DCCC ctDNA center

Seminar Series: Pneumatic tube system

Online meeting: Multicenter study of pneumatic tube systems’ influence on cfDNA/ctDNA analyses Date: 12 april 2023 Time: 2:00 pm - 3:00 pm Place: Online at Zoom (link will follow in an e-mail after registration deadline) Seminar leaders: National Infrastructure 1 (NI1) Rikke Fredslund Andersen, Senior Researcher, Department of Clinical Immunology and Biochemistry, Sygehus Lillebælt, Vejle Cecilie Mondrup Jacobsen, Master of Science in Engineering, Department of Clinical Immunology and Biochemistry, Sygehus Lillebælt, Vejle Luisa Matos Do Canto Alvim, Molecular Biologist, PhD, Department of Clinical Immunology and Biochemistry, Sygehus Lillebælt, VejleTarget population: Anyone in the ctDNA Center who is interested in the influence from the pneumatic tube system - and who is at a hospital with the systemRegistration: Register hereOBS this seminar is an internal seminar for center members - working at a university or hospital in Denmark. Background: Pneumatic tube systems (PTSs) are used in most hospitals in Denmark and abroad for efficiently transporting samples. With the implementation of cell-free DNA and circulating tumor DNA (cfDNA/ctDNA) analyses in the hospitals’ routine, it is crucial to assess the influence of using PTS for whole blood transportation on cfDNA/ctDNA quality/quantity. Purpose: The aim of this seminar is to plan a multicenter study involving the three most common PTS systems in Denmark in order to elucidate the influence of PTS on cfDNA/ctDNA quality/quantity using digital droplet PCR. The Seminar SeriesThe Seminar is a part of a new initiative by The Danish National Center for Circulating Tumor DNA Guided Cancer Treatment; Seminar Series. The Seminar Series is a range of different seminars and workshops about ctDNA guided cancer treatment. They are open for everyone in the ctDNA Center - so feel free to share it with others who are working with or interested in ctDNA in Denmark. The seminars will be held approximately every second month.The Seminar Series is an element of the ctDNA Research Center’s aim to facilitate national collaboration regarding research on ctDNA guided cancer treatment.Everyone in the center can contribute with a workshop in their field of expertise or suggest wishes for a theme for a seminar - contact Anne Lærke Lorentzen, anne.lorentzen@clin.au.dk

Seminar Series: Pneumatic tube system

Seminar Series: Bio-and Genome Bank Denmark

Seminar: Bio-and Genome Bank Denmark Date:11 May 2023Time: 03:00 pm - 04:30 pm (kl. 15:00 - ca. 16:30)Place: Online at Zoom (link will follow in an e-mail after registration deadline)Seminar leader: Estrid Høgdall, Professor, Dr. Med., Ph.D., The Molecular Unit, Department of Pathology, Herlev HospitalTarget audience: Everyone in the center interested in hearing about Bio-and Genome Bank Denmark (Regionernes Bio-og Genombank, RBGB)Registration: Please register here (registration deadline is the 8th of May 2023)About the seminar: More information about the seminar will follow. Find more information at Bio-and Genome Bank Denmark webpage: https://www.regioner.dk/rbgb Seminar SeriesThe Seminar is a part of a new initiative by The Danish National Center for Circulating Tumor DNA Guided Cancer Treatment; Seminar Series. The Seminar Series is a range of different seminars and workshops about ctDNA guided cancer treatment. They are open for everyone in the ctDNA Center - so feel free to share it with others who are working with or interested in ctDNA in Denmark.The seminars will be held approximately every second month.The Seminar Series is an element of the ctDNA Research Center’s aim to facilitate national collaboration regarding research on ctDNA guided cancer treatment.Everyone in the center can contribute with a workshop in their field of expertise or suggest wishes for a theme for a seminar - contact Anne Lærke Lorentzen, anne.lorentzen@clin.au.dk

Seminar Series: Bio-and Genome Bank Denmark

Seminar Series: Reference material

Seminar: Deciding the final design of the DCCC ctDNA Research Center's ctDNA reference material Date: 22 March 2023Time: 03:00 pm - 05:00 pm (kl. 15:00 - ca. 17:00)Place: Online at Zoom (link will follow in an e-mail after registration deadline)Seminar leaders: Laura Elgaard Iisager Jensen, Research Assistant, Department of Molecular Medicine (MOMA) Aarhus University and Aarhus University Hospital Mads Heilskov Rasmussen, Cand.Scient., Ph.D., Department of Molecular Medicine (MOMA) Aarhus University and Aarhus University Hospital Target population: Anyone in the center interested in being involved in the design of the DCCC ctDNA center’s FINAL reference material set for ctDNA detection methods.Registration: Please register here (registration deadline is the 20th of March 2023)OBS this seminar is for center members - working at a university or hospital in Denmark. Background: Circulating tumor DNA (ctDNA) is becoming a valuable tool for non-invasive cancer detection and profiling. However, effective clinical integration of ctDNA analysis requires standardization, benchmarking, and quality control of ctDNA assays. In the ctDNA center’s National Infrastructure 2 (NI2), we aim to develop stable and unlimited reference material (RefMat) for the common ctDNA detection methods, NGS and ddPCR, using artificial, mutated spike-in ctDNA. The RefMat will be available for other ctDNA laboratories to use, with the aim of achieving common standards for ctDNA detection across facilities, and a standardized protocol for optimal generation of ctDNA RefMat, in general. Purpose: The purpose of the workshop is: To plan the design of the DCCC ctDNA Center's ctDNA RefMat in relation to conduction of the planned QA ring trials and ctDNA method benchmarking experiments. To create the most useful, widespread, and accommodating panel of standards for all center members to use. Agenda: Presentation of the RefMat protocol. Presentation of the draft version of RefMat spike-in mutations. Discussion of the RefMat design: Do the included mutations cover the most important aspects related to ctDNA detection such as noise level and mutation type ? Are the mutations relevant, e.g. have high recurrence indices, are potential drug targets, and are my favorite mutations included ? What allele frequency distribution should be represented ? Discussion of the potential use of the RefMat, specifically: QA ring trials. Method benchmarking. Internal laboratory control. Preparation: Read the handed out preliminary RefMat design and consider possibly changes or improvements relating to your laboratory's preferences.This will be e-mailed to you before the seminar The Seminar SeriesThe Seminar is a part of a new initiative by The Danish National Center for Circulating Tumor DNA Guided Cancer Treatment; Seminar Series. The Seminar Series is a range of different seminars and workshops about ctDNA guided cancer treatment. They are open for everyone in the ctDNA Center - so feel free to share it with others who are working with or interested in ctDNA in Denmark.The seminars will be held approximately every second month.The Seminar Series is an element of the ctDNA Research Center’s aim to facilitate national collaboration regarding research on ctDNA guided cancer treatment.Everyone in the center can contribute with a workshop in their field of expertise or suggest wishes for a theme for a seminar - contact Anne Lærke Lorentzen, anne.lorentzen@clin.au.dk

