Project description
The HARMONIZE project, led by OUTLIVE-CRC, promotes the overarching networking and coordination of the four BMBF-funded research consortia (OUTLIVE-CRC, PEARL, PerMiCCion, Mi-EOCRC) for the prevention of early-onset colorectal cancer (eoCRC). The participating consortia deal with various prevention phases - from primary to tertiary prevention - and combine their expertise to develop a complete prevention concept for younger generations. HARMONIZE is supported with a total of around 800,000 €, which OUTLIVE-CRC manages for implementation. The funding period for HARMONIZE began in July 2023 and will initially run until the end of February 2026.
The core objectives of HARMONIZE are the establishment of a joint data and biosample bank, cross-network technology transfer and the development of standardized analyses. These measures will enable improved comparability and use of data and samples, increasing the quality of research results.
HARMONIZE organizes an annual summer school and a three-day congress attended by researchers and patient representatives to promote young scientists and knowledge transfer between the consortia. The congress provides a platform for presenting current results, creating synergies and jointly developing new research strategies. In addition, participation in major oncology congresses strengthens the national visibility of the project and its topics.
HARMONIZE creates a unique framework that enables research into the prevention of eoCRC to be advanced in a targeted manner, knowledge to be expanded and, by involving patient organizations, the patient perspective to be integrated more strongly into prevention work.
