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The European Platform for Photodynamic Medicine: A ray of hope for photodynamic therapy in Europe
Photodiagnosis and Photodynamic Therapy (2008) 5, 101—102
available at www.sciencedirect.com
journal homepage: www.elsevier.com/locate/pdpdt
NEWS
The European platform for photodynamic medicine: A ray of hope for photodynamic therapy in Europe K. Moghissi BSc, MD FRCS ∗,1 Yorkshire Laser Centre, Goole & District Hospital, Goole, DN14 6RX, UK Available online 9 June 2008
The seeds of the EPPM were sown in September 2006 in Geneva, not far from the lake and its famous landmark le Jet d’eau. After a few months gestation period, the EPPM was officially formed in June 2007. The founding fathers were a mixed group of clinicians, photobiologists, physicists and representatives of industry concerned with photosensitisers and PDT devices. In the original group there were 7 clinicians, 5 Photobiologists/photochemists, and 4 representatives of industry Clinicians: Colin Hopper (UK) Patrice Jichlinski (CH) Herwig Kostron (AU) Keyvan Moghissi (UK) Thiery Patrice (FR) and Aleksander Seiron (PL) Photobiologists: Giulio Jori (IT), David Russell (UK) Yoram Soloman (IS), Heinrich Walt (CH) Hrvoje Zorc (HR) Representatives of Industry: Didier Boucher (FR-Axcan Pharma, Winrich Raushning (DE-Biolitec) Bjorn Klem (NO Photocure) and Diego Provvidini (IT-Negma). Several further meetings of the founding committee took place in Paris, Zurich and in London to formulate the constitution of the Platform and to decide upon the first scientific conference. We have just witnessed the first conference of the EPPM in Dubrovnik: EPPM-1. See conference report. As per its constitution the EPPM aspires to associate healthcare professionals, scientists and industries con-
∗ 1
Tel.: +44 1724 290456. E-mail address: [email protected]. President: EPPM.
1572-1000/$ — see front matter doi:10.1016/j.pdpdt.2008.04.003
cerned with photodiagnosis and photodynamic therapy (PD and PDT): in short, all those involved in the network of photodynamic medicine. Some will, undoubtedly, question the need for another association; others quibble about the wisdom of adding another organization whose would-be members are already committed by reason of their career affiliation to other societies. No-one, however, can deny the facts that; ◦ Hitherto, no forum existed which could be said to be wholly dedicated to the principal of driving forward the application of PD and PDT for the use of patients. ◦ There is no encouragement for clinicians to include PD or PDT in their career structure. ◦ There is no solid basis for the young scientist to become involved in this discipline on a long-term basis. ◦ After more than 25 years of its existence, clinical PDT is still struggling to be recognized within the cancer treatment options. ◦ Political and financial establishments, whether in individual European countries or in the European Temple of power, the Commission, will only take notice when a concern is voiced by a multinational united voice through an organization such as the EPPM. The commission has dedicated budgets for education, research, clinical trials and various other programmes. Many European organizations and societies rightly try to influence those responsible at Commission level but Photodynamic Medicine has no such representation. It is time that it had. PDT has proved itself to be an effective method for the treatment of many types of cancer and, notwithstanding
102 the need for additional therapeutic methods other than the standard modalities (surgery, radiotherapy and chemotherapy), patients are denied PDT mostly on technicalities based either on ignorance or on finance. The case of lung cancer is an example par excellence. During the past 3—4 decades the survival rate for the lung cancer patient has not significantly changed. Yet PDT has been unable to break into the ‘‘closed shop’’ of the established therapies. What are the reasons and who should be examining them if not an organization such as the EPPM? High on the list of reasons, as with much in life, comes finance. Traditionally, many clinical trials have been supported by industry and pharmaceutical companies. In the case of PDT the resources of such companies are not sufficient for them to continue to assist. Also, the national and pan-European establishment shows little interest, in the absence of concerted pressure to do so. For our argument to have any weight it needs to have patient benefit as an essential part of the equation. From experience, the individual institution has been shown to be ineffective when dealing effectively with bureaucracy. On the other hand, multi-disciplinary organizations, such as the EPPM, have more appeal in the attracting of funds.
K. Moghissi At the general meeting of members which was held during the EPPM-1 in Dubrovnik some of these issues were raised. Also, the first council and the executive officers of the EPPM were nominated and voted in as follows: President for 2008
Keyvan Moghissi
Vice President
Herwig Kostron
Secretary General
Giulio Jori
Treasurer
David Russell
Councilors
Kristian Berg Colin Hopper Patrice Jichlinski Aleksander Sieron Yoram Solomon Heinrich Walt Hrvoje Zorc
Representative of industry Winrich Raushning (Co-opted to the Council)
The constitution of the EPPM is printed on Page X of this issue together with the membership form. It is envisaged that PDPDT will become the official organ of the EPPM within the next 2 years.
available at www.sciencedirect.com
journal homepage: www.elsevier.com/locate/pdpdt
NEWS
The European platform for photodynamic medicine: A ray of hope for photodynamic therapy in Europe K. Moghissi BSc, MD FRCS ∗,1 Yorkshire Laser Centre, Goole & District Hospital, Goole, DN14 6RX, UK Available online 9 June 2008
The seeds of the EPPM were sown in September 2006 in Geneva, not far from the lake and its famous landmark le Jet d’eau. After a few months gestation period, the EPPM was officially formed in June 2007. The founding fathers were a mixed group of clinicians, photobiologists, physicists and representatives of industry concerned with photosensitisers and PDT devices. In the original group there were 7 clinicians, 5 Photobiologists/photochemists, and 4 representatives of industry Clinicians: Colin Hopper (UK) Patrice Jichlinski (CH) Herwig Kostron (AU) Keyvan Moghissi (UK) Thiery Patrice (FR) and Aleksander Seiron (PL) Photobiologists: Giulio Jori (IT), David Russell (UK) Yoram Soloman (IS), Heinrich Walt (CH) Hrvoje Zorc (HR) Representatives of Industry: Didier Boucher (FR-Axcan Pharma, Winrich Raushning (DE-Biolitec) Bjorn Klem (NO Photocure) and Diego Provvidini (IT-Negma). Several further meetings of the founding committee took place in Paris, Zurich and in London to formulate the constitution of the Platform and to decide upon the first scientific conference. We have just witnessed the first conference of the EPPM in Dubrovnik: EPPM-1. See conference report. As per its constitution the EPPM aspires to associate healthcare professionals, scientists and industries con-
∗ 1
Tel.: +44 1724 290456. E-mail address: [email protected]. President: EPPM.
1572-1000/$ — see front matter doi:10.1016/j.pdpdt.2008.04.003
cerned with photodiagnosis and photodynamic therapy (PD and PDT): in short, all those involved in the network of photodynamic medicine. Some will, undoubtedly, question the need for another association; others quibble about the wisdom of adding another organization whose would-be members are already committed by reason of their career affiliation to other societies. No-one, however, can deny the facts that; ◦ Hitherto, no forum existed which could be said to be wholly dedicated to the principal of driving forward the application of PD and PDT for the use of patients. ◦ There is no encouragement for clinicians to include PD or PDT in their career structure. ◦ There is no solid basis for the young scientist to become involved in this discipline on a long-term basis. ◦ After more than 25 years of its existence, clinical PDT is still struggling to be recognized within the cancer treatment options. ◦ Political and financial establishments, whether in individual European countries or in the European Temple of power, the Commission, will only take notice when a concern is voiced by a multinational united voice through an organization such as the EPPM. The commission has dedicated budgets for education, research, clinical trials and various other programmes. Many European organizations and societies rightly try to influence those responsible at Commission level but Photodynamic Medicine has no such representation. It is time that it had. PDT has proved itself to be an effective method for the treatment of many types of cancer and, notwithstanding
102 the need for additional therapeutic methods other than the standard modalities (surgery, radiotherapy and chemotherapy), patients are denied PDT mostly on technicalities based either on ignorance or on finance. The case of lung cancer is an example par excellence. During the past 3—4 decades the survival rate for the lung cancer patient has not significantly changed. Yet PDT has been unable to break into the ‘‘closed shop’’ of the established therapies. What are the reasons and who should be examining them if not an organization such as the EPPM? High on the list of reasons, as with much in life, comes finance. Traditionally, many clinical trials have been supported by industry and pharmaceutical companies. In the case of PDT the resources of such companies are not sufficient for them to continue to assist. Also, the national and pan-European establishment shows little interest, in the absence of concerted pressure to do so. For our argument to have any weight it needs to have patient benefit as an essential part of the equation. From experience, the individual institution has been shown to be ineffective when dealing effectively with bureaucracy. On the other hand, multi-disciplinary organizations, such as the EPPM, have more appeal in the attracting of funds.
K. Moghissi At the general meeting of members which was held during the EPPM-1 in Dubrovnik some of these issues were raised. Also, the first council and the executive officers of the EPPM were nominated and voted in as follows: President for 2008
Keyvan Moghissi
Vice President
Herwig Kostron
Secretary General
Giulio Jori
Treasurer
David Russell
Councilors
Kristian Berg Colin Hopper Patrice Jichlinski Aleksander Sieron Yoram Solomon Heinrich Walt Hrvoje Zorc
Representative of industry Winrich Raushning (Co-opted to the Council)
The constitution of the EPPM is printed on Page X of this issue together with the membership form. It is envisaged that PDPDT will become the official organ of the EPPM within the next 2 years.