20/09/2006

A new cancer Documentation, Information and Research Institute, the National Institute "G.N. Papanikolaou", was recently founded in Kimi, the birthplace of the great Greek doctor and researcher, by the municipality of Kimi and in cooperation with the School of Medical Sciences of the University of Thessaly, the Thessaly Medical District Administration and the University Hospital of Larissa.

Its goal is to gather, substantiate and document data on the occurrence of all forms of malignant tumours. Citizens and health professionals are given the opportunity to be briefed on subjects such as the prevention, diagnosis, treatment and research of malignant tumours, as well as relevant social and financial issues, such as insurance bodies, specialised diagnosis centres and treatments in Greece and abroad, support bodies, statistics and clinical studies etc. The Institute's main data source is its web site (www.inpap.org), which is freely accessible and constantly updated.

Moreover, the Institute will provide psychological support to patients and relatives throughout the treatment period, through a call line that is expected to go into operation shortly. Other operations include organising events, the publication of a journal, visual material, the strengthening of cooperation between scientists and institutes in Greece and abroad etc.

The Institute's Board of Directors consists of citizens of Kimi, with the town's mayor being the chairman, whereas the Science Board is formed of scientists with vast experience and knowledge, mainly professors of the School of Medical Sciences of the University of Thessaly. Also, the Institute cooperates with science and social authorities from Greece and abroad.

It should be noted that Kimi was the birthplace of Georgios Papanikolaou (1883-1962), who introduced and created a new field in Medical Science, namely "Exfoliative cytology". G. Papanikolaou invented and recommended the method for early diagnosis of cervical cancer, which was named "Pap Test" in his honour.

Source: Institute on Cancer Documentation, Information and Research "G.N. Papanikolaou"