The overall objective of EUCanScreen is to ensure the sustainable implementation of high quality screening for breast, cervical and colorectal cancer, as well as the implementation of recently recommended screening programs for lung, prostate and gastric cancers. EUCanScreen will facilitate the reduction of the cancer burden and the achievement of equity across the EU.
Specific objectives:
Seven specific objectives have been set for EUCanScreen:
1) Ensure full implementation of evidence-based, cost-effective and quality-assured screening programs for breast, cervical and colorectal cancers;
2) Prepare for the implementation of evidence-based, cost-effective and quality-assured screening programs for lung, prostate and stomach cancers;
3) Ensure adequate governance and sustainability of the programs;
4) Ensure better quality, more timely and comparable data collection and monitoring of screening programs;
5) Ensure equal access of eligible EU citizens to screening programs and reduce inequalities in the fight against cancer;
6) Ensure capacity building in cancer screening,
7) To ensure collaboration and coherence with related projects funded by EU programs.
The EUCanScreen work plan has been based on the results of previous and current major EU activities in screening; it is designed in eleven closely interrelated work packages.
WP1: Project coordination
The aim of this work package is to ensure the successful implementation of EUCanScreen, including the necessary reporting requirements.
WP2: Dissemination
Implementation of activities to inform the target audience and stakeholders about the results of EUCanScreen and to encourage their support and adoption of the project recommendations.
WP3: Evaluation
Focused on documenting this JA application using traceable criteria and data and contributing to the achievement of JA objectives through feedback.
WP4: Sustainability
Ensure sustainable implementation of project results in participating countries and improve sustainable implementation of organized, population-based cancer screening programs in countries of the European region where such programs are not yet implemented or are implemented in a way that is not producing the expected impact.
WP 5: Follow-up
Improve existing and develop new standards for data exchange and standardization between countries to improve monitoring and comparison of screening programs and to enable cross-border research with screening data.
WP 6: Addressing
Coordinate and support activities that reduce inequalities in access and quality of breast, cervical and colorectal cancer screening programs and care services in Europe.
WP 7: Implementation
Provide tools and recommendations and reach consensus on essential processes to close the gap between current knowledge and practice in population-based cancer screening programs (breast, colorectal and cervical cancer), which are already provided as part of standard services in most EU countries.
WP 8: Facilitation
Provide an overview of the current state of the art on lung, gastric and prostate cancer screening (i.e. newly recommended screening) and report on its integration into current practice with screening for breast, cervical and colorectal cancers.
WP 9: Risk-based approaches
Improve understanding of the concepts of risk and risk-based screening and provide MS with recommendations for evaluating the potential integration of these approaches into their screening programs.
WP 10: Modeling
Optimize and prioritize existing and new screening programs.
WP 11: Capacity building
To enable current and future leaders of cancer screening in exemplary countries to successfully implement or improve organized population-based screening in their respective countries.
The EuCanScreen European Joint Action expects to strengthen cancer screening systems in Europe, reduce health inequalities and promote innovation to improve health outcomes.
Euskadi, together with Biosistemak, participates in several cross-cutting work packages that provide methodology and guidelines to the work packages in which the pilots are executed, such as, for example, monitoring of screening programs, quality improvement and integration of artificial intelligence in existing systems.
In addition, together with Oskidetza, it is working on a pilot to implement new approaches to prostate cancer screening, and on the development of risk-based approaches and health technology assessment to optimize screening programs in the Basque Country.
The consortium brings together screening programs that work well and others that require substantial improvement. In total, 29 partner countries are represented in the consortium, including 25 EU Member States, Ukraine, Moldova, Norway and Iceland. The project will be coordinated by the University of Latvia and will involve 28 other competent authorities, including Biosistemak, 61 affiliated partners and 7 associated partners. In addition, Biosistemak participates in the work packages WP5, WP10, tasks 8.1, 8.3, 9.4, 9.5 and 9.7.
- Itxaso Alayo, Dolores Verdoy.