Remit:

The QATS* group pursues a multi-layered approach to achieving its dual goal of maintaining regulatory compliance whilst conducting translational science to the highest achievable quality standards.
Our core activities are:

• Mentoring centres/members in quality assurance processes. This is achieved through networking, sharing expertise and resources
• Sponsoring training courses in relevant 'hot topics' based on assessment of member needs
• Keeping abreast of new developments in the regulatory domain, by adopting an outward stance and actively engaging key stakeholders in the field, including the MHRA, the EMA and BARQA in joint meetings
• Embracing new developments in translational science by conducting workshops on cutting-edge technologies

Moving forward, the group plan to implement, within the Network, a programme of quality assurance and quality control assessments, coupled with setting performance standards for biomarker assays. This is in order to provide centres with increased collaborative guidance towards compliance, with the ultimate goal of developing an internal ECMC accreditation scheme for all sites.

Steering Committee Members:

Dr Jeff Cummings (Chair) - Paterson Institute for Cancer Research and Christie NHS Trust
Bride Foster - UCL Cancer Institute
Rebecca Gallagher - Belfast Experimental Cancer Medicine Centre
Bill Greenhalf - Royal Liverpool University Hospital
Alex MacLellan - Edinburgh Experimental Cancer Medicine Centre
Donna Smith - Cambridge Research Institute
Paul Stewart - Cancer Research UK

*Please note that the ECMC QATS Network Group was previously known as the ECMC Bioanalysis and Quality Assurance Network Group