Press release: €13M flagship EU project launches to introduce novel technologies for colorectal cancer screening
- ONCOSCREEN is a European “shield” against colorectal cancer based on novel, precise, affordable risk-based screening methods and viable policy pathways.
- The Project Consortium comprises 38 partners from 15 different countries.
- With this Pan-European dimension, the Project combines expertise in several disciplines to deliver scientific results to stimulate awareness on colorectal cancer through screening technologies.
Modern healthcare systems need new non-invasive methods for colorectal cancer screening and early detection. Such methods need to be affordable, accessible, and applicable to large parts of the population in order to effectively prevent the development of colorectal cancer.
ONCOSCREEN project responds to this challenge and plans to develop a ground-breaking set of technologies for colorectal cancer screening. Coordinated by EXUS AI Labs based in Athens, Greece, the four-year project started on 1st January 2023.
Speaking about the ONCOSCREEN concept at a glance, Project Coordinator Anaxagoras Fotopoulos from EXUS AI Labs said:
“ONCOSCREEN plays a key role in the fight against colorectal cancer by introducing a set of novel, non-invasive, easy-to-use, highly sensitive, and low-cost screening technologies. The industry-led consortium together with leading medical experts will introduce breakthrough innovations that along with best practices and international standards will allow the ONCOSCREEN solutions to be applied widely across EU in the coming years. “
ONCOSCREEN is a Horizon Europe funded project and joins efforts with other Mission Cancer projects across Europe working towards providing tools and methodologies for risk-based stratification for citizens, an integrated diagnostic decision support tool for clinicians as well as intelligent monitoring tools for policymakers. The project will also collaborate closely with national cancer mission hubs to facilitate policy dialogue on cancer and related research actions.
The generated ONCOSCREEN tools will be extensively validated through clinical studies with more than 4000 European citizens and patients participating from 10 different countries. The views and perspectives of citizens and patients will be incorporated through a participatory co-design approach, further reinforced by open innovation and FAIR data. The aim is ultimately to have the solutions adopted by public healthcare systems and everyday clinical practice across Europe.
