As part of the project’s governance structure, a Scientific Board has been established to ensure effective coordination, accountability, and the successful achievement of SPARC’s objectives. Board members are invited to provide strategic guidance, scientific expertise, and independent assessments of the project’s progress, offering recommendations to support upcoming activities.
Members
Mario Pazzagli (Italy)
Professor of Clinical Biochemistry and Molecular Biology
Professor at the University of Florence and internationally recognised leader in molecular diagnostics, pre-analytical quality and biomarker standardisation.
Key role in the Board: Provide strategic guidance on diagnostic quality, molecular testing workflows, and methodological soundness of indicators used in SPARC pilots. He will be leading the Scientific Board and coordinating its work.
Mario Plebani (Italy)
Professor of Clinical Biochemistry
Director of the Department of Laboratory Medicine at the University Hospital of Padova; global authority on laboratory quality, biomarker performance and innovation in diagnostic pathways.
Key role in the Board: Ensure scientific robustness of diagnostic components, validate feasibility of proposed data elements, and interpret laboratory-related findings emerging from the planned clinical pilot studies.
José M. Martín-Moreno (Spain)
Professor of Preventive Medicine and Public Health
Professor at the University of Valencia and senior adviser to the European Observatory on Health Systems and Policies; leading expert in European cancer control strategies.
Key role in the Board: Bridge scientific insights with public health and system-level perspectives, ensuring coherence with national cancer control programmes and EU policy frameworks.
Ishtar Espejo (Spain)
Executive Director of Fundación Aladina
Member of the Regional Advisory Committee (RAC) of the St. Jude Global Euro Regional Program. Leading advocate for children and adolescents with cancer.
Key role in the Board: Ensure SPARC’s scientific outputs reflect patient-centered priorities, psychosocial needs, and equity considerations across age groups and care settings.
Nadia Harbeck (Germany)
Director of the Breast Center at the LMU University Hospital
Full Professor of Conservative Oncology at LMU Munich. Internationally recognized expert in personalized breast cancer therapy, early detection and multidisciplinary care.
Key role in the Board: Interpret clinical relevance of pilot findings, identify potential impact on real-world cancer pathways, and guide feasibility of clinical recommendations.
