title: The European Competence Network on Mastocytosis (ECNM).
abstract: The European Competence Network on Mastocytosis (ECNM) is a Europe-wide, multinational cooperative approach attempting to improve recognition, diagnosis, and therapy of mastocytosis. The network is composed of local centers, physicians, and scientists who have dedicated their work to patients with mastocytosis. However, because of the rarity and complexity of the disease, each single component in the network alone would fail to meet important demands and to reach solid conclusions in this field of applied medicine. The ECNM represents an attempt to overcome this restriction as a cooperative multicenter platform that should serve as an important basis for the development of new therapeutic strategies and diagnostic concepts, and for the standardization of techniques used to determine diagnostic and prognostic parameters. Moreover, using future central databases and registries, a suitable infrastructure for the development of co-operative multicenter clinical trials will be established. In addition, the ECNM is dedicated to provide the best available information about the disease to patients and physicians.
authors.affiliation: Division of Hematology and Hemostaseology, Department of Internal Medicine I, Medical University of Vienna, Austria. peter.valent@meduniwien.ac.at
authors.forename: Peter
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Valent
authors.forename: Michel
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Arock
authors.forename: Stephan C
authors.initials: SC
authors.lastname: Bischoff
authors.forename: Hans-Jörg
authors.initials: HJ
authors.lastname: Bühring
authors.forename: Knut
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Brockow
authors.forename: Luis
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Escribano
authors.forename: Manuela
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Födinger
authors.forename: Jürgen
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Grabbe
authors.forename: Karin
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Hartmann
authors.forename: Beate M
authors.initials: BM
authors.lastname: Henz
authors.forename: Hans-Peter
authors.initials: HP
authors.lastname: Horny
authors.forename: Hanneke C
authors.initials: HC
authors.lastname: Kluin-Nelemans
authors.forename: Margarida
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Lima
authors.forename: Gianni
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Marone
authors.forename: Alberto
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Orfao
authors.forename: Reza M
authors.initials: RM
authors.lastname: Parwaresch
authors.forename: Christian
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Sillaber
authors.forename: Karl
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Sotlar
authors.forename: Wolfgang R
authors.initials: WR
authors.lastname: Sperr
authors.forename: Massimo
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Triggiani
authors.forename: Jaap J
authors.initials: JJ
authors.lastname: Van Doormaal
authors.forename: Klaus
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Wolff
authors.forename: Torsten
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Zuberbier
mesh_terms: D002983:Clinical Competence / Q000592:standards*; D003245:Consensus Statements as Topic; D005060:Europe; D006801:Humans; D007255:Information Services / Q000458:organization & administration*; D007391:International Cooperation; D008407:Mast Cells; D008415:Mastocytosis / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000628:therapy*; D015337:Multicenter Studies as Topic; D016032:Randomized Controlled Trials as Topic; D012015:Reference Standards; D012017:Referral and Consultation / Q000592:standards; D012106:Research