Seminar Series: Reference material

Apply for funding

The round of applications is open! The DCCC ctDNA Research Center work for more national collaboration, breaking down barriers, and start new trials on ctDNA guided cancer treatment. One way we do this is to provide funds for clinical projects and methological studies under the center. It is possible to apply for 500.000 DKK per project. The center have funding application deadline twice a year.With the fundings we hope to strengthen the national knowledge sharing, make a faster implementation of research results in the clinical setting, and do more evidence-based research.As the DCCC ctDNA Research Center is a national center with a special focus on creating clinical impact from research projects, there are some criteria that must be met, for the projects to receive funding.The current call is to be found here: Apply for Funding

Apply for funding

Online Journal Club

The ctDNA Research Center invites everyone who is interested to join the online Journal Club!We will start up again in the new year 2023 on the 26th of January 2023 - so mark your calendar.Here you can find more information about next year's online Journal Club. Time: The last Thursday every month from 3:00-4:00 pm (except July and December)Place: Online at Zoom (link will be provided with the calendar invitation)Practical details: The first three Journal Clubs are planned, and you can see the person in charge below – thus we need to plan 7 Journal Clubs more. If you participate in the Journal Club in general, it would be great, if you contribute with an article for one of the remaining Journal Clubs. Write an e-mail to Anne Lorentzen (anne.lorentzen@clin.au.dk) if you want to contribute to the Journal Club – the article can be chosen later. 26 January 2023: Mads Heilskov Rasmussen, Cand.Scient., Ph.D., Department of Molecular Medicine, Aarhus University Hospital 23 February 2023: Tenna Henriksen, Ph.D., Postdoc, Department of Molecular Medicine, Aarhus University/Aarhus University Hospital 30 March 2023: Trine Strandgaard, Ph.D., Postdoc, Department of Molecular Medicine, Aarhus University/Aarhus University Hospital 27 April 2023: Cecilie Riis Iden, MD., Ph.D.-student, Department of Oncology, Rigshospitalet 25 May 2023: 29 June 2023: The article: The one responsible for the Journal Club e-mail the article to Anne Lorentzen no later than a week before the Journal Club – then Anne will distribute the article to the center participants.Registration: We would like to know how many, who will take part in the Journal Club, so please accept the calendar invitation for the Journal Club or write an e-mail to Anne LorentzenWe look forward to discuss ctDNA articles in collaboration!

Online Journal Club

Seminar Series: Digital PCR data handling

The 1st ctDNA seminar will be about digital PCR data handling The ctDNA seminars will be held approximately every second month. The seminars are open for everyone in the ctDNA Center to participate in - so feel free to share it with others who are working with or interested in ctDNA in Denmark. Everyone in the center can contribute with a workshop in their field of expertise or suggest wishes for a theme for a seminar - contact Anne Lærke Lorentzen, anne.lorentzen@clin.au.dk The seminar series is an element of the ctDNA Research Center’s aim to facilitate national collaboration regarding research on ctDNA guided cancer treatment. Seminar: Digital PCR data handling Date: 25 January 2023 Time: 3:00 pm - 5:30 pm (Kl. 15:00-17:30)Place: Online at Zoom (link will follow in an e-mail after registration deadline) Seminar leader: Tenna Henriksen, Postdoc at Department of Molecular Medicine (MOMA) Aarhus University and Aarhus University HospitalTarget population: Everybody who uses ddPCR for ctDNA detectionRegistration: Please register here (Registration deadline is the 20th of January 2023) Purpose: Many studies involving circulating tumor DNA (ctDNA) detection are using digital PCR (dPCR) to quantify ctDNA. One of the attractive qualities of dPCR is the relatively simple data output format, enabling easy data processing. Yet, dPCR is – like all molecular tools – susceptible to noise, which can complicate quantification of low ctDNA levels. This online workshop will introduce basic data handling of dPCR data and via practical exercises guide participants through the steps of correcting for noise in dPCR data. Finally, the workshop will showcase examples of how substandard data handling can lead to problematic study results. Learning outcomes: Defining positive and negative droplets Applying different methods to differentiate between noise and signal Understanding factors impacting the noise level in cfDNA analysis Understanding the requirements for various noise-correction methods Discern which noise-correction method is suitable for different studies Appreciate the implications of false-positives and false-negatives on a real-life study Requirements: Basic understanding of digital PCR and what the data represents R-studio and R installed on the computer prior to the workshop Following packages installed in R: “dplyr” and “ggplot2” If possible, access to a computer running the QuantaSoft Software from BioRad. If this is not possible accommodations will be made on the day. Preparation: Install R and R-studio on your computer Read paper: “Error Characterization and Statistical Modeling Improves Circulating Tumor DNA Detection by Droplet Digital PCR” by Henriksen et al. (https://doi.org/10.1093/clinchem/hvab274).

Seminar Series: Digital PCR data handling

Annual meeting 2023

We look forward to the Annual Meeting in the Danish National Center for Circulating Tumor DNA Guided Cancer Treatment in 2023! Participation: Register here for the Annual Meeting: RegistrationDeadline September 27 2023 NB! Participation is free and inkludes meals - but the registration is binding, and if you don’t show, and have not unregistered at least 14 days before the meeting, we will have to charge a no show fee.The Annual Meeting is open for every member of the center. Program: The program will follow. Practical information Date: The Annual Meeting will take place the 13 - 14th of November 2023 Mark your calender with the date - more information will follow. Place: The Annual Meeting will be held in Aarhus at Scandic Aarhus C (read more about Scandic Aarhus C here).The adress is: Østergade 10, 8000 Aarhus C.Scandic Aarhus C is placed in a walking distance from the main train station in Aarhus - just 700 meter. Find more about parking opportunities here: Parking Scandic(The center will not cover transport) About the Annual Meeting: Every year the DCCC ctDNA Research Center invites to an annual meeting in the center – this is always held in the third week of November. The purpose of the meeting is to get an update on the activities, events, and projects in the center – and to strengthen existing collaborations and create new ones. At the meeting everyone can share the newest insights on ctDNA guided cancer treatment from their projects. There will be room for feedback and discussions in a closed forum where no one will leak preliminary results to the outside world – thus an opportunity to have a closed discussion in the benefit of the research of ctDNA. The goal with the meeting: Meet each other across the country and strengthen the collaboration Get updated on the activities, events, and projects Get inspired, help, and feedback in this closed forum Contact information Feel free to contact the center, if you have any questions: Anne Lærke Lorentzen, Scientific CoordinatorE-mail: anne.lorentzen@clin.au.dkPhone: +45 78 45 53 39

Annual meeting 2023

Health Economic Consultation

As part of the national DCCC ctDNA research center all memebers have access to health economic guidance. You can book a session directly with Liza Sopina (https://portal.findresearcher.sdu.dk/en/persons/lsopina)and you can have a discussion on how health economics are incoorporated in your project. Liza is available between 10:00 and 13:00. Other times/dates can also be arranged, please contact Liza (lsopina@health.sdu.dk) directly to book. 08 Sept 15 Sept 22 Sept 29 Sept 13 Oct 20 Oct 03 Nov Please book a 1:1 consultation if you need help with: Understanding whether economic evaluation is relevant and applicable to your study/trial Planning for and integrating economic evaluation (and relevant data collection) into your study Input into protocol or funding application Planning for a sufficient budget for economic evaluation of your trial/study Any other economic evaluation-related questions you may have! The session are online.

