuren, a PhD student also coming from Erasmus, already has support for travel and lodging. We will cover travel, room and board for Swiss participants from other institutions with other funds.5.Target audienceWe anticipate approximately 40 participants. The event is free and open to the public but will primarily be advertised by word of mouth and on the Unisanté website. We are inviting researchers interested in CRC screening, directors of screening programs, patient partners collaborating on current projects, and local public health officials.6.Planned outcomesThe success of the symposium will be assessed by the number and satisfaction of attendees, as well as the research resulting from the connections made.We will ask all participants to complete a short evaluation to measure their level of satisfaction.Regarding research collaborations, this symposium will directly contribute to the planning of an Investigator Initiated Clinical Trial to be submitted in 2023 or 2024 on the theme of colorectal cancer screening. It will also provide the opportunity to discuss research opportunities using different approaches (implementation science, modelling, and patient and public involvement) and data sources (insurance data, tumour registries, etc.).
Amount: CHF 2,900
Funding type: grant
Funder scheme: Scientific Exchanges
Start date: 2023-08-01
End date: 2023-10-31
Investigator: Selby, Kevin
Institution: University of Lausanne – LA
Subfield: Oncology
Field: Medicine
Domain: Health Sciences
Funded outputs count: 0
Funder award ID: 220370
OpenAlex ID: G3857927576