INHANCE is an international consortium of scientists involved in research on head and neck cancer, comprising oral cavity, pharynx, and larynx. Although originally organized among principal investigators of epidemiological case-control studies of head and neck cancer, INHANCE is open to researchers from other disciplines relevant to head and neck cancer research, and to investigators involved in other types of epidemiological studies (e.g., cohort and family-based studies). The eligibility criteria for INHANCE membership is shown below.

INHANCE members are epidemiologists involved in head and neck cancer studies and scientists with expertise in domains relevant to head and neck research. Members are expected to bring to the consortium their expertise, ideas and resources, including results, raw data and biological samples. Membership is effective upon notification to and confirmation of acceptance by the executive committee. Active participation in at least one working group is a requirement for maintaining membership.

If you would like more information on becoming a member, please contact:

Mia Hashibe, Ph.D.
Division of Public Health
Department of Family & Preventive Medicine
University of Utah School of Medicine
375 Chipeta Way, Suite A
Salt Lake City, UT, 84108
Email:

Eligibility criteria for joining the INHANCE Consortium (drafted by the INHANCE Executive Committee):

Studies are eligible for inclusion in INHANCE if they have the potential to contribute to research on causes, mechanisms and prevention of head and neck cancer within the framework of collaborative projects carried out in the consortium. Studies should be methodologically sound and contribute good-quality data and biological samples. Studies considered for inclusion are MAINLY molecular and genetic epidemiological studies (typically of case-control or cohort design, including both information on exposure to risk factors FROM QUESTIONNAIRES OR SIMILAR SOURCES and biological samples), BUT well-conducted clinical series from understudied populations, and large-scale CASE-SERIES and epidemiological studies without biological samples can be also considered for inclusion. The decision on inclusion in the consortium is taken by the Executive Committee, preferably by consensus. The following aspects are considered by the Executive Committee:

- type and quality of information on exposure to risk factors and potential confounders;

- type and quality of results of biological measurements;

- type, amount and quality of biological samples available for further analyses (blood, tumour, normal H&N, other);

- protection from bias;

- information on clinical aspects (e.g., treatment) and outcome;

- sample size (number of cases);

- uniqueness of study population, e.g., in terms of exposure or genetic background.