Health Economic Consultation

Funding application deadline

You can apply for funding through the ctDNA center for your research project focusing on ctDNA guided intervention or development of new methods or knowledge relevant for the entire center. Deadline September 26th 2022 Find more information and the applicationform here: https://ctdna.dk/projekter/projects/apply-for-funding

Funding application deadline

PhD course 2023

Course The Biology and characteristic of circulating cell free DNA and circulating tumour DNA in health and disease ECTS: 1 Course Leader: Claus Lindbjerg Andersen Language: English Graduate School: Faculty of Health Graduate program: ClinFO Course fee: Free (761 DKK for non students) Status: Course is open for application Semester: Spring 2023 Application deadline: 17/03/2023 Dates: 22-23/05/2023 Administrator: Johanne Gregor Nielsen Place: Sandbjerg Gods Together with the Graduate School of Health, Aarhus University, the ctDNA Research Center will host a PhD course.The course is open for every PhD-studens in Denmark and there are room for a maximum of 20 students. Read more about the course and register here: Course information The course C304/03 The biology and characteristic of circulating cell free DNA and circulating tumor DNA in health and disease is being offered by the Graduate School of Health, Aarhus University, 2023.Criteria for participation: The course is constructed and executed such that both participants with medical and science/technology backgrounds will benefit from the course.You must write a short application to be accepted for attendance at the course. This application shall state why the applicant wishes to attend, the level of background knowledge, and the purpose of taking the course. The size of the application is limited to 2500 characters (including spaces). The purpose of the application is to enable prioritization of motivated applicants with urgent needs for the course.Your application must be sent to Course administrator on mail: courses.nat.tech.he@au.dk before 10 March 2023.Recommended knowledge for participation: Having basic knowledge about cancer, clinical cancer management, genomics, epigenomics, and molecular biology methods will be benefit, but is not a requirement.Aim: To qualify the students to conduct circulating tumour DNA (ctDNA) based research projectsLearning outcomes: Basic knowledge of cell free DNA biology and markers of ctDNA. The necessary knowledge needed to avoid, or at least control for, biases introduced by pre-analytical processing. Basic understanding of the pros and cons of present state-of-the-art methods and technologies used to analyse cell free DNA (cfDNA) and ctDNA. To enable the student to choose the method/technology best suited in a given situation. Knowledge about the clinical situations where ctDNA may potentially be used to guide clinical decision making Knowledge about pros and cons of different cfDNA/ctDNA trial designs. To qualify the student to design and conduct their own cfDNA/ctDNA study Workload: The full workload of the course is expected to be 25 hours Content: Modules: The biology of cell free and circulating tumor DNA: This module will provide the audience with a fundamental understanding of the biology of cell free and circulating tumor DNA and how working with these opens new possibilities in research and the clinic. The lectures will cover: The cellular origin of the cell free DNA circulating in plasma of healthy and diseased individuals (Somatic mosaism, Chronic/acute diseases, Cancer, Age), mechanisms of how DNA is released to the circulation, circulating cell free DNA and tumor DNA during the course of disease and strengths and weakness of markers of cfDNA and ctDNA, including: Methylation, Mutations, Copy number variations, Fragmentation patterns, Fragment size, Mitochondrial DNA copies, Microbiome DNACritical pre-analytical factors: The lectures will focus on relevant pre-analytical considerations for designing a clinical study. Issues regarding blood collection and processing of cfDNA will be addressed including the best time to draw blood, which vials to use, how to process and store samples, and how to purify cfDNA. The lectures will also cover QC strategies and measures.Detection methods and interpretation of cfDNA and ctDNA measurements: This module will cover the detection and quantification of cfDNA/ctDNA with focus on both tumor and non-tumor informed approaches. The lectures will focus on: PCR based approaches for detecting circulating cell free/tumor DNA, next generation sequencing approaches e.g. multiplex PCR NGS, ultra-deep targeted sequencing, shallow whole genome sequencing, tumor-informed whole genome sequencing processing and QC controls, bioinformatics analysis of ctDNA measurements, interpretation of ctDNA results in clinical context (tumor and non-tumor informed) and multimarker and multianalyte strategiesPotential clinical application and implementation. These lectures will cover all the clinical focus areas address by the National Danish ctDNA research center: Early cancer detection, guiding adjuvant therapy decisions, risk stratified postoperative recurrence surveillance, monitoring ctDNA levels to predict therapy response, and identification of therapeutically actionable targets.The lectures will focus on: Areas where ctDNA guided clinical decision making have potential to change clinical practice, Clinical trial design considerations, Examples of Danish and International trials exploring the clinical benefit of ctDNA guided clinical decision making. Considerations regarding clinical implementation, including cost/benefit and health economicsThe course participants must present the designs and underlying considerations of the studies/trials they are preparing or working on.The course participants will receive scientific papers to read before the course. These will introduce the participants to the vocabulary, biological terms and definitions, and methods of the field. By this it is ensured that all participants have the needed basic understanding of the field to get the full benefit of the course.Venue: Sandbjerg Estate, SønderborgParticipation in the course is without cost for: PhD students, research-year students and research honours programme students from Health, Aarhus University PhD students enrolled at partner universities of the Nordoc collaboration. PhD students from other institutions in the open market agreement for PhD courses. Course fee: Others: DKK 761 incl. accommodation Course dates: 22 May 2023 08:30 - 20:30 23 May 2023 09:00 - 16:00

