After supporting the establishment of 17 National Cancer Mission Hubs, the EU project ECHoS starts an ambitious second phase to further expand its network. Backed by €15 million from the Horizon Europe Mission on Cancer, ECHoS brings together 61 organisations across 30 countries to strengthen collaboration and accelerate progress across Europe, at the national, regional and local levels.
In 2019, the President of the European Commission Ursula von der Leyen identified cancer as one of Europe’s major societal challenges, placing the fight against it high on the European political agenda. This commitment was backed by a €4 billion financial envelope distributed through diverse funding mechanisms, including the EU Mission on Cancer.
The EU Mission on Cancer established a goal to improve the lives of more than 3 million people affected by cancer by 2030 through the implementation of 13 bold recommendations spanning from understanding cancer to early detection and screening, diagnosis and treatment as well as survivorship and quality of life beyond cancer.
To support the implementation of the EU Mission on Cancer at the National, Regional and Local levels, countries were challenged to create structures that act at the heart of the communities. These structures, National Cancer Mission Hubs (NCMHs), are being established under the scope of the project ECHoS – Establishing of Cancer Mission Hubs: Networks and Synergies – coordinated by the Portuguese Agency for Clinical Research and Biomedical Innovation (AICIB, Portugal).
The next phase begins in Lisbon
The Kick-off meeting, taking place in Lisbon from 9 to 11 September 2026, marks the first major milestone of the second phase of ECHoS. This gathering will celebrate the main achievements from phase one, such as the 17 recognised NCMHs in Europe, while setting the stage for the next five years of the Network. Together with Consortium partners, this event brings together representatives from the European Commission and other distinguished international organisations in the health sector. The wider public is also invited to attend the public session on 10 September, which will be livestreamed on ECHoS YouTube channel.
From foundations to a lasting EU network
Bringing together 61 organisations from 30 countries, ECHoS supports collaboration among patients, researchers, healthcare professionals, policymakers, civil society and industry. In the words of Anabela Isidro and Hugo Soares, Coordinators of the project, “ECHoS and NCMHs provide countries with an opportunity for citizens, patients, researchers, healthcare professionals, policymakers and the wider stakeholder community to connect. Bringing these voices closer together helps find new ways of working and enhance the quality of cancer research, care and policies across Europe.”
In ECHOS2, together with BBMRI-ERIC and ECRIN-ERIC within EU-AMRI, EATRIS will build on the complementary capabilities and established national presence of the three European Research Infrastructures to link National Cancer Mission Hubs with relevant expertise, infrastructure and services, supporting the implementation of Cancer Mission priorities at national and European levels.
Toni Andreu, EATRIS Scientific Director, comments, “Delivering the Cancer Mission requires more than strategic alignment; it requires the capacity to translate European ambitions into action across national ecosystems, research infrastructures and healthcare systems. Through EU-AMRI, EATRIS, BBMRI and ECRIN bring together complementary, legally established European Research Infrastructures with a strong presence across Member States. This provides a unique foundation to support National Cancer Mission Hubs in mobilising the expertise, capabilities and services needed to turn Cancer Mission priorities into tangible outcomes for patients.”
The next five years will give this project the tools and opportunities to grow. Through an ambitious set of initiatives, including a training program, demonstration initiatives and peer learning, ECHoS will support the role of NCMHs in transforming EU policies into impactful actions on cancer, for the benefit of citizens and society. By bringing countries and different parts of the cancer community closer together, the project aims to create a lasting foundation for more coordinated action across Europe.
Cancer remains one of Europe’s most pressing public health challenges. By supporting the development of National Cancer Mission Hubs and fostering collaboration, ECHoS contributes to the long-term objectives of the EU Mission on Cancer and Europe’s Beating Cancer Plan. More about ECHoS.
About AICIB – Agency for Clinical Research and Biomedical Innovation:
The Portuguese Agency for Clinical Research and Biomedical Innovation (AICIB) was created by a resolution of the Portuguese Council of Ministers in 2018 with the mission to promote, coordinate, and support activities in the areas of clinical research, translation, and biomedical innovation, contributing to the optimisation of Portugal’s clinical, scientific, and technological potential. It is a private entity with an associative and non-profit nature, with founding members including the FCT – Foundation for Science and Technology, I. P. (representative of the Ministry of Science, Technology and Higher Education), the INFARMED – National Medicines and Health Products Authority, I. P. (representative of the Ministry of Health), the APIFARMA – Portuguese Association of the Pharmaceutical Industry, and the HCP – Health Cluster Portugal. For more information visit http://www.aicib.pt.
