Nantes University Hospital is the 6th largest French University Hospital, among the top 10 university hospitals recognised as ‘highly committed to research’. CHU-Nantes ranks 9th for scientific publications in the national SIGAPS classification and 7th for participation in clinical trials in the national SIGREC classification. To-date, CHU-Nantes has participated in over 2,000 clinical trials, 20 p of which are sponsored by CHU-Nantes, and involving over 20,000 patients.
The Institute of Digestive Diseases (IMAD) brings together over 300 clinicians (gastroenterologists and hepatologists), digestive surgeons specialising in adults and children, healthcare personnel, researchers, laboratory personnel, lecturers, and students to advance the management of liver and digestive diseases for the patients. One of the major research axes of IMAD is the management of the patients with upper digestive precancerous lesions (including surveillance, early detection, and treatment of early gastro-oesophageal cancers). The centre has a specifically devoted patient’s pathway, the collection of serum samples and histological samples of over 200 patients with gastric precancerous lesions with long-term follow-up data.
The centre is involved in several national and international studies in the field of gastric precancerous lesions and gastric cancer, including the FREGAT study (clinico-biological database dedicated to oesophageal and gastric cancers). All these data and samples collection will be shared with AIDA. The centre is involved in fundamental and translational research in collaboration with the Immunology Research Unit (INSERM 1064 in Nantes) on the role of immune response in gastric carcinogenesis. These data could be integrated in the project in further stages. The team has experience in the management of patients with gastric precancerous lesions and in the management of advanced gastric cancer, as one of the biggest and most active centres of Digestive Oncology in the region of Loire Atlantique in France. Additionally, the centre has a specific expertise in oncogenetics, which facilitates the recruitment and management of patients with increased risk of gastric cancer.