2020 is a year that will go down in history as a troubled year that shook our way of life on its foundations. Both socially and professionally we all have had to deal with a multitude of obstacles and in some cases with enormous loss associated with a pandemic that is still far from being controlled.

However, our Cancer Center has adapted quickly to this new reality both in care and research and this is the result of the enormous resilience and creativity of you all. We know it has been far from perfect and yes this week’s news indicates that the hurdles will strectch out into 2021, but we are also convinced we will come out stronger in the end. Despite the fact that it was a lot tougher to meet each other, this pandemic, if anything, has brought us closer together in our efforts to build a joint Cancer Center that aims to understand cancer and to help patients affected by this disease.

TEAMS will likely be the word of 2020 and we are sure you are all fed-up with online activities, meetings and chats, but we hope we can convince you that you are part of an inspirational team that is also ready to back you up when you need it. We, for sure, are damn proud to be part of this team and are enormously impressed by all the research performed in 2020, the grants acquired, and the innovation achieved. COVID19 can try to delay us, but will not stop us in our fight against cancer.

For now we wish you all a great Xmas break. Just realize that it will be one you will never forget. Try to connect with your loved ones in whatever way is feasible and let’s all hope for a New Year where we can soon start to think about a Cancer Center Amsterdam retreat, social events and even more (live) interactive science.

Stay safe, stay healthy and enjoy Xmas.

Jan Paul Medema & Geert Kazemier
Directors Cancer Center Amsterdam