European experts gather to improve the quality of cancer screening in Europe

Photo: from personal archive. From the right: Piret Veerus, researcher at the Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics at the National Institute for Health Development in Estonia, prof. Marcis Leja and Ondrej Majek, analyst of the Institute of Biostatistics and Analyses in Czechia

On June 1 and 2, UL ICPM director prof. Marcis Leja participates in the expert meeting of the CanScreen-ECIS (ECIS – European Cancer Information System) project, which takes place at the International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC) in Lyon, France. Within the framework of this project, experts in the field of cancer are developing cancer screening indicators, the reporting of which in the EU common database will be the responsibility of each EU member state in the future. This data management system will be integrated into the already existing European Cancer Information System and will act as a quality control mechanism in EU cancer screening programs.

Photo: from personal archive. From right: IARC Public Health Officer Nadya Dimitrova, IARC Head of Screening Group Partha Basu and IARC Director Elisabete Weiderpass

The purpose of the meeting of experts from Europe and its neighboring countries is to finalize the data collection templates and the process of data collection necessary for the project.

CanScreen-ECIS will provide understandable and easy-to-access data about cancer screening across Europe. Knowing how cancer screening programmes are performing will ultimately help programme managers to work together with various stakeholders (such as the European Cancer Leagues) to improve the quality and coverage of screening.

Read more about the CanScreen-ECIS project at https://canscreen-ecis.iarc.who.int/

UL ICPM participates in creation of comprehensive cancer infrastructure in Europe

Photo: from personal archive

On May 23 - 24, in Milan, Italy, the kick-off event of a new project called "Comprehensive Cancer Infrastructures 4 Europe" (CCI4EU) took place. The event was attended by the Director of the UL Institute Clinical and Preventive Medicine Institute (UL ICPM), Professor Mārcis Leja, and UL ICPM researcher Dina Bēma.

The CCI4EU project is being implemented within the framework of the European Union's "Horizon Europe" program, specifically the Cancer Mission. This EU mission aims to develop various aspects of cancer prevention and treatment in order to maximize the quality of life for 3 million cancer patients and their caregivers by 2030. The Cancer Mission, in accordance with the Europe’s Beating Cancer Plan, sets the main research directions, working towards raising awareness about cancer, improving its diagnosis, and optimizing treatment, thus enhancing the quality of life for cancer patients during and after treatment. Improvements in the field of cancer have also been set as a priority by the Latvian Ministry of Health.

Within the framework of the CCI4EU project, the acquisition and comparison of essential information among all project participating countries is planned in order to assess the extent to which they are progressing in successful establishment of Comprehensive Cancer Care infrastructures. To accomplish this, appropriate indicators for evaluating the quality of processes will be developed and implemented throughout the project. Significant attention will be devoted to various educational aspects. There will also be close integration with other ongoing and planned EU projects in the field of cancer.

Cancer experts, including those from Latvia, will be involved in mutual assessment of competencies among the project's participating countries. The project will feature three high-level conferences to be organized in EU countries with weaker indicators.

For the participating countries, the project offers an opportunity to establish and develop connections among Cancer Centers and related organizations in all EU member states and candidate countries. CCI4EU will facilitate collaboration with European and international organizations such as the Organization of European Cancer Institutes (OECI), the European School of Oncology (ESO), the European Cancer Organisation (ECO), the International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC), and the Joint Research Centre (JRC).

The Institute of Clinical and Preventive Medicine of University of Latvia and experts from other Latvian institutions, including Riga East Clinical University Hospital, have actively participated in the project since its application stage.

UL ICPM has previously initiated and is coordinating the project "Improving Cancer Care Coordination and Screening in Latvia and Slovakia" (ICCCS) in Latvia. During the project, since the beginning of 2022, experts from the International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC), the Organization of European Cancer Institutes (OECI), and Erasmus University Medical Center (EMC) have visited Latvia multiple times to develop specially tailored action plans, strategic guidelines, and practical recommendations for improving the effectiveness of various elements of cancer care in Latvia. The strategic recommendations from the experts encompass improvements in cancer care coordination, registries, and screening, and their implementation in practice has already begun.

