Inspire2Live is the international movement behind charity events like Alpe d'HuZes, currently Holland's biggest charity action (20M Euros) and many others, such as the Belgian Ven2-4Cancer. All these charities are targeted towards a single goal: Getting Cancer in control within 10 years. That is our main objective. To achieve this, we also strive to change and improve the way in which the global cancer research is organised and executed. This is our main scientific program, Understanding Life.
We invite you to participate in our challenge!
I2L Calendar
We create beautiful and challenging events around the world in order to get cancer under control. By raising money and awareness, you could join in! Next events:
Pocho (Costa Rica) 25-2-2012
Skate4Life! (Norway) 25-2-2012
TumbleUp4Life (Wales, UK) 5-5-2012
Alpe d'HuZes (NL/FR) 7-6-2012
Tour de Concorde (FR) 7-2012
London 2012 (Oranje Toertocht NL/UK) 7-2012
Ven2-4-Cancer (B/FR) 9-2012
The Discovery Network
Experts Aim to Revolutionise Cancer Treatment in 10 Years
Leading Scientists Map Pathway to turn Cancer into a Chronic Condition by 2021
In october the first steps were set on The Discovery Network. A complete new way of doing research. Better Observations, Better Treatments and Better Networks. The 7 best researchers and clinicians came together to make the difference. Cancer will be under control within 10 years. On the 17th of january 2021, the Network will be set up and the 7 will return to work together with several other brilliant minds in Paris on the 4th and 5th of february 2012. Not just to talk but to act and show what has been done in the time between october and february. Of course we will let you know shortly after this meeting what will be the next steps. But let everybody see that we continue our quest and that it's not just hope. Cancer will be defeated.
Cambridge, England 01 November -
Leading scientists, researchers and clinicians from Europe and America convened at Christ’s College, Cambridge this weekend to launch a new initiative to transform cancer from a terminal disease to a manageable, chronic condition within the next ten years.
Read the full press release here.
Read the Blog about the Cambridge Conference here
Understanding Life: The conference
Our conference ' Understanding Life' was held in Amsterdam from january 12-14th in Amsterdam. It have been three very inspiring days with scientist from all over the world.
Click here to see the keynotes (Silverlight required).
Read the interview with our ambassador Peter Kapitein in Dutch Newspaper Volkskrant here (translated from Dutch).
Read our Blog and the stories about Understanding Life.
Press Release
“Understanding Life”: top scientists respond to urgent call for action to realize breakthrough in cancer research
Amsterdam, January 14 -
A unique gathering of 80 top scientists from all over the world addressed the urgent need to deal with the ever increasing gap between the rapidly growing number of cancer patients, and the development of effective treatment. The scientists acknowledged the urgent need to define new ways of collaborating on cancer research. Current problems such as competition, data ownership and overregulation can be overcome by stimulating data sharing, standardisation, and patient participation. They succeeded in outlining four programmes that should enable science to turn cancer into a controllable disease within the coming ten years. One of the main results is ‘personalized cancer medicine 2.0’ aiming at the development of an open innovation space where physicians, patients and scientists can together drive better screening, diagnosis, treatment, and control of cancer.
The conference was initiated by the Foundation Inspire2Live and hosted by the Royal Netherlands Academy of Arts and Sciences (KNAW) and the Dutch Central Bank (DNB).
Stephen Friend, president of Sage Bionetworks and leader of the bio banking and data sharing subgroup: “The beauty of Personalized Cancer Medicine 2.0 is that it will activate patients, scientists and citizens to cooperate. Through building platforms that reach patient interests first, issues like data sharing and storing and treatment comparison will be addressed. The uniqueness of this initiative lies in the cooperation between patients, scientists and clinicians. National science academies should play an important role in fostering cross-disciplinary efforts and defining and influencing reward structures.”
Another subgroup, headed by René Bernards of the Netherlands Cancer Institute, addressed the question of how to better predict and design treatment for the individual cancer patient. Answers need to tackle the discovery and validation of bio markers – biochemical characteristics that help identify the development of a disease - and focuses on collaboration and integration of research and development programs. Rene Bernards: “With new genomic technologies we can turn most forms of cancer from a deadly into a chronic disease, in the next 10 years. This will require grassroots participation by the patients, exactly what created the breakthrough with AIDS.”
The third group, led by José Baselga (Massachusetts General Hospital Cancer Center), looked into innovative clinical treatment concepts like the enhancement of patient participation, dynamic response treatment and – once again – open access and data sharing. The goal as defined by the working group: to develop smaller trials, while aiming at larger effects. “Patients are not meant to be there for just one or two months more – we can do better than that.”, summarized Jose Baselga the goal of the conference.
Obviously prevention is core in getting cancer in control. While there was common understanding that the main responsibility lies with governments, there is a clear role for scientists. They are instrumental in improving early detection methods and tailored intervention to enhance quality of life of cancer patients and their families. This was the main result of the discussion in the fourth and last working group, headed by Fritz Schröder of the Erasmus Medical Center.
The conference “Understanding Life” was initiated by Inspire2Live, the foundation that aims to get cancer in control by stimulating international cooperation and putting the patient in the centre of all research efforts. Inspire2Live aspires to be the pivotal organization in bringing together cross-disciplinary scientists, clinicians and patients, and keeping alive the sense of urgency to get cancer in control. The foundation has proven to be very successful in organizing fundraising events, both in The Netherlands and abroad. It will be providing the financial resources needed for concrete action proposals. The first proposals coming from the scientific community are due in March 2011.
Peter Kapitein, Ambassador of Inspire2Live emphasized:”In line with our mission, our International Scientific Board will thoroughly screen all submissions on their patient-centricity and collaborative intent”.