Ljubljana - Europa Donna Slovenija, the Slovenian branch of the European breast cancer coalition, has established a fund to support research into reproductive cancers, which is seen as key in the efforts to reduce breast and gynaecological cancers.

The fund is named after Mojca Senčar (1940-2019), the long-serving president of Europa Donna Slovenija. It will publish its first call for distribution of funds in May. It has EUR 25,000 available this year.

Europa Donna Slovenija is marking its 25th anniversary this year. Thanks to Senčar, it has helped make treatment more accessible while working closely with decision-makers and experts, the current president, Tanja Španič, told a virtual news conference on Wednesday.

The association has been promoting early detection of reproductive cancers by means of screenings and comprehensive rehabilitation of patients, including through psychological and social support.

Španič said patients now had excellent access to new therapies, but there was less opportunity for clinical research. Hence the idea to start a fund to support research, for which funding is hard to come by.

The fund will support research into breast cancer and cancers of reproductive organs, but the association would like to later expand its support to other oncological research.

The association has signed an agreement with the University of Ljubljana to cooperate on the fund. Chancellor Gregor Majdič said medical research was among the most important fields of research at the university.

Janez Žgajnar of the Oncology Institute said even minimum costs could hamper research. "Sometimes you can do something with minimum of funds which you couldn't have otherwise," he said, adding that the fund was also important symbolically.