UL signs a cooperation memorandum and academic cooperation agreement with Azerbaijani institutions

Photo: publicity image, prof. Mārcis Leja and the head of ASATID prof. Nazim Gasimov

On May 18 and 19, in Baku, Azerbaijan, the University of Latvia affirmed its collaboration through a memorandum of cooperation with the Azerbaijan Gastroenterology and Invasive Endoscopy Society (AGIES). Additionally, an agreement for academic cooperation was concluded with the Azerbaijan State Advanced Training Institute for Doctors named after A. Aliyev (ASATID). The University of Latvia was represented by Professor Mārcis Leja, the Director of the Institute of Clinical and Preventive Medicine of the University of Latvia. He also held a meeting with Azerbaijan's Minister of Health, Teymur Musayev, to discuss collaboration opportunities.  As part of the visit, prof. Leja presented the latest developments in gastric cancer screening in the European Union at the IV Gastroenterology Conference organized by AGIES.

During the meetings, Professor Mārcis Leja discussed the benefits of mutual international cooperation in the fields of academia, research, and education with the Azerbaijani Minister of Health and representatives of the institutions. The Minister of Health of Azerbaijan Teymur Musayev expressed interest in collaboration and support for mutual efforts between the two countries. Representatives of research and educational institutions discussed the desired and possible areas of collaboration, including jointly organized academic, research, and educational activities such as conferences, seminars, lectures, and the implementation of joint fundamental research projects involving the intellectual potential of both sides. They also discussed mutual involvement in national and international research projects, including cooperation in the preparation and implementation of projects at the international, European Union, and national levels, collaboration within doctoral education programs, further education for scientific and academic personnel, and the provision of modern post-doctoral programs.

The IV Gastroenterology Conference organized by AGIES took place on May 19 and 20 in Baku. Professor Mārcis Leja the latest updates on gastric cancer prevention in the context of the European Union and the world.

Latvia participates in a new European consortium for creating a network of support for EU Mission on Cancer

The project Establishing of Cancer Mission Hubs: Networks and Synergies (ECHoS) aims to coordinate R&I and Healthcare actions on cancer, with policy-making processes, towards people-centric healthcare and research systems. The consortium brings together the leading expertise of more than 50 governmental, healthcare, academic, and nonprofit organizations from 28 countries. National Cancer Mission Hubs (NCMHs) will be created in each country to engage a broad range of stakeholders from both public and private sectors in collaborative initiatives and policy dialogues on cancer, at national, regional and local levels.

Cancer represents a global health challenge. It affects everyone regardless of gender, or even social status and is a tremendous burden for patients, families, friends, and societies. According to the European Cancer Information System, the incidence of cancer in Europe by 2040 is expected to increase by 20.96% and mortality by 31.76%. This means that if no further actions are taken, around 3.24 million people will be diagnosed, and 1.66 million people will die in Europe. There is a pressing need to act, together.

Driving the Horizon Europe Mission on Cancer initiative is the ambitious goal 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”. This is also the driving force behind the project ECHoS, Establishing of Cancer Mission Hubs: Networks and Synergies.

ECHoS, a new, three-year European consortium supported by Mission on Cancer, will play a vital role in supporting the bold and inspirational goals defined by this European initiative. Bringing together the expertise of 58 leading organisations, from governmental, healthcare, research, academic and non-profit sectors, this key consortium will ultimately provide member states and associated countries (MS/AC) with the capacity to gradually create National Cancer Mission Hubs (NCMHs). These NCMHs, operating at national, regional, and local levels, will have a vital role in involving all relevant stakeholders, including citizens, in cancer-related policy dialogues.

“The fight against cancer can no longer be an isolated endeavour. Currently, research, innovation and healthcare initiatives are largely siloed within specific communities and the engagement of citizens is either poor or nonexistent,” said Dr. Anabela Isidro, member of the AICIB (Agency for Clinical Research and Biomedical Innovation in Portugal) board. “Supported by the European Beating Cancer Plan and the EU Mission on Cancer, cancer occupies a central place within the European political agenda. At the conclusion of the Conference on the Future of Europe, political leaders championed pan-European cooperation towards a Health in All Policies approach, and a data-informed, citizen-focused, research-driven agenda. The time to act is now.” She concluded.

Latvia is represented by several organizations, for example, including the Riga East Clinical University Hospital, Ministry of Health, and Institute of Clinical and Preventive Medicine of the University of Latvia, which will collaborate closely with the consortium coordinators (AICIB) and leading experts across Europe, to establish a NCMH in our country. This combined effort will coordinate R&I and Healthcare actions on cancer with policy-making processes towards people-centric healthcare and research systems in ways that cannot be achieved through individual efforts and fragmented initiatives.

