Methodological foundations of the construction of Probabilistic Evidence in Rare Cancers (MePeR)
How can probabilistic evidence be constructed when data are gappy, scarce and unreliable? To tackle this question the ReDa project coordinates the Research Centre on “Methodological foundations of the construction of Probabilistic Evidence in Rare Cancers” (MePeR), launched in 2024 in collaboration with Istituto Nazionale Tumori in Milan and the Department of Oncology and Ematology-Oncology (DIPO) at the University of Milan.
MePeR aims to advance the state of the art in the methodological foundations of probabilistic reasoning in conditions of great uncertainty, which, paradigmatically, occurs in rare tumors, therefore used as a model of the lack of evidence in medicine . By their nature, in fact, rare tumors pose significant problems in the application of conventional statistical methods in clinical research. This has a negative impact on the formation of evidence, therefore on clinical decisions, and therefore on the quality of care.
Research Objectives and Expected Impact
The research objectives of the MePeR team is twofold 1) to develop methodologically rigorous approaches to a personalized formulation of probabilities in clinical decisions and in patient information; 2) to create (technological) solutions to share the clinical decision between doctor and patient in conditions of high uncertainty.
Rare tumors constitute more than 20% of the total new cases of malignancy, being rare individually but not cumulatively. The expected results therefore have a high potential for social impact, as well as of course an ethical relevance, since no patient should be discriminated against in accessing diagnostic-therapeutic innovation due to the disease they suffer from.
The MePeR Centre Team
- Paolo G. Casali
- Francesco Guala
- Hykel Hosni (Coordinator)
- Lisa F.L. Licitra
- Gabriella Pravettoni,
Advisory Board
- Paolo Bruzzi (Genova);
- Ketti Mazzocco (DIPO);
- Rosalba Miceli (INT);
- Virginia Sanchini (DIPO);
- Valter Torri (Mario Negri, Milano);
- Annalisa Trama (INT)