Project Organization

The project includes 8 different work-packages with different aims as schematically represented below.

The HPV-AHEAD Consortium project is organized into eight scientific work packages.

Work Package 1 : Epidemiology and time trends analyses of HNC based on global analysis of the literature and existing databases

• Produce a formal systematic review on the available data and a comprehensive analysis on the descriptive epidemiology and time trends in the incidence and mortality of HNC in Europe and India

Work Package 2 : Collection of human specimens in European and Indian

• Collection of approximately 10,000 head and neck cancer specimens in Europe and India (case study)

• Collection of approximately 4,000 sera (case/control study)

Work Package 3 : Laboratory analyses to determine the HPV-positivity

• Identify HPV DNA and RNA positive cases

• Determine HPV antibodies in cases and controls

Work Package 4 : Epidemiology of HPV-positive and -negative HNC

• Provide robust type-specific estimates of HPV-associated HNC at different anatomical sites and its distribution in several geographical regions in Europe and India

• Determine whether the HPV-associated HNC increased in Europe during the last decades

Work Package 5 : Assessment of the risk factors and natural history of HPV infections in the oral cavity

• Assessment of the risk factors and natural history of HPV infections in the oral cavity

Work Package 6 : Immunohistochemical and microRNA analyses

• Identify specific markers of HPV-positive and -negative HNC

Work Package 7 : Training activities and transfer of technologies

• Training activities and transfer of technologies

Work Package 8 : Network management

• Network management