PhD course 2023

International Symposium and Annual meeting 2022

We look forward to welcome you to the 1st International Symposium on Circulating Tumor DNA and the Annual Meeting in the Danish National Center for Circulating Tumor DNA Guided Cancer Treatment Participation: Registration for the International Symposium and the Annual Meeting in DCCC ctDNA Research Center is now closed. Note that participation is free and inkludes meals - but the registration is binding, and if you don’t show, and have not unregistered at least 14 days before the meeting, we will have to charge a no show fee.The International Symposium is open for everyone involved or interested in ctDNA guided cancer treatment. Program: The programs for the International Symposium and the Annual Meeting is to be found here (The programs will be updated regularily): 1st International Symposium on Circulating Tumor DNA Annual Meeting in the Danish National Center for Circulating Tumor DNA Guided Cancer Treatment Poster titles overview During the two days you can find the posters in the Theater Room - feel free to take a look at them in the breaks. On the 14th of November from 17:15-18:30 (in the afternoon) the official poster session Practical information Date: It will take place on the 14-15th of November 2022 November 14 2022: The 1st International Symposium with talks updating us on ctDNA research internationally November 15 2022: The Annual Meeting in the ctDNA center and the meeting in the Steering Committee will take place Place: The symposium and annual meeting are held at HUONE (read more about HUONE here)The adress is: Amager Strandvej 390, 2770 Kastrup, Copenhagen, Denmark. HUONE is placed 10 minutes walk from Kastrup Airport.Please find information about arrival and parking at the bottom of this page: Arrival information(The center will not cover transport) HUONE is a huge conferencecenter, and the events will take place in the following locations at HUONE:Festival Room: International SymposiumStrand Room: Annual MeetingTheater Room: Poster sessionFind the floor plan here: Floor plan Registration the 14th of November 2022: When you arrive on November 14 you must register your arrival between 09:00-10:00 am.I will be welcoming you at a registration table, where you will get the program and a nametag. It will be possible to get a snack before we begin at 10:00 am. If you bring a poster, you must put it up just after registration. I have pins for the purpose. Meals and coffee: The meals are included in the registration. The meals will be at HUONE in their catering areas - more precisely information will follow. Coffee, tea, and water is available from stations around HUONE - one is placed just outside the Festival Room. During the poster session there will be served one beverage pr. person from the DCCC ctDNA Center, and it will be possible to buy more. In the registration you expressed dietary requirements - if you didn't and need to, write to Anne Lorentzen (anne.lorentzen@clin.au.dk) as soon as possible.Networking Dinner: In the evening on Monday 14 November, we will have the Networking Dinner for invited speakers and the members of the DCCC ctDNA center that signed up for the dinner at registration. The dinner is at HUONE in the Mezzanine Lounge. Wi-fi: HUONE provides secure wireless connections. Just look for the network called HUONE Guest. Poster size: Poster size: max.: W.: 92 cm, H.: 138 cm The posters will be in the Theater Room and you can look at them in every break.Between 05:15-06:30 pm on the 14th of November the official poster session will be held. Hotel - Overnight accomodation: In the registration you had the opportunity to express your need for a room at hotel Scandic CPH Strandpark if you participate in both days (Cost are covered by the ctDNA center and only availbale for members of the DCCC ctDNA center). The hotel is Scandic CPH Strandpark and is located just 5 minutes walk from HUONE. Find more information about the hotel here: Scandic CPH Strandpark Check-in: from 3 pmCheck-out: Before 12:00 (noon)For the sake of the program we kindly ask you to check-in in the end of the poster session from 6:15-7:00 pm.The hotel will be ready to check everyone in. Breaksfast will be at the hotel from 6:00 am. It is possible to leave your luggage at the hotel as the wardrobe at HUONE is small and do not have space for everyone to store their luggage there. About the International Symposium The purpose of the symposium is to focus on the possibilities of clinical application of circulating tumor DNA (ctDNA) in guided cancer treatment. The presentations at the symposium will be about the clinical application of ctDNA in breast cancer, skin cancer, colorectal cancer, bladder cancer, and anal cancer. Thematically the presentations will cover cancer screening, selection of patients to chemotherapy, monitoring of response to chemotherapy, and early detection of recurrence. There will be presentations about new technology for ctDNA detection, which place new standards and open new possibilities for clinical application. With the International Symposium everyone with an interest in using ctDNA based analysis for monitoring and decision making are brought together to facilitate ctDNA based research and clinical implementation of ctDNA guided patient stratification. The objective of DCCC ctDNA Research Center is to provide an effective and vital framework for optimal implementation of evidence-based ctDNA usage in cancer patient management in Denmark. National and international collaboration are a way to reacht this objective. Organizers:The symposium is organized by The Danish National Center for Circulating Tumor DNA Guided Cancer Treatment, and the organizing committee consists of: Professor Lars Dyrskjøt, Department of Molecular Medicine, Aarhus University/Aarhus University Hospital, Aarhus, DK Professor Claus Lindbjerg Andersen, Department of Clinical Medicine, Aarhus University/Aarhus University, Aarhus, DK Consultant, Oncologist Morten Mau Sørensen, Dept. of Oncology, Rigshospitalet, Copenhagen DK Contact information Feel free to take contact to the center, if you have any questions: Anne Lærke Lorentzen, Scientific CoordinatorE-mail: anne.lorentzen@clin.au.dkPhone: +45 78 45 53 39 Sponsors Thank you to The Danish Cancer Society for supporting the symposium

International Symposium and Annual meeting 2022

PhD course

The ctDNA center will host a ctDNA PhD course at Sandbjerg 3-4 May 2022. There is room for a maximum of 20 students. You can find more information and register here: https://au.phd-courses.dk/CourseCatalog/ShowCourse/823?returnUrl=https%3A%2F%2Fau.phd-courses.dk%2FCourseCatalog%2FShowCourses%2F%3Fquery%3Dctdna%26sortOrder%3DName Remember, both to register via the link and to send your motivated application to annette@au.dk - the deadline is 28 February 2022. The center will pay for accomodation for center members.

PhD course

Meeting in the Steering Committee

The steering committee will meet online on Thursday the 28th of April to discuss the incoming applications for funding from the center, and the assessments from the executive committee. The meeting will be online and it is possible for members of the steering committee to transfer their votes to the chairman of the steering committee (Lars Dyrskjøt Andersen) Deadline for application for funding is the 7th of March

Meeting in the Steering Committee

ctDNA and CTC training school

The COST Action CA17118 (TRANSCOLONCAN), Tracepigen, the DCCC Nation Research Center for ctDNA guided cancer, and the European Liquid Biopsy Society invite you to apply for participation in the training school for detection and analysis of circulating tumor DNA (ctDNA) and circulating tumor cells (CTC). The training school took place at Aarhus University Hospital in Denmark on March 28-30 2022. The training school invited 35 students from all over Europe to three days of lectures, networking, and a lot of discussions.Thank you to all lecturers and participants. Download the lectures here: Lecture_1 Lecture_2 Lecture_3 Lecture_4 Lecture_5 Lecture_6 Lecture_7 Lecture_8 Lecture_9 part1 Lecture_9 part2 Lecture_10 part1 Lecture_10 part2 Lecture_10 part3 Lecture_10 part4 Lecture_10 part5 Lecture_11

ctDNA and CTC training school

Application deadline

You can apply for funding through the ctDNA center for your research project focusing on ctDNA guided intervention or development of new methods or knowledge relevant for the entire center. The application form will open in the fall 2021 Deadline for application 7 march 2022 Find more information and the applicationform here: https://ctdna.dk/projekter/projects/apply-for-funding

Application deadline

ctDNA extraction workshop

The National Infrastructure 1 and 2 (NI1: Best practice for liquid biopsy collection and pre-analytical processing and NI2: Methods for ctDNA detection) have conducted a test in collaboration with laboratories in the center. The attending laboratories received a set of samples to extract at their chosen setup. The purpose of this study was to investigate differences between different extraction methods. The data is now being analyzed and soon it will be ready to present. On 4 March, you are invited to an online workshop. Here the data from the study is presented; there will be time to discuss sources of errors and recommendations. Prior to this workshop, all participating laboratories will receive anonymized data with an indication on which data correspond to their lab. When: March 4 2022 at 13.00-15.00 Where: https://aarhusuniversity.zoom.us/j/66609123465 Hosts: NI1 and NI2: Niels Pallisgaard (nipa@regionsjaelland.dk), Mads Heilskov Rasmussen (mads.heilskov@clin.au.dk), Rikke Fredslund Andersen (Rikke.Fredslund.Andersen@rsyd.dk) and Estrid Høgdall (estrid.hoegdall@regionh.dk)

ctDNA extraction workshop

Medical Biotechnology and Drug Development

On February 8 2022 a group of American students studying a semester abroud at University of Copenhagen, will visit the ctDNA research center at department of molecularmedicin, AUH. They will get an introduction to the center and ctDNA based intervention studies. We are looking forward to the visit!

