Support a Young Cancer Survivor Quality of Life (QoL) research programme by cancer charities and funding agencies

Expected Outcome

This action supports the follow-up to the July 2023 Communication on EU Missions assessment[1]. The successful proposal under this topic should aim to deliver results that are directed and tailored towards and contribute to all of the following expected outcomes:

• Together, a network of registered cancer charities and funding agencies support transnational research and innovation projects on quality of life of children (age range 0-14, age at time of first diagnosis), adolescents (age range 15-19, age at time of first diagnosis) and young adults (age range 20-39, age at time of first diagnosis), cancer patients and survivors using their own financial resources.
• Projects supported by the network of charities and funding agencies will boost quality of life and long-term outcomes for young cancer patients and survivors, including improved physical, emotional, and social well-being.
• Researchers, innovators, and professionals from different disciplines and sectors ensure accessibility and re-usability of relevant digital data, to support the future UNCAN.eu research data platform, which is currently in preparation.

Scope

Due to significant investments in research and innovation, cancer survival rates in Europe have soared, with more than 12 million survivors, including 500,000 childhood cancer survivors. However, survivors, their families, and caregivers continue to face numerous challenges. Young cancer survivors, in particular, frequently suffer from long-term effects of treatment, including mental health issues like depression and anxiety, chronic pain, fatigue, cardiovascular complications, organ and skin changes, and infertility, all of which severely impact their quality of life.

Proposals should address all of the following:

• Together, registered cancer charities and funding agencies across EU Member States and Associated Countries, organise, fund and implement at least two transnational calls for proposals, resulting in grants to third parties to conduct research and innovation projects targeting quality of life of children (age range 0-14, age at time of first diagnosis), adolescents (age range 15-19, age at time of first diagnosis) and young adults (age range 20-39, age at time of first diagnosis) cancer patients and survivors. Grants should be awarded, not only in order of ranking but also to ensure that all three age groups are addressed.
• Organise regular networking activities between partners, as well as with representatives of successful projects, patients and patient organisations, citizens and stakeholders across EU Member States and Associated Countries to support the implementation of the action;
• Organise outreach campaigns at local, regional and national levels to raise awareness among different groups (citizens, patients and survivors, research communities, local, regional and national authorities etc.) about research and innovation projects funded through the transnational calls, including disseminating and exploiting research results. Where relevant, liaising with the National Cancer Mission Hubs which are in development through the ECHoS[2]project, should be considered.

Projects to be financed by charities and funding agencies through transnational calls for proposals are expected to:

• Develop, test and scale up in real-life settings innovative, holistic approaches and tools (including digital tools), optimising cancer treatment and follow-up regimens to improve the quality of life of young cancer patients and survivors.
• All datasets produced should be described with metadata records in the EU dataset catalogue of the European Health Data Space, while all tools and models should take advantage of current European research infrastructures, should follow the principles of open science and made available through the future UNCAN.eu platform.
• The chosen intervention(s) should be adapted to the specificities of the provision of care at local, regional, or national level, duly reflecting the diversity across EU Member States and Associated Countries.
• Projects should clearly benefit local communities of patients and survivors.

Under this topic, the EU contribution will therefore aim to facilitate the coordination and networking between charities and funding agencies themselves as well as with relevant stakeholders across EU Member States and Associated Countries. The EU contribution will not co-fund projects.

This topic requires direct involvement of cancer patients and survivors, survivor representative organisations, caregivers, and the effective contribution of SSH disciplines and the involvement of SSH experts, institutions as well as the inclusion of relevant SSH expertise, in order to produce meaningful and significant results, enhancing the impact of the related research activities.

The use of participative research models, such as oncology-centred living labs or other approaches to deliver (social) innovation should be considered, prioritising involvement of local communities.

Due consideration should be given to EU-funded and other relevant initiatives such as: EU-CAYAS-NET[3]; OACCUs[4]; EUonQoL[5]; e-Quol[6] as well as projects funded under the Cancer Mission call HORIZON-MISS-2024-CANCER-01-05: Improving the understanding and management of late-effects in adolescents and young adults (AYA) with cancer.[7].

The successful proposals will be asked to join the 'Quality of Life' cluster for the Cancer Mission[8] and should include a budget for networking, attendance at meetings, and potential joint activities.[9]. The Commission will facilitate coordination of these activities.

[1] EUR-Lex - 52023DC0457 - EN - EUR-Lex

[2] ttps://cancermissionhubs.eu/

[3] https://siope.eu/news/news-from-eu-cayas-net-Oct22/

[4] https://health.ec.europa.eu/non-communicable-diseases/cancer/europes-beating-cancer-plan-eu4health-financed-projects/projects/oaccus_en

[5] Quality of Life in Oncology (euonqol.eu)

[6] https://equolproject.eu/.

[7] EU Funding & Tenders Portal

[8] In order to address the objectives of the Cancer Mission, participants will collaborate in project clusters to leverage EU-funding, increase networking across sectors and disciplines, and establish a portfolio of Cancer Mission R&I and policy actions.

[9] Examples of those activities are organising joint workshops, establishing best practices, joint communication or citizen engagement activities with projects funded under other clusters and pillars of Horizon Europe, or other EU programmes, as appropriate. Proposals are not required to include details of these activities, as they will be defined during the grant agreement preparation and during the life of the project