European Projects

About H-Net

H-Net is the acronym for the "European Network for Harmonization of training in Hematology."

This project was awarded a grant under the Leonardo da Vinci Lifelong Learning Programme by the European Commission. In a joint effort of 26 partners, H-Net aims to arrive at a truly harmonized curriculum for European hematologists, thus raising the competence levels of hematologists and, ultimately, improving patient care and public health.

H-Net will build on the previously developed Curriculum Passport. This is an itemized description of what constitutes a well-rounded hematological training as recommended by national and international societies and organizations of hematology. H-Net will first survey recently graduated hematologists and compare their qualifications to those expressed in the Curriculum Passport. Next, on the basis of the needs that derive from analyses of the survey data, H-Net will implement existing, and develop novel educational tools to meet those needs. Moreover, an online portfolio system, not much unlike MySpace or LinkedIn, will be developed to allow individual hematologists to ascertain personal gaps in their training and recommend educational opportunities to fill them.

For more information please click: www.hematologynet.eu

About EUROCORD-ED: On-line curriculum on cord blood technology

The European Commission recently awarded a grant to EUROCORD and the EuropeanSchool of Haematology (ESH) to develop a comprehensive online training tool in the field of umbilical cord blood biology. This project named EUROCORD-ED brings together many major European partners including, the European Hematology Association (EHA), NETCORD, the European Network of cord blood banks, the European Group for Blood and Marrow Transplantation (EBMT), the cord blood banks in Milano, Madrid, Leiden and Athens, basic science research groups and the companies Biostór Ireland, Macopharma and Alcimed. The EUROCORD-ED project aims to inform and educate all the vocational actors involved in the field: laboratory scientists, technicians, clinicians, transplant physicians, obstetricians, midwives and biotechnology companies involved in banking, research, and the clinical analysis of cord blood and ICT. EUROCORD-ED also aims to inform future parents, and to support health policy decision makers.

All establishments involved in cord blood processing now need to be licensed and people need to be trained in the requirements of the Directives and Good Manufacturing Practice (GMP). EHA is partner in this project and supports the project because training is important to ensure pan-European harmonization of knowledge and skills and to guarantee the uniform implementation of quality control standards and EU directives. This project will build on previous European Commission grants awarded to EUROCORD and ESH related to training, mobility and quality control in the healthcare setting. The three-year project started officially with a kick-off meeting in October 2008 in France.

For more information please click: www.eurocord-ed.org