The recent COVID-19 emergency exposed the fragilities in health systems, halting research, arresting clinical trials, and forcing limited resource allocation to tackle these emerging needs. Still, it also highlighted countries’ capacity to create functional synergies in health, policy, and research, successfully impacting the health scenario. With the Kick-Off Meeting held on May 3, 2023, ECHoS has set the foundations for a strong and cohesive network of NCMHs among MS/AC aligned with Mission on Cancer. ECHoS will break new frontiers, beyond established research and health systems, reaching from individual citizens to European Institutions, Civil Society, Social Sector, Academia, Public and Private Sectors, improving the current landscape and setting a brighter future in cancer. 

ECHoS project has received funding from the European Union’s Horizon Europe Coordination and Support Actions programme under grant agreement No 101104587

We wish you the sunniest of Easter holidays!

We will be back in the office on April 11!

Latvian scientists to lead gastric cancer screening development in Europe

House of Science of the University of Latvia

Author: Toms Grīnbergs, University of Latvia Communication department

The Institute of Clinical and Preventive Medicine of the University of Latvia (UL ICPM) has begun leading a new European project. Under the guidance of Latvian scientists, more than 20 partners from 14 European countries will work for recommending appropriate implementation of gastric cancer screening across the European Union (EU). The project will include evaluation of various strategies for effective prevention of gastric cancer mortality in all EU member states. It is one of three EU-funded projects launched since the EU Council approved a new approach to cancer screening in December last year. The project results will aide policy makers in incorporating gastric cancer screening into their healthcare priorities.

The Recommendation approved by the EU Council at the end of last year includes updates to existing recommendations for breast, cervical, and colorectal cancer screening. The new approach also calls for extending screening programmes to prostate, lung and, under certain circumstances, gastric cancer, in a stepwise approach. The Recommendation is part of a new EU Cancer Screening Scheme, put forward as a flagship initiative of Europe's Beating Cancer Plan. The new EU approach, based on the latest available scientific developments and evidence, will help ensuring that 90% of the EU population who qualify for breast, cervical and colorectal cancer screenings are offered such screening by 2025. For lung, prostate, and gastric cancers, the Recommendation invites a gradual introduction in all member states.

The general objective of the project “Towards gastric cancer screening implementation in the European Union", abbreviated TOGAS, is to provide the missing evidence-based knowledge by implementing three pilot studies, each designed to address specific aspects of gastric cancer screening and its early detection. Involving cost effectiveness modelling and addressing medical ethics aspects, the results will be further transferred to design a plan and implement appropriate gastric cancer prevention across the EU. The results from this project will aide policy makers in incorporating gastric cancer screening into their healthcare priorities while balancing its effectiveness, feasibility and acceptability with long-term potential adverse effects.

The Scientific Manager of the project prof. Mārcis Leja

Author: Toms Grīnbergs, University of Latvia Communication department

“Currently, no effective screening modality to prevent gastric cancer is available in Europe. Elimination of H.pylori bacteria is expected to decrease the gastric cancer caused mortality by 40%, with another approach being an early detection of precancerous lesions for surveillance. It is essential to find ways to implement this prevention in practice," states the Scientific Manager of the project, Institute of Clinical and Preventive Medicine of the University of Latvia director, prof. Mārcis Leja.

The project is supported by the European Union programme EU4Health and will run for 36 months. Along with prof. Leja, the project team includes UL ICPM researcher and project scientific coordinator Danute Ražuka-Ebela and UL ICPM project coordinator Madara Grīnšteine.

Universities, research organisations, European networks and professional organizations, hospitals, and medical centres are among the partner organisations, and anticipates close collaboration with representatives from EU member state ministries and responsible institutions for screening implementation. The TOGAS consortium comprise: International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC), the European Society of Digestive Oncology (ESDO), Digestive Cancers Europe (DiCE), the European Helicobacter and Microbiota Study Group (EHMSG), the European Cancer Organization (E.C.O.), the National Institute of Public Health in Slovenia (NIJZ), Nantes University Hospital in France, Erasmus University Medical Center in the Netherlands, the Portuguese Oncology Institute (I.P.O.), the Madrilenian Health Service in Spain, the Foundation for Biomedical Research in Spain, the Lithuanian University of Health Sciences, Iuliu Hațieganu University of Medicine and Pharmacy in Romania, Wroclaw Medical University in Poland, University Hospital Centre Zagreb in Croatia, Clinical Hospital Center Rijeka in Croatia, Thomas More University in Belgium, Beakon Hospital Sandyford Limited in Ireland, Otto-von-Guericke University Magdeburg in Germany, and the Maria Skłodowska-Curie Institute of Oncology in Poland.

