Introduced under the current European Union (EU) research and innovation programme Horizon Europe, EU Missions are a new instrument designed to deliver concrete solutions to some of Europe’s greatest challenges. In the health arena, the Cancer Mission aims to improve the lives of more than 3 million people by 2030 by working towards prevention and cures, and helping those affected by cancer to live longer and better.

2.7 million people are diagnosed with cancer every year in Europe, with 1.3 million losing their lives annually. The Cancer Mission seeks to accelerate the development of practicable solutions by joining efforts of citizens, stakeholders and Member States across Europe. Its objectives include:

  • Understanding cancer
  • Prevention and early detection
  • Diagnosis and treatment
  • Quality of life for patients and their families

The Mission is an integral element of the EU’s Beating Cancer Plan, a key priority for the current European Commission.

Irish success in Cancer Mission funding to date

Ireland has a solid track record in securing funding under the Cancer Mission. The recently announced results of the 2023 Work Programme have seen researchers in three Irish universities and one healthcare provider achieve a total of over €1.7 million funding for four cancer projects:

  • One project will address poorly understood tumour-host interactions by compiling data from melanoma, lung and bladder cancer to identify the critical elements in the tumour-host interaction responsible for therapy response.
  • Three projects were funded to work on pragmatic clinical trials on minimally invasive diagnostics, covering breast cancer, oesophageal cancer and neuroblastoma.

This builds on success under the 2021-22 Cancer Mission Work Programme, where Ireland participated in 10 funded projects targeting the following priorities:

Understanding cancer

  • UNCAN.eu – aiming to set up a European Federated Cancer Research data hub and generate use cases addressing major challenges in cancer research.

Prevention and early detection

  • ONCOSCREEN – developing a ground-breaking set of technologies and methods for colorectal cancer screening.
  • ThermoBreast – advancing safe and patient-centred breast cancer screening through next-generation dynamic thermal imaging and artificial intelligence.
  • 4P-CAN – pioneering personalised tools for primary prevention and reducing inequalities.
  • PREVENT – improving upscaling of primary interventions for weight control during childhood and adolescence to reduce cancer risks in adulthood.

Diagnosis and treatment

  • CCI4EU – developing and improving comprehensive cancer infrastructures, and promoting research, innovation and digital capacity building in cancer care.
  • DE-ESCALATE – evaluating whether intermittent intensified androgen deprivation treatment (iADT) in metastatic prostate cancer is as good as continuous treatment in terms of oncological benefit while minimizing side effects and improving patient quality of life. 
  • IMPORTANT – implementing geriatric assessment for dose optimisation of CDK 4/6-inhibitors in older breast cancer patients.
  • PRIME-ROSE – seeking to enhance access to affordable precision cancer medicine that prolongs life at the best quality possible for all cancer patients.

A further project is ECHoS, which aims to support the implementation of the Cancer Mission activities in all Member States and Associated Countries through the establishment and development of Cancer Mission Hubs operating at national, regional, and local levels. In Ireland, the Cancer Mission Hub is led by the National Cancer Control Programme (NCCP) and the All-Ireland Cancer Research Institute.

Find out more

The 2024 Cancer Mission call topics are currently being developed and will be published at the beginning of 2024. The HRB’s National Contact Point for Horizon Europe Dr Irene Castellano is available to discuss potential research proposals and advise on the application process.