ECCO – the European CanCer Organisation is committed to strengthening ties and building partnerships with organisations dedicated to advancing cancer treatment and care Europe-wide. Key to the success of such collaboration will be support for projects embracing a truly translational approach aimed at transforming knowledge about basic cancer biology into increasingly individualised treatments at the patient level.

Incorporating 39 institutions of excellence, including ECCO, the TRANSBIG translational research network is an initiative of the non-profit organisation for academic cancer research groups - the Breast International Group (BIG). Promoting the mobility of young scientists and researchers to develop their skills and knowledge within the breast cancer field, in particular the latest ‘omic’ technologies, TRANSBIG offers exceptional educational opportunities through its annual Traineeship Programme. This programme is supported by the European Commission under the Framework Programme VI and it is coordinated by ECCO.

Jules Bordet Institute, Translational Research Unit, Brussels, Belgium

Project: Application of genomics to clinical breast cancer research

Duration: 1 year starting Sept/Oct 2010.

Mentors: Christos Sotiriou, Sherene Loi, Christine Desmet

Click here to download the full description of the available position.

BIG / TRANSBIG Headquarters, Brussels, Belgium

Project: Clinical and translational research in the setting of multinational and multicentric networks. The BIG and TRANSBIG networks and its major projects (e.g., the MINDACT trial).

Mentors: Martine Piccart, Fatima Cardoso

Duration: 1 starting October 2010.

Click here to download the full description of the available position.

European Organisation for Research and Treatment of Cancer

Project: MINDACT Trial Quality Assurance and Quality Control Program

Duration: 1 year starting 2^nd Semester 2010

Mentors: Lissandra Dal Lago, Jocelyne Flament, Denis Lacombe

Click here to download the full description of the available position.

Institut Gustave Roussy

Project: Identification of mediating resistance to trastuzumab

Duration: 1 year, starting 2^nd Semester 2010.

Mentors: Fabrice André, Marie Christine Mathieu, Virginie Quidville

Click here to download the full description of the available position.

University Hospital Cologne / Breast Center; West German Study Group

Project: Evaluation of novel prognostic and predictive markers in randomized breast cancer trials.

Duration: 1 year, starting 2^nd Semester 2010.

Mentors: Nadia Harbeck, Ulrike Nitz

Click here to download the full description of the available position.

• 1 year fellowship
• Open to MDs or PhDs with strong biomedical / cancer research orientation (basic / translational / clinical)
• Excellent writing and speaking skills in English
• Knowledge of local language can be helpful, but it is not required
• Candidates from less developed regions are encouraged to apply.
• Please check the full description of the available positions for more details on the requirements.

Candidates are invited to submit an application form accompanied by a CV and a motivation letter to the ECCO Secretariat, attn. Carine Lecoq (cf. contact details below) no later than 9 April 2010.

Please click here to download the application form.

For questions about the application process, contact Carine Lecoq, Project Co-ordinator (Email: carine.lecoq<at> ecco-org.eu or Tel: +32(0)27752931)

* please replace <at> with @

The TRANSBIG Executive Committee will make a pre-selection on the basis of the applications received.

Interviews of the pre-selected candidates will take place in the four weeks following the deadline for the submission of applications. The final selection of the two successful candidates is expected in May 2010.

Financial Terms and Logistics

Selected candidates will receive a grant of 25.000 EUR for a minimum one year training period. The grant will be paid by the hosting institute following deduction of administration costs if and when appropriate. The terms of payment will follow the procedures of the host insitutition.

The host institution will provide the trainee with information about visa requirements, social security and accommodation. The host institution is in charge of the overall running of the traineeship.