THE ENCR
The European Network of Cancer Registries (ENCR) promotes collaboration between cancer registries, defines data collection standards, provides training for cancer registry personnel and regularly disseminates information on cancer incidence and mortality in Europe.
The ENCR is in operation since 1990 and was established within the framework of the Europe Against Cancer programme of the European Commission on the initiative of the International Agency for Research of Cancer (IARC), Association of Nordic Cancer Registries (ANCR), International Association of Cancer Registries (IACR) and Latin Language Registry Group (GRELL).
The project was supported by the European Commission (SANCO) until 31 March 2004. Funding for ENCR activities was also received from Cancéropôle Rhone-Alpes for the years 2007, 2008 and from the Seventh Framework Programme of the European Commission through the EUROCOURSE project in 2009-2012. IARC co-funded the ENCR since its inception until the end of 2012.
In 2012, the two Directorate-Generals of the European Commission (DG SANTE and the DG JRC) entered a formal collaboration to address actions in support of the ENCR, paving the way towards further coordination and harmonisation of cancer data in Europe. The support has also ensured the continuity of the ENCR secretariat, including the administrative functioning and networking of the ENCR.
- to improve the quality, comparability and availability of cancer incidence data;
- to create a basis for monitoring cancer incidence and mortality in the European Union;
- to provide regular information on the burden of cancer in Europe,
- to promote the use of cancer registries in cancer control, health-care planning and research.
The ENCR is governed by the Steering Committee; according to its terms of reference.
The ENCR Secretariat is hosted at the Joint Research Centre of the European Commission .
ENCR is affiliated to the International Association of Cancer Registries (IACR).
ENCR MEMBERSHIP
Membership of the European Network of Cancer Registries (ENCR) ensures systematic and standardised collection, utilisation and promotion of cancer data. The criteria for full and associate membership criteria and associated benefits are outlines below.
FULL MEMBERSHIP
Cancer registries are eligible for full ENCR membership provided that they:
• are population-based (including site or age-specific registries). Population based cancer registries are defined as registries that collect data on all new cases of cancer occurring in a specified population in a defined geographical area;
• currently operate in countries within the UN geographical definition of Europe, plus Cyprus;
• have completed the ENCR questionnaire within the last 5 years (e.g. the membership questionnaire, or the 2015 ENCR-JRC Call for Data Questionnaire), and update the information on request.
ASSOCIATE MEMBERSHIP
Non-population-based registries, networks of registries, cancer institutes and entities involved in cancer research, and organisations supporting cancer registration or cancer research, such as cancer patients' organisations, can apply for Associate Membership. This type of membership can include entities from countries belonging to the WHO European region.
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Benefits for ENCR members |
Full members |
Associate members |
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access to the ENCR-JRC Portal for a unique data submission to several European studies |
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registry data may be included, and displayed, on the ECIS - web application |
x |
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may propose candidates, from the registry, as ENCR representatives on the Steering Committee, during the elections |
x |
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right to elect the ENCR Steering Committee members |
x |
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inclusion on the ENCR mailing list, which will be kept updated with news from the Network's members and activities |
x |
x |
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participate in ENCR activities (meetings, collaborative projects, surveys) |
x |
x |
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participate in ENCR training events and, possibly, to request assistance from experts within the Network to enhance capacity at local level |
x |
x |
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opportunity to co-author papers, using European cancer registry data |
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ELECTION RULES
The elected members of the ENCR Steering Committee (SC) serve 3-year terms, with the possibility of renewal once. If they are co-opted members they may serve 1-year terms, with possibility of renewal twice.
Under the rules for the election of ENCR Steering Committee members, the ENCR SC will consist of:
- One representative from each UN geographical area Northern, Western, Southern and Central/Eastern Europe
- Another four candidates elected based on the highest number of votes
- One representative of IACR
- One representative of IARC
- Possibility of one opted representative
Example of election results:
| Candidate | Geographical area | Votes |
| A | North | 53 |
| B | North | 66 |
| C | North | 43 |
| D | North | 28 |
| E | South | 18 |
| F | West | 23 |
| G | West | 24 |
| H | West | 30 |
| I | Central/East | 5 |
| J | Central/East | 6 |
| K | Central/East | 12 |
| L | Central/East | 38 |
| M | Central/East | 53 |
| N | Central/East | 3 |
B, E, H and M will be elected on the basis of the geographical area
A, C, D and L will be elected on the number of votes
(Opted member: e.g. F or G, to be decided by the Steering Committee)