Chapter 1 - Europe's Beating Cancer Plan: A €4 Billion Commitment

Europe's Beating Cancer Plan, launched in 2021, is a comprehensive €4 billion initiative to improve cancer prevention, treatment, and care across the European Union[1][3]. The plan consists of 10 flagship initiatives and 32 supporting actions focusing on four key areas:

1. Prevention

2. Early detection

3. Diagnosis and treatment

4. Quality of life of cancer patients and survivors[1][3]

The plan utilizes various EU funding instruments, including dozens of projects financed by the EU4Health program and implemented by the Health and Digital Executive Agency[3].

 

EU Cancer Mission: Improving 3 Million Lives by 2030

Complementing Europe's Beating Cancer Plan is the EU Cancer Mission under Horizon Europe, which aims to improve the lives of over 3 million people by 2030 through prevention, cure, and better quality of life[2]. The mission offers a distinct approach to cancer research and control by systematically bringing together research, innovation, and policy development[2].

The mission's success relies on four key elements:

1. Identifying and exploiting existing EU and national funded cancer research results

2. Setting a common strategic R&I agenda on cancer

3. Enabling the collection, storage, and access to cancer data through the EU platform UNCAN.eu by 2023

4. Integrating care, research, training, and awareness activities through a network of Comprehensive Cancer Infrastructures by 2025[2]

 

Funding and Opportunities

The EU Cancer Mission has allocated €119 million for six new research and innovation actions, innovation actions, and coordination and support actions in the 2024 Horizon Europe Cancer Mission Work Programme[5]. These calls cover areas such as:

- Use cases for the UNCAN.eu research data platform

- Support for national cancer data nodes

- Accessible and affordable tests for early detection of heritable cancers

- Support for a pragmatic clinical trial program by cancer charities

- Understanding and management of late-effects in adolescents and young adults with cancer

- An information portal for the European Cancer Patient Digital Centre[5]

 

Collaboration and Impact

The Europe's Beating Cancer Plan and EU Cancer Mission are fully complementary initiatives developed in parallel[5]. They are integrated through joint actions and governments, ensuring a comprehensive approach to cancer control and research across the EU.

The mission will underpin the Europe's Beating Cancer Plan by supporting and accelerating novel approaches to research and policy-making, ensuring an impactful implementation of the plan's proposed flagships and actions[2]. Initiatives like UNCAN.eu, Comprehensive Cancer Infrastructures, and the European Cancer Patient Digital Centre will strengthen the plan's R&I dimension and patient-centered care approach[2].

By focusing on prevention, early detection, diagnosis, treatment, and quality of life, these initiatives aim to reduce cancer incidence, improve survival rates, and enhance the well-being of cancer patients and survivors across the European Union[1][2][3].

__________________________________________________________________

Sources

[1] Europe's Beating Cancer Plan: the importance of initiatives to ... https://www.bd4qol.eu/wps/portal/site/big-data-for-quality-of-life/dettaglioredazionale/news-e-events/news/eu_cancer_plan

[2] [PDF] Mission Cancer Implementation Plan - Research and innovation https://research-and-innovation.ec.europa.eu/system/files/2021-09/cancer_implementation_plan_for_publication_final_v2.pdf

[3] Europe's Beating Cancer Plan - EU4Health financed projects https://health.ec.europa.eu/non-communicable-diseases/cancer/europes-beating-cancer-plan-eu4health-financed-projects_en

[4] Europe's Beating Cancer Plan: A new EU approach to prevention ... https://www.ipaac.eu/news-detail/en/53-europe-s-beating-cancer-plan-a-new-eu-approach-to-prevention-treatment-and-care/

[5] Your guide to 2024 Cancer Mission call topics – key Q&As https://accelopment.com/blog/funding/your-guide-to-2024-cancer-mission-call-topics-key-qas-for-proposal-success/

[6] ESE & Europe's Beating Cancer Plan https://www.ese-hormones.org/what-we-do/outreach/advocacy-activities/ese-s-engagement-with-eu-cancer-policies-and-research/ese-europe-s-beating-cancer-plan/