The Mission on Cancer is a new action of Horizon Europe that has the scope to improve the lives of more than 3 million people by 2030, through prevention, cure and for those affected by cancer including their families, to live longer and better. The objectives include:

• a) Understand;
• b) Prevent what is preventable;
• c) Optimise diagnostics and treatment;
• d) Support quality of life;
• e) Ensure equitable access in all aforementioned areas.

The Mission on Cancer addresses all cancers including poorly understood cancers in men and women, cancers in children, adolescents/young adults and the elderly, cancers in socio-economically vulnerable people, living in either cities, rural or remote areas, across all Member States and Associated countries. Successful applicants will be asked to liaise with these different initiatives where applicable, with the Commission acting as a facilitator. All projects funded under this topic are strongly encouraged to participate in networking and joint activities with other ongoing projects under the mission on cancer and other cancer relevant projects.

Topics

Develop new methods and technologies for cancer screening and early detection.

Scope: Research is needed to develop and validate non-invasive, or minimally invasive cancer screening and detection methodologies for everyday medical practice and population-based screening programmes, including enhanced participation of the target population.

The projects should address all of the following:

• a) develop and validate non-invasive cancer screening and detection methodologies;
• b) assess the potential uptake of these methods and technologies in national health systems, clearly identify the target population and consider implementation needs;
• c) use of living labs or other implementation research models that use open knowledge and (social) innovation systems and support end-user engagement;
• d) These programmes should become faster, more precise and personalised, affordable and accessible;
• e) influence of age and early-life factors and determinants; genetic risk; socio- economic status; behavioural, including lifestyle risk factors; environmental factors.

Project type: Research and Innovation Action (RIA). Budget: 60 million euro. Grant amount: between 4 and 15 million euro.

Develop and validate a set of quality of life and patient preference measures for cancer patients and survivors.

Scope: conduct analyses of existing quality of life data from studies, surveys and registries together with patients and with a particular focus on patients' needs, including return to work; set up collaborative approaches with patients, communities and multidisciplinary research teams to develop new metrics to capture key elements of quality of life from the perspective of those affected by cancer, which are not captured with established metrics; prepare and conduct a pilot of newly defined, harmonised and systematic quality of life survey: validate the most promising quality of life and preference measures and metrics.

Project type: Research and Innovation Action (RIA). Budget and grant amount: 11 million euro.

Better understanding of the impact of risk factors and health determinants on the development and progression of cancer.

Scope: Despite important progress, overall understanding of cancer remains incomplete, for both common and rare cancers and the growing number of cancer subtypes, including in children and adolescents. This requires a new dimension and level of investment in innovative research, including high-potential, potentially disruptive and high-risk projects. There is a need to better understand which risk factors and determinants affect the development and progression of cancer and how.

Project type: Research and Innovation Action (RIA). Budget: 54,65 million euro. Grant amount: between 4 and 15 million euro.

Funding:

Research and Innovation Actions benefits from a grant that covers 100% of the project costs.

Three legal entities established in 3 EU Member States or countries associated to Horizon Europe.

If you are interested in this call, please contact leonor.norton(ELIMINAR)@sjd.es