Medical Biotechnology and Drug Development

Annual Meeting 2021

The annual meeting in the DCCC ctDNA research center is held on 22-23 November 2021 at COMWELL H.C.Andersen Hotel Odense/ODEON The meeting will focus on ctDNA activities and will include both talks from center-members and international speakers. Participation is free but with a no-show fee if you fail to unregister at least 2 weeks in advance Poster dimensions shoul be no larger than 1.5mx1m (HxW). Please include the center logo if possible (https://ctdna.dk/projekter/projects/logo-and-acknowledgement)

Annual Meeting 2021

Network meeting in CFA1

On Wednesday September 22nd 2021, the clinical focus area 1 group will host a network meeting. The purpose of the meeting is to create new relations and collaborations between projects and researchers. Thus, if you have an interest in early cancer detection - this is the meeting to attend! To ensure the most fruitful outcome of the network meeting, we kindly ask you sent a short presentation of your work and motivation for attending the meeting. Register here: https://ibenkongsfelt.wufoo.com/forms/m1nt2v8y1k2t5jf/ During the day we will hear from both the clinical- and techical part of working with ctDNA. You will have a chance to catch up on the field and connect with other center members. Time: 22 September 2021 at 13-16 Place: Karen Brahe Auditoriet, Odense Adelige Jomfrukloster, Albani Torv 6, Odense Registration deadline: 15 September 2021

Network meeting in CFA1

Danske kræftforskningsdage

Danske kræftforskningsdage afholdes d. 26. og 27. august Frist for indsendelse af abstract: 28. april 2021 Læs mere om arrangementet, tilmelding og indsendelse af abstract her: https://www.dccc.dk/danske-kraeftforskningsdage/

Danske kræftforskningsdage

Talk by Anders Skanderup, Senior Research Scientist and group leader at the Genome Institute of Singapore

On Tuesday June 29 at 10 am, Senior Research Scientist and group leader at the Genome Institute of Singapore, Anders Skanderup will give a talk about their recent - and very cool - paper titled Tissue-specific cell-free DNA degradation quantifies circulating tumor DNA burden (https://www.nature.com/articles/s41467-021-22463-y) about how to use cell-free degradation patterns in promoters for ctDNA quantification. I hope to see many of you join! Please join us at https://aarhusuniversity.zoom.us/j/61122057832. The talk is organized by Lasse MarettyTenure-track Assistant Prof. in Bioinformatics, Department of Molecular Medicine // Department of Clinical MedicineAarhus University

Talk by Anders Skanderup, Senior Research Scientist and group leader at the Genome Institute of Singapore

Meeting in the Steering Commitee

Steering commitee meeting to evaluate incomming appications for funding.

Meeting in the Steering Commitee

Meet the new counsil: Behandlingsrådet

On Monday 31 May 3-4 pm we will host a talk from Behandlingsrådet, who will introduce the ctDNA center to their work and how this counsil is relevant in the development of new clinical technologies. The talk is given by Chairman Michael Dall and CEO Malene Møller.

Meet the new counsil: Behandlingsrådet

PhD course

The DCCC ctDNA Research Center will host a PhD course on the biology and characteristics of ctDNA and cfDNa in health and disease. The course is open for all PhD students but you must submit a motivated application to be accepted on the course. We will accept 20 participants Time and place: 19 - 20 May 2021 at Sandbjerg Gods. Find more information and apply through this link: https://au.phd-courses.dk/CourseCatalog/ShowCourse/692

PhD course

Funding application

For the next round of funding application, the guidelines will be updated to match the needs seen in the center. The new guidelines are expected to be ready ultimo february and will be found here: https://ctdna.dk/projekter/projects/apply-for-funding Deadline for the applying for funding from the ctDNA researchcenter is 14 May 2021, at 23.59

Funding application

Meeting in the Steering Commitee

Steering commitee Meeting Time: 20 August, 2020. at 16.00-17.00Referat af styregruppemøde Dagsorden:1. Ny procedurer for ansøgning og vurdering af ansøgninger i DCCC ctDNA forskningscenteret.2. Orientering2.1) Center-arrangementer2.2) Plan for Kræftens Bekæmpelses midt- og slut-evaluering af DCCC ctDNA forskningscenteret3) Opdateringer om center-aktiviteter:4) Advisory BoardRegistrering af deltagereMindst 15 af styregruppens 30 medlemmer skal være til stede, for at styregruppen er beslutningsdygtig. Til stede ved mødet er 17 medlemmer af styregruppen:Anders Jakobsen, Onkologisk afdeling Sygehus lillebælt, Vejle, Claus L. Andersen, Molekylær Medicinsk Afdeling AUH, Henrik Ditzel, Onkologi, OUH og Molekylær Medicin, SDU OUH og SDU, Henrik Krarup, Molekylær Diagnostik AAUH Jørgen B. Jensen, Urinvejskirurgi AUH, Julia Johansen, Onkologisk afd Herlev Hospital, Kåre A. Gotschalck, Kirurgisk Afdeling Regionshospitalet Randers, Karen-Lise Spindler, Kræftafdelingen AUH, Lars Dyrskjøt, Molekylær Medicinsk Afdeling AUH, Liza Sopina, DaCHE - Danish Center for Health Economic SDU, Malene Frank, Onkologisk og lungemedicinsk SUH, Næstved, Morten Mau-Sørensen, Onkologisk Klinik Riget, Olga Østrup, Center for Genomisk Medicin Riget, Rikke F. Andersen, Biokemi og Immunologi Sygehus lillebælt, Vejle, Stine Karlsen, Lever-, Mave- og Tarmsygdomme AUH, Uffe Schou Løve, Mave- og tarm kirurgisk afdeling Regionshospitalet Viborg, Stig Egil Bojesen, Kliniske Biokemisk Afdeling på HerlevMødelederLars Dyrskjøt Andersen, formand for styregruppenReferant Iben Boutrup Kongsfelt, DCCC ctDNA center, ibenbk@clin.au.dkDesuden var tilstede: Mads Heilskov Rasmussen, som præsenterede NI2 aktiviteterGodkendelse af dagsordenIngen indvendinger, dagsorden godkendes. 1. Ny procedurer for ansøgning og vurdering af ansøgninger i DCCC ctDNA forskningscenteretLars gennemgik foreslået ny procedure (Findes her) Kommentarer:Ved den nye vurderingsprocedure får hele styregruppen mulighed for at gennemlæse ansøgningerne inden der stemmes om godkendelse af indstillingerne fra forretningsudvalget. Ansøgningerne er fortrolige, og må ikke deles uden for styregruppen. Vurdering af ansøgningerne og indstilling til støtte ligger stadig ved forretningsudvalget.Den nye procedure indføres for at skabe større gennemsigtighed i centerets arbejde.Det noteres at de skriftlige evalueringer af projekterne, som forretningsudvalget laver i forbindelse med indstilling til støtte, kun deles for de projekter, der indstilles til midler.Den nye procedure godkendes:16 medlemmer stemmer for 1 afstår fra at stemme 2. Orientering2.1) Center-arrangementer Den officielle åbning er grundet corona-restriktioner flyttet til 24. februarÅrsmødet afholdes d. 16.-17. november (Bliver vi nødt til at aflyse, er en backup dato sat d. 29.-30. marts Region Midt ansatte må gerne deltage i arrangementet (som det ser ud i august)Planen er at afholde mødet i november, men vi laver en backupplan med en dato i MartsIndhold: Fagligt symposium (ingen internationale speakers nu grundet corona), poster session og workshop med oplæg fra NI'erne samt styregruppemøde med stillingtagen til uddeling af midler.Arrangementskomite: Hvem vil være med? Kontakt Claus (cla@clin.au.dk) hvis du vil hjælpe med at arrangere. Der skal findes speakers, organiseres posterpræsentation og organiseres NI workshops.2.2) Plan for Kræftens Bekæmpelses midt- og slut-evaluering af DCCC ctDNA forskningscenteretDer gøres opmærksom på, at der er mistet en del tid grundet corona og at der kan blive behov for en forlængelse. 3) Opdateringer om centeraktiviteter:Ansøgninger indsendt i foråret 2020 fra ctDNA centeretIndsendt mere end 19 ansøgninger til bl.a. eget kald, KB hovedansøgning, NNF Investigator initiated clinical trials, Sygesikring Danmark, KnækCancerDækker alle CFAer og 13 forskellige kræftformer. Der er givet flere bevillinger og mange afventer endnu svarAktiviteter i centerets Clinical Focus Areas (1-5): På trods af covid-19 har der været en del aktivitet, og afholdt et eller flere møder i de fleste CFA’er.Aktiviteter i centerets National Infrastrukturer (NI1-5)NI1: Best practice for liquid biopsy collection and preanalytical processing (Rikke Fredslund Andersen og Estrid Høgdall): NI1-3 har sendt spørgeskema rundt for at klarlægge hvilke metoder de forskellige laboratorier bruger. Dette skal danne grundlag for hvor NI’erne tager fat.NI2: Methods for ctDNA detection (Mads Heilskov Rasmussen og Niels Palisgaard): Målet for NI2 er at højne den fælles kvalitet for ctDNA analyser – vi vil gerne lave nationale standarder for ctDNAanalyser dækkende fra det præ-analytiske (NI1) helt til bioinformatikske analyser (NI3). Vi vurderer ikke hvad folk gør, men vil gerne vide hvor vi bør holde fokus. Vi vil gerne lave noget standardmateriale, men det kan først ske når det vides hvad de enkelte laboratorier arbejder med. Desuden vil der laves kliniske kohorter på tværs af centerets fokus.NI3: Bioinformatic procedures and algorithms for analysis and calling of ctDNA (Lasse Maretty og Filipe Garrett Vieira) Bioinformatisk analyser. En ph.d. studerende, som skal arbejde på data fra NI1 og NI2 forventes at starte i 2021.NI4: Health economics (Liza Sopina og Jes Søgaard): 2 workshops er planlagt og afholdes 25. marts 2021 samt september 2021på SDU. 20 en-til-en online sessioner er tilgængelige og bookes her: bookNI5: Education (Claus Lindbjerg Andersen og Morten Mau-Sørensen) phd kursus om ctDNA er udviklet og planlagt til afholdelse d. 19-20 maj 2021, tilmelding meldes ud til netværket når de sidste godkendelser er på plads. Årsmøde forventes afholdt i november. Den officielle åbning er udskudt til 24. februar 2021. Center Hjemmeside: findes på ctdna.dk – her kan du finde information om centeret, og centerets projekter, samt få delt dine resultater. Centerets twitter konto: @ctDNADK Her kan du følge nyhedsstrømmen fra centeret 4) Advisory BoardBeslutning om sammensætning af advisory board samt boardets rolle i centeret udskydes til næste styregruppemøde (i forbindelse med årsmødet). I advisory boardet skal være patientrepræsentation, desuden er Lægefaglig direktør Claus Thomsen (AUH) og Mef Nilbert (KB) inviteret. Forslag til relevante repræsentanter samt advisory boardets rolle diskuteres videre på årsmødet. Evt.:Deadline for DCCC netværksmidler d. 7. september kan søge 200.000 til forberedende arbejde og netværksmidler. (https://www.dccc.dk/sog-stotte/)

Meeting in the Steering Commitee

CFA5 meeting

For alle med interesse I identificering af terapeutisk relevante targets og tracking af resistens-skabende varianter afholdes nu et nætværksmøde i regi af klinisk fokus område 5 (CFA5) i ctDNA centeret. Mødet giver mulighed for at skabe netværk med andre indenfor feltet samt forme samarbejdet indenfor CFA5. mødet afholdes online d. 27. april kl 14-16 I forbindelse med mødet ønskes oplæg om relevante studier og projekter med henblik på feedback, samarbejde, idegenerering eller hvad dit projekt har brug for. For at give alle deltagere de bedste forudsætninger for at forstå vilkårene for de enkelte projekter bedes alle, med projekter indenfor området, at udfylde dette senest d. 13. april: https://ibenkongsfelt.wufoo.com/forms/z1td7h1k04juscm/ En uge inden mødet rundsendes et overblik over studierne til alle deltagere. Har du spørgsmål til mødet eller CFA5, kontakt venligst CFA5 ledere Karin Birkekamp-Demtröder (kbdr@clin.au.dk)og Iben Spanggaard (iben.spanggaard.01@regionh.dk) eller videnskabelig koordinator for ctDNA centeret Iben Kongsfelt (ibenbk@clin.au.dk) Deltag online her: https://aarhusuniversity.zoom.us/j/62281749905 CFA5: Identification of therapeutically actionable targets and tracking of resistance-causing variants 1) Velkommen og mål for studierne i CFA5 v/ Iben og Karin, CFA5 ledere Hvordan adskiller CFA5 sig fra de andre CFAer ? 2) Overblik over CFA5 studier. præsentation af de enkelte projekter hvilke aktiviteter er allerede i gang / er på vej / er i planlægningsfasen Præsentation max 10 min speed talk på 7 min , evtl. 3 min til diskussion baggrund, formål, prøver , teknikker til mut analyse, status på projekt og fremtidsplaner For hvert projekt skal der laves en synopsis på 1 side (skabelon udfyldes) Synopsis sendes til alle deltagere en uge inden mødet, alle skal have læst dem igennem inden mødet. I synopsis skal der tages stilling til baggrund, formål, prøver , teknikker til analyse, status på projekt, planlagte aktiviteter, 3) Forslag/Ønsker/ideer til nye studier i regi af DCCC centeret som passer ind i CFA5 4) Resumé, fokuspunkter, næste møde

CFA5 meeting

Webinar: TSO500

Center for Genomic Medicine will give a talk and introduce pros and cons of the TSO500 system Time: Tuesday 6 April at 4pm-5pm Place:Online If you would like to join and have not recieved the link, please contact ibenbk@clin.au.dk or register here

Webinar: TSO500

Annual Meeting

DCCC ctDNA research center Annual Meeting A meeting for all members of the ctDNA network. Time: March 29 2021Place: OnlineRegistration: https://ibenkongsfelt.wufoo.com/forms/zd5d61y1ts3ffi/ The annual meeting is a great opportunity to expand your network and initiate new collaborations. This a chance to learn more about other researchers and doctors working with cfDNA and ctDNA, and let them know what your expertises in this field are. Unfortunately we will not be able to meet in person but this will not prevent us from having fruitful discussions on the many great ongoing and planned studies. Photo: Colourbox.dk

Annual Meeting

Health Economics Workshop

Health Economics Workshop Time: March 25, 2021Place: Online For students and researchers ready to considerhealth economics in regard to current or future projects Free participation Time Title Presenter Format 09:00 - 09:05 Welcome and Agenda Liza Sopina 09:05 - 09:30 Economic evaluation in Denmark Professor Dorte Gyrd Hansen (DaCHE, SDU & Medicinrådet) Lecture 09:30 - 10:15 Basic methodology and approaches to EE in health care Liza Sopina Lecture 10:15 - 10:25 Break 10:25 - 11:00 Basic methodology and approaches to EE in health care Liza Sopina Interactive: theory - breakout room discussion - sum up 11:00 - 11:10 Break 11:10 - 12:00 Study design: integrating EE into ctDNA studies Liza Sopina Interactive: theory - breakout room discussion - sum up 12:00 - 12:30 Lunch Break 12:30 - 13:15 Measuring outcomes for economic evaluation in ctDNA studies Interactive: theory - breakout room discussion - sum up 13:15 - 13:25 Break 13:25 - 14:10 Measuring costs for economic evaluation in ctDNA studies Liza Sopina Interactive: theory - breakout room discussion - sum up 14:10 - 14:30 Further considerations and wrap up Liza Sopina Wrap up and Questions Register here and recieve the Zoom link The DCCC ctDNA research center has 5 national infrastructures designed to assist the research projects and take them a step further. One of these infrastructures is health economics. This infrastructure can assist both during trial design with advise and health economical calculations, and as a sounding board in considerations regarding clinical implementation. On 25 March 2021, you are invited to join a workshop on health economics. Here, you will be introduced to the field and will get an understanding of how this is implemented in you projects. The workshop will take place online due to the corona-restrictions.

Health Economics Workshop

CFA1 meeting

The part of the center focussing on early cancer detection will meet online to discuss new initiatives. The meeting is on Zoom, 2 March 2021 at 4pm. If you have not received the zoom link, please contact ibenbk@clin.au.dk

CFA1 meeting

Online Event: Meet the National Infrastructures

The ctDNA center has been running for one year. Clinical projects are ongoing and the 5 national infrastructures have planned a lot of activities for the comming years. On 24 February 2021 the National Infrastructures will introduce you to the plans and projects. This will be an online event and give you a chance to discuss the national infrastructure and how you can contribute and benefit from their work. The event will take the place for the official opening as we are still not able to meet in person.

Online Event: Meet the National Infrastructures

Monitoring ctDNA levels to predict therapy response

On Wednesday the 24th of June, Henrik Ditzel and Julia Sidenius Johansen invited the DCCC ctDNA research center members to join an online meeting under the clinical focus area 4 (CFA4) about monitoring ctDNA levels to predict therapy response. The purpose of the meeting was to keep all members updated on projects relevant to this clinical area. The projects seek to investigate whether monitoring ctDNA levels during treatment is a better measure of treatment efficacy compared to standard imaging methods and other circulating biomarkers. Furthermore, the meeting supports the formation of a strong network. An important goal for the DCCC ctDNA research center is to ensure formation of new projects and collaborations across Denmark. This is a place to meet fellow researchers and doctors, who could complement your project or benefit from learning from you. At this meeting, Professor Lars Dyrskjøt gave a short introduction to some methods for ctDNA detection and covered the following methods: ddPCR based on clonal mutations from tumors: May be used both retrospectively and prospectively Tumor informed targeted sequencing: Primarily used retrospectively Cancer type specific targeted sequencing: May be used retrospectively and prospectively Whole exome sequencing and whole genome sequencing may be used to detect new mutations when ctDNA levels are high: Used both retrospectively and prospectively If you want to know more about specific methods, please reach out to the ctDNA network at an upcoming meeting or make direct contact. (See the planned meetings and workshops here) Funding An important topic, discussed at all the meetings this week, was funding applications. Not only in relation to the fall-call from the ctDNA center, but also funding in general. For the next round of funding from the ctDNA center the deadline is 23 October 2020. The guidelines for funding through the ctDNA center are found here: https://ctdna.dk/projekter/projects/apply-for-funding. The application and evaluation process will be a bit different for this round but the requirements will not change. The bar was set high for the first round, and this will not change. Receiving funding from the ctDNA center is to receive a sign of approval from peer researchers and thus an argument for funding from other agencies. More information about the new application and evaluation process will come later. CFA4 Projects At this meeting, three projects were introduced: TOMBOLA, PACTO, and Be To-Ovar. TOMBOLA (Treatment Of Metastatic Bladder cancer at the time Of biochemical reLApse following radical cystectomy) Professor Lars Dyrskjøt: The TOMBOLA trial is a non-randomized phase II study covering multiple CFAs. The intervention occurs after surgery (CFA2) and during surveillance(CFA3) and with a primary endpoint (ctDNA decrease) during treatment (CFA4). The aim of the study is to investigate whether an earlier detection of relapse and following earlier onset of treatment will result in treatment that is more effective, measured by a decrease in ctDNA levels. For each patient included, four patient specific ddPCR assays are run. Prior to trial onset, the group has focused on optimization, SOP and protocols – if you would like inspiration for your own SOP or protocols, please contact the group. At the next meeting we hope to see the first data from the project. PACTO (A multinational, randomized, phase II study of the combination of nab-paclitaxel and gemcitabine with or without IL-6R inhibitor, tocilizumab, as first-line treatment in patients with locally advanced or metastatic pancreatic cancer” (NCT02767557)) Inna Chen: The PACTO study is a trial investigating the effects of chemotherapy in combination with anti-IL-6R inhibitor in patients with locally advanced and metastatic pancreatic cancer. It is a multinational, randomized phase II study. The project includes patients from Herlev (initiating hospital), Hillerød, Roskilde and Oslo. The patients are followed with CT scans and blood samples before, during and after treatment to investigate whether plasma ctDNA and ctDNA KRAS mutation can predict treatment response and prognosis. The project has almost included all patients. BeTo-Ovar Clinical Professor Anders Jakobsen: The BeTo-Ovar project is a phase II protocol monitoring on the basis of ctDNA.

Monitoring ctDNA levels to predict therapy response

Meeting in the CFA1 group - Early Cancer Detection

Monday 22 June, 22 members of the DCCC ctDNA center participated in the online meeting. The meeting allowed the members to orient each other about ongoing projects focusing on early cancer detection. This was also a chance to present and discuss projects to optimize them before the next round of funding from the DCCC ctDNA research center (deadline 23 October 2020). Professor Claus Lindberg Andersen started the meeting with a presentation of the new validation project DELFI (DNA Evaluation of fragments for early interception) based on a project published in Nature in 2019 (https://www.nature.com/articles/s41586-019-1272-6?proof=true). The new project aims to confirm that analysis of low pass whole genome sequencing data from blood samples using the DELFI algorithm can separate blood samples from colorectal cancer patients from those of healthy controls. Moreover, the study aims to investigate if DELFI can distinguish blood samples from adenoma carries and healthy controls. The presentation resulted in a discussion of the procedures needed to obtain the necessary approvals from the relevant Danish authorities to conduct such study, including approval to share personal data with institutions/companies outside the EU. The procedures are many and involve a range of different Danish authorities/agencies. To obtain the approvals in a reasonable time-frame, it is advisable to work on the approvals from different authorities in parallel. When results from the DELFI study are available, they will be presented on a CFA1 meeting, or at another potentially broader meeting within the ctDNA research center. Next, Hans Jørgen Nielsen, MD, DMSc, presented the planned “normal variation” study. This study concerns normal variation in analytes measured in blood, and used in many studies as markers of disease, for example to distinguish blood samples from healthy individuals and diseased individuals, including analytes representing cell free tumor DNA e.g. mutations, DNA fragment lengths, DNA methylation patterns etc). The study will enroll 700 FIT-negative participants in the Danish CRC screening program. The cohort is a cross-sectional representation of Danish asymptomatic individuals in the cancer relevant age-group from 50-75 years of age. The study subjects will have 3 serial blood collections performed within a 4 week period. The cohort is excellent for assessing the normal variation in markers used to detect ctDNA. It could potentially be helpful to all CFAs within the ctDNA Research Center. Researchers who want to know more are welcome to reach out to Hans Jørgen. In the first round of funding from the DCCC ctDNA center Professor Anders Jakobsen received funding for a project called ”Early detection of lung cancer by blood samples - A prospective national observational study”. Anders shared his application with the participants and went through the study (a project summary is on the webpage). The project is supposed to become a supplement to the screening methods used today and will hopefully help give a clear answer when the screening is otherwise inconclusive. The meeting concluded with a run through the criteria for receiving funding from the DCCC ctDNA center. It is important to remember that only projects with a national coverage are considered for funding. The criteria’s can be found here (https://ctdna.dk/projekter/apply-for-funding) and definition of “national coverage” can be found here: https://www.dccc.dk/siteassets/sog-stotte/for-ansogere/vejledning-til-ansogere.pdf

Meeting in the CFA1 group - Early Cancer Detection

Meeting in the Steering Commitee

Online meeting in the steering commitee on 15 February 5pm-5.30pm

Meeting in the Steering Commitee

Danish Cancer Biobank: Online seminar

At this seminar you will get an introduction to the Danish Cancer Biobank and how members of the ctDNA Research Center can utilize this infrastructure in their research. The talk will focus on: What is RBGB? The story behind RBGB Whish are the advantages of udisng RBGB? Examples på SOPs from RBGB: i.e., status for ctdna-sop and the document "vejledning til forskere" Examples of projects in DCB The legal: How do you get samples in and out? The legal: what to be aware of and where to get help Q/A If you would like to join this seminar and have not received a link, please contact ibenbk@clin.au.dk or register here. More information will follow.

Danish Cancer Biobank: Online seminar

Oral presentation at ASCO-GI

On January 15-17 the ESCO-GI conference will take place online. PhD student Tenna Henriksen from MOMA, AUH, will give an online presentation on how to use ctDNA for risc stratification of stage I-III CRC patients til ASCO-GI. The presentation is 16 January 2021 at 15.11 and you are very welcome to join her talk and the following session of questions. The program for the conference is found here: https://meetinglibrary.asco.org/browse-meetings/2021%20Gastrointestinal%20Cancers%20Symposium

Oral presentation at ASCO-GI

Meeting in the Steering Commitee

The annual meeting has been postponed, however we will still have the scheduled steering commitee meeting. The meeting will be online and all members of the steering commitee have received an invite to the online meeting room. Are you a member of the steering commitee and have you not received the invite, please contact scientific coordinator Iben Kongsfelt at ibenbk@clin.au.dk

Meeting in the Steering Commitee

Meeting in CFA3: Risk stratified postoperative recurrence surveillance

Risk stratified postoperative recurrence surveillanceMeeting for students, researchers an doctors interested in CFA3 Program for the meeting: Mål for studierne i CFA3 – hvordan adskiller CFA3 sig fra de andre CFAer?Lars Dyrskjøt Andersen Oversigt over studier der er indrapporteret til CFA3Kåre Gotschalck Gennemgang af CFA3 studier. 15 minutter pr studie – baggrund, formål, redegørelse for hvordan det passer ind, hvordan kan centeret understøtte/hjælpe med at styrke studietDe studieansvarlige Ønsker til nye studier i regi af DCCC centeret som passer ind i CFA3 Diskussion – ansøgning om midler fra centeret i 2020 til CFA3 studier Formålet med mødet: at få overblik over, hvem der har interesse indenfor CFA3 at få overblik over, hvilke aktiviteter der allerede er i gang, er på vej, eller er i planlægningsfasen at få afklaret interessen for at søge ctDNA forskningscentret om midler til CFA3 relaterede projekter at præsentere, gennemgå og diskutere projekterne mhp at skærpe dem inden ansøgningsdeadline (23. oktober 2020)

Meeting in CFA3: Risk stratified postoperative recurrence surveillance

Apply for funding from the ctDNA Research Center

It is now possible to apply for funding for national trials related to the DCCC ctDNA research center.You may apply for a maximum of 500,000 DKK, primarily for salary for scientific staff. The application must be uploaded through this form: https://ibenkongsfelt.wufoo.com/forms/s1njsedm0bii1k5/You can find further information about the application process and criteria for funding here. The DCCC ctDNA Research Center supports national trials focusing on documenting the effects of using ctDNA/cfDNA measurements in the detection and/or monitoration of cancer. Projects receiving funding must fit into one or more of the clinical focus areas of the ctDNA center ("Early cancer detection", "guiding adjuvant therapy decisions", "risk stratified postoperative recurrence surveillance", "monitoring ctDNA levels to predict therapy response", and "identification of therapeutically actionable targets and tracking of resistance causing variants") and thus we are all able to follow the progress of these projects at the CFA-meetings. All funded projects, are further presented at the webpage, thus you can always get an overview of wich projects have received funding. This is the second time, the ctDNA Research Center invites for applications for funding. I August 2020, three projects received funding. You can find the desription of these projects here: https://ctdna.dk/projekter/projects/apply-for-funding, hopefully many more will be found here at the end of the year.

Apply for funding from the ctDNA Research Center

Health Economics consultance

As part of the national DCCC ctDNA research center, all members have access to healtheconomic guidance. You can now book a session directly with Liza Sopina (https://portal.findresearcher.sdu.dk/en/persons/lsopina) and have a discussion on how health economics are incoorporated into your clinical projects. It is improtant to have this discussion as soon as possible in your projectdesign, and thus you should hurry up and book the meeting today! The sessions are online and registration is open now! Book here: https://calendly.com/healtheconomics/health-economics-session

Health Economics consultance

NI1 workshop

The national infrastructure focusing on preanalytical factors, NI1, invites to a debate on the focus of NI1 in the future - what are your expectations and needs. The workshop is online on 11 October at 15.30-17.00 Program for the workshop: Presentation on preanalytical factors – focus area for NI1: In designing clinical protocols, many preanalytical parameters are important to consider (sampling (when and how), preparing/storing samples, purification, and perhaps pre-treatment of DNA), all of crucial importance for the outcome of the following analysis. Guidelines for quality insurance of the analyzed material are needed and so is standardization of preanalytical factors to allow comparison between studies. Discussion and input from participants on NI1 activities: It is important that the focus of NI1 matches the needs of the center-members and that the output of NI1 is useful. Thus we need a collaboration on ideation, data, samples, and others. The purpose of the workshop is to identify the biggest challenges in the preanalytical work and what NI1 can do to help. Please send an email to ibenbk@clin.au.dk if you would like to participate.

NI1 workshop