WELCOME TO OUR WEBSITE

HORIZON PROGRAMME

Broadening Experience and Research in Cutaneous Lymphoma

For next generation CTCL physicians

Applications for 2023 are now closed. Information about applying for future cohorts will be available soon

This non-promotional programme is funded by Kyowa Kirin International and developed by the Horizon Steering Committee

On behalf of the Steering Committee, I am delighted to invite you to apply to the Horizon Programme.

Horizon supports next-generation cutaneous T-cell lymphoma (CTCL) physicians in developing their clinical and research skills. The 2-part parallel programme aims to enrol 6 to 8 exceptional candidates from across Europe to participate in rotations at CTCL centres of excellence and to collaborate on cutting-edge research.

- Part I: You will participate in 5 rotations at CTCL centres of excellence across Europe. Each rotation will focus on key CTCL techniques, testing and protocols, and will be led by world-renowned teams.
- Part II: You will collaborate in pan-European groups on novel clinical/scientific CTCL research projects, which will be selected from candidates’ proposals submitted as part of the application process. Throughout the programme, you will receive virtual coaching sessions, feedback and support from the programme leaders. Upon programme completion, you will have the opportunity to submit the findings of your research/registries for presentation at EORTC.

We look forward to welcoming you to Horizon.

Prof. Julia Scarisbrick

Chair of Horizon Steering Committee

Key programme dates for 2022-2023*

*Dates for future cohorts will follow a similar timeline

Part I: Rotations to gain experience at European Centres of Excellence

We cordially invite early-career physicians with an interest in skin lymphoma to gain experience during clinical rotations led by the Steering Committee at Centres of Excellence across Europe

Prof. Julia Scarisbrick

University Hospital
Birmingham, UK

We look forward to welcoming you and supporting you to develop your future career in skin lymphoma. Specifically, we offer participation in our multidisciplinary skin lymphoma clinic and our clinical and translational research programmes

Prof. Martine Bagot

Saint Louis Hospital,
Paris, France

At our centre, you will be trained in clinical patient care, day hospitalisation for biologic therapies and chemotherapies, dermatopathology, flow cytometry, translational research and clinical trials

Dr Pietro Quaglino

University of
Turin, Italy

At our centre, participants can learn about patient clinics, skin-directed therapies (phototherapy, radiotherapy), photopheresis and pathology

Prof. Rudolf Stadler

Johannes Wesling Klinikum
Minden, Germany

We offer participation in clinical lymphoma consultations, clinical pathological correlation, establishment of diagnosis, histopathological, immunopathological and molecular diagnostics, FACS analysis, and systemic and skin-directed therapies (PUVA; UVB narrow band)

Prof. Maarten Vermeer

University Medical Centre
Leiden, Netherlands

During your visit to our centre, you will participate in patient care at the outpatient clinic and multidisciplinary meetings with radiation-oncologists, haematologists and pathologists, as well as our research programme. Learning objectives include gaining knowledge of diagnostic process (including clinico-pathological correlations), therapeutic management and research techniques (flow cytometry, clonality analysis, genetic analysis), in cutaneous lymphoma

Part II: Pan-European novel clinical/scientific CTCL research projects

As part of your application, please submit a 1-page research proposal on any novel clinical/scientific CTCL topic. Research proposals should be feasible for participants to collaborate on remotely over a 6-month period. Two proposals will be selected for participants to collaborate on in groups, based on the quality of the research and the feasibility of completion within the available timeframe.

It is anticipated that participants will present the outcomes of the projects at EORTC in September.

As this is a one-page research proposal, please be succinct to allow inclusion of below sections:

Introduction
Objective
Background and current status of the research in cutaneous lymphoma that has led to this proposal
- Hypothesis: A carefully crafted introduction/background will make the formulation of the hypothesis obvious. This should be formulated as precisely and distinctly as possible. Is it novel? Is it important? If the study is hypothesis free or descriptive, this must be justified
- Specific aims for the 6-month period, and what a potential extension of the research would look like up to 1 year in the case of initial promising results
Preliminary data and a project plan
- If applicable, refer briefly to any of your own or other’s previously published work and/or preliminary data in the form of figures or tables that are directly relevant to the proposed project
- Detailed plan for investigation that clearly sets out the project plan, to include methods and timings of milestones and deliverables
- Please state if a power analysis will be required and/or if this has already been performed
If your project is a review paper, please provide relevant prior publications related to the topic
If your paper is a clinical trial, all aspects of the trial design must be carefully considered
If your project is lab-based, the required techniques should be highlighted
Potential pitfall: It is useful to openly discuss challenges or vulnerabilities to a certain approach and to elaborate on potential alternatives to show that the best approach has been chosen

Your participation

Participants are expected to attend all 5 rotations across the European Centres of Excellence. Each rotation will be 2.5 days in length and will be held on the first Sunday to Tuesday of each month from March to July. Participants must also be able to attend EORTC in September to present the outcomes of their research project.

Click below to register your interest today!

Disclaimers and requirements

The Horizon Programme is fully funded by Kyowa Kirin International. The content of the programme has been entirely developed by The Horizon Programme’s Steering Committee
Unless specified otherwise, applicants must be employed by a non-profit hospital or research institution based in Europe (limited to the following countries: UK, Ireland, Netherlands, Belgium, Luxembourg, Germany, Austria, Switzerland, France, Spain, Portugal and Italy)
Applicants must have received an MD, PhD or equivalent as their highest degree
You must attach a letter of support from your supervisor/mentor and institution to your application. The letter of support must include approval for attendance at the 5 clinical rotations across Europe (2.5 days each) once every month from March to July (first Sunday to Tuesday of each month) and attendance at EORTC
You must attach a reference from an existing EORTC member (where possible)
You must attach a 1-page clinical/scientific CTCL research proposal to your application to be considered for the programme

Finance

The Horizon Programme is fully funded by Kyowa Kirin International. Candidates’ travel, accommodation and clinical rotations across Europe are fully covered during the programme (Dutch candidates see section below). The content of the programme has been entirely developed by the Horizon Programme’s Steering Committee. Candidate selection is fully independently led and executed by the Steering Committee
Belgian candidates: A Mdeon visa is required, which will be organised on the candidates’ behalf by Kyowa Kirin International
Dutch candidates: Due to Dutch Medicine Act and Code of Conduct regulatory requirements, Dutch candidates are expected to cover 50% of their travel and accommodation during the programme
Swiss candidates: Due to Swiss regulation and Pharma Code requirements, Swiss candidates or the organisation employing them are expected to cover at least 20% of their travel and accommodation during the programme