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This project has received funding from the European Union programme EU4Health under Grant Agreement No 101101252

Disclaimer:

Funded by the European Union. Views and opinions expressed are however those of the author(s) only and do not necessarily reflect those of the European Union or European Health and Digital Executive Agency (HaDEA). Neither the European Union nor the granting authority can be held responsible for them.

We invite you to follow the opening of the Kick-off meeting of TOGAS live

Time of the livestram - 9:30 - 10:30 EET

Submission deadline for EHMSG workshop 2023 is approaching on May 7

Find out more on www.ehmsg.org

The workshop will be held on September 7-9, 2023, in Antwerp, Belgium.

Institute researchers participate in the 47th scientific research conference for students

On March 10th, the 47th scientific research conference for students in the Pierīga region took place. As experts and reviewers in the computer science/informatics and mathematics sections, leading researchers from the Institute of Clinical and Preventive Medicine of the University of Latvia, Arnis Kiršners and Sergejs Paršutins, participated.

The interdisciplinary evaluation committee established by the National Centre for Education of the Republic of Latvia evaluated the works of the State ZPD conference in all fields of science (natural sciences, humanities and arts, engineering and technology, agriculture, forestry and veterinary sciences, medicine and health sciences, social sciences) by evaluating student posters and their subsequent discussions.

The state 47th conference on student scientific research work will take place on March 31, 2023, at the Riga Technical University. Student works that have received at least 100 points in the second round (regional conference) are nominated for the state ZPD conference.

The scientific research conference for student works is organized by the National Centre for Education of the Republic of Latvia within the framework of the ESF project "Implementation of National and International-scale events for the development of student talent", project number 8.3.2.1/16/I/002

For more information: https://ej.uz/zpdkonference2023

Changes are expected in the care of cancer patients in Latvia

The citizens of Latvia can expect improved cancer screening, more personalized medicine, improved access to targeted therapy, palliative care, and more opportunities for patients. In a special project funded by the European Union, after appropriate research, a series of solutions to problems in the care of cancer patients in Latvia have been found. On March 8-9, the international experts involved in the project presented their recommendations to those involved in the Latvian health sector. By implementing these recommendations, a decrease in the burden of cancer in Latvia is expected - better survival rates and a better quality of life.

Since the beginning of 2022, experts from the World Health Organization's International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC/WHO), the Organization of European Cancer Institutes (OECI) and the Erasmus University Medical Center (EMC) have visited Latvia several times to exhibit action plans, strategic guides and practical guidance on how to improve the effectiveness of various elements of cancer care. The European Commission has defined the fight against cancer as its main priority in the field of health. Improvements in the field of cancer have also been set as a priority by the Ministry of Health of Latvia.

The project "Improving cancer care coordination and screening in Latvia and Slovakia" in Latvia was initiated and coordinated by the Institute of Clinical and Preventive Medicine of the University of Latvia (UL ICPM). Based on the recommendation of the international experts involved in the project, a Steering Committee of the project was established. It is led by the Minister of Health of Latvia Līga Meņģelsone and consists of representatives of several participating ministries - Ministries of Health, Education and Science, Finance, Environmental Protection and Regional Development and their subordinate institutions, as well as representatives of patients and other institutions. Such multifaceted institutional involvement is necessary as all these parties are involved in improving cancer care processes.

The expertise of the project is divided into three equally important areas, in which the improvements must be implemented in an interconnected manner. First of all, it is necessary to introduce an effective population-based cancer registry in Latvia. With the help of this register, such data is calculated and analyzed that characterizes the burden of cancer and helps in making decisions for disease control - to set priorities, resource allocation and evaluate the progress of cancer patient care. In the creation and maintenance of the register, international standards must be followed, which allow obtaining indicators that are comparable at the international level. An essential prerequisite for a well-functioning cancer registry is the full involvement of medical institutions and professionals who need to enter these data, ensuring full data entry. “Without a cancer registry, it is impossible to improve processes related to cancer care - we simply do not know what needs to be improved. Therefore, the creation of a good register is the first and most important step for the implementation of all future recommendations," explains the co-chairman of the project in Latvia, director of UL ICPM, prof. Mārcis Leja.

Prof. Mārcis Leja

Photo by Toms Grīnbergs, University of Latvia Communication department

Secondly, it is necessary to improve the efficiency of cancer screening in Latvia. The involved international experts indicate that well-organized cancer screening is cost-effective. Also in this area, it is necessary to ensure systematic registration of screening quality parameters in accordance with international standards, moreover, in a database that would allow