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Funding granted to University of Coimbra for cancer study research

European collaboration led by the University of Coimbra gains 30 million euros to bolster cancer research across Europe.

University of Coimbra Granted Funds for Cancer Study Investigation
University of Coimbra Granted Funds for Cancer Study Investigation

Funding granted to University of Coimbra for cancer study research

The European Union is taking a significant step forward in the fight against cancer with the launch of the UNCAN-CONNECT project, an ambitious initiative aimed at creating a federated data platform for cancer research. Funded by the Horizon Europe program of the European Commission, the project will run from September 1, 2022, to August 2030 and is led by the University of Tartu in Estonia.

### A Federated Data Platform for Cancer Research

The UNCAN-CONNECT project seeks to establish a platform, UNCAN.eu, that will facilitate the integration and sharing of cancer-related data across Europe. This will enable researchers to access larger and more diverse datasets, leading to better cancer analysis and treatment innovation. The platform will be tested and validated through specific clinical studies in six types of cancer: pediatric, lymphoma, pancreatic, ovarian, lung, and prostate.

### Holistic Cancer Understanding and Transformation

The project's goals emphasize holistic cancer understanding, leveraging AI and social innovation for systemic healthcare transformation. It aims to promote social innovation in cancer care, including governance systems, management reforms, and organizational changes to ensure effective implementation and transformation in cancer outcomes. The project also contributes to the EU Cancer Mission's objective of holistic cancer understanding and tackling cancer not only as a medical problem but also addressing societal dimensions, including emotional and spiritual aspects.

### Building on Past Successes and Collaborating for the Future

UNCAN-CONNECT builds upon prior projects such as EOSC4Cancer, ensuring sustainability and evolution of cancer data infrastructures under the Cancer Mission framework. It will also collaborate with initiatives such as CanSERV, EUCANImage, and EOSC4Cancer, ensuring efficient sharing, integration, and reuse of data between Member States. This collaboration will help smaller EU member states participate evenly in cancer research and benefit from advanced innovations.

### Potential Portuguese Participation

Although direct mention of the University of Coimbra in the project is not immediately apparent, Portugal's involvement in related genomic medicine efforts suggests potential collaboration within UNCAN-CONNECT's ecosystem. The Portuguese consortium includes the Instituto Pedro Nunes, and the University of Coimbra's participation is led by Ana Margarida Abrantes from the Faculty of Medicine. Four clinical studies will be implemented in Coimbra in the areas of pediatric, pancreatic, prostate, and lymphoma cancer.

### The Future of Cancer Research and Treatment

The UNCAN-CONNECT project aims to generate new platforms and synergies to boost cancer research and future treatments. It will provide secure, interoperable, and ethical access to cancer health data across the entire European Union, promoting interoperability, scientific progress, open science processes, and collaboration between researchers, companies, patient representatives, public institutions, and citizens. The project's ultimate goal is to advance personalized medicine and optimized diagnostics, particularly for challenging cancers such as pancreatic cancer, by utilizing better data and analytic tools.

What role will the University of Coimbra play in accessing larger, more diverse datasets for cancer research and treatment innovation within the UNCAN-CONNECT project, given Portugal's involvement in related genomic medicine efforts? The involvement of institutions like the University of Coimbra and the Instituto Pedro Nunes in the project's ecosystem may help promote holistic cancer understanding, leveraging AI and social innovation for systemic healthcare transformation, as well as advance personalized medicine and optimized diagnostics, particularly for challenging cancers such as pancreatic cancer.

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