WP8 Kick-Off Meeting: Strengthening the Network Activities among European Comprehensive Cancer Centres

Stockholm, Sweden – Work Package 8 (WP8): Development and Implementation of Network Activities of the EUnetCCC Joint Action officially launched its mission to build a robust network among Europe’s comprehensive cancer centres with a dynamic two-day kick-off meeting from November 27-28, 2024 at the Karolinska Comprehensive Cancer Center in Sweden. Under the slogan “Better together through releasing synergies across borders,” the event brought together 130 participants from cancer centres, patient organisations, and national health authorities representing 31 EU and associated countries.

The gathering marked the start of a nearly four-year journey to foster collaboration, joint learning, and innovation in cancer care and research. Throughout the meeting, attendees shared visions, designed activities, and developed concrete plans across the ten core tasks of WP8. The program encouraged the exchange of ideas and the formation of new relationships, setting the stage for a collaborative roadmap to improve cancer outcomes across Europe.

WP8’s ambitious goals include enhancing the implementation of clinical guidelines, advancing personalized cancer prevention, strengthening the cancer research ecosystem, harmonising and implementing precision diagnostics, enhancing secondary use of clinical data, fostering collaborative clinical trials, supporting cancer survivorship programs, and developing strong governance and leadership structures for cancer centres.

WP8 and its partners will work together to promote efficient cross-border networking and accelerate potential progress in cancer prevention, care, and research, creating lasting impact across Europe. The WP8 leadership team expressed enthusiasm for the continued collaboration and the positive impact this initiative will have on cancer care throughout Europe.