Biobank in Pilsen is a partner in a European project ARICE
Project ARICE - Armenian Research Infrastructure on Cancer Research, is a twinning project from the biggest European research program HORIZON 2020, that aims to increase the research infrastructure capacities in the field of cancer research in Armenia, through integrating a robust pathology background with state-of-the-art biobanking to a research-ready data structure. This will be achieved by establishing close cooperation with the leading expert-institutions in the field (Medical University Graz, Charles University and IARC) as well as by facilitating spread of the competences at institutional, national and regional level. Cancer research infrastructure has been chosen as the focus because Armenia has a very high incidence and mortality of cancers, as well as a very high prevalence (according to incidence) among rare malignant diseases, while it underperforms in cancer research when compared to the EU average. ARICE will ensure cancer research infrastructure gets appropriate attention in order to support further local research in Armenia and in the wider Caucasus region, including former Soviet Republics. New scientific developments in the field of cancer prevention, in particular in biomarker research and large population-based investigations are in place to facilitate success in research in this field. The ARICE project is going to be an important step for reaching the set goals both efficiently and effectively. The competences acquired in this field during the project realization will be easily transferable to other fields of research related to medicine, biology and medical ethics, health-economics and biostatistics. Involvement of researchers from multiple specialities (physicians of different specialities, biologists, data management specialists) hosted by the Yerevan State Medical University (YSMU) will ensure this smooth transfer of expertise.