EU cancer research opportunities

Cancer has become an even greater topic of focus within the EU. Challenges including increasing numbers of cases, improving treatment, care & outcome and supporting the growing numbers of people who have been impacted by a cancer diagnosis are common to all developed nations. Recognition of the challenges being faced by EU citizens and their governments as well as several MEPs being oncologists has further raised the importance of cancer at EU parliament and commission level. This is a vast and evolving area but both researchers and patient advocates may see opportunities in these developments and we in the Irish Cancer Society hope to help our community play their part. 

Two broad activities are of particular relevance at the moment.

With the support of the MEPs against cancer group, cancer has been called out as a specific EU mission – the Cancer Mission.   One of the outputs of activity in this space has been the release of the draft “conquering cancer” document which is part of Europe’s “beating cancer plan” which was out for discussion recently, more information here.

Cancer will also form a greater target for investment in the EU’s next 7 year long, €100B research investment programme – Horizon Europe

Irish-based researchers have an enviable track record of participation in previous EU programmes and we’re keen to further build on their successes to help attract even more investment in this space for our community and also encourage our researchers to become more involved in crafting the research decisions being made at EU level. The breadth of this investment is also likely to increase greatly as there is growing recognition of non-laboratory research needs in trials, survivorship care and prevention, as well as the biomedical fields that have attracted major previous investment.

In the background we’re in discussions with relevant contact points and, with their backing, hope to support increased engagement from our community through a number of different initiatives in the coming months and years. 

There will be many opportunities to help shape and participate in EU activity in this space so it is very worthwhile to keep an eye on developments in this space over the next months and years. As a first step, we also encourage the community to look to register for external evaluation and monitoring expert panels.   Some details here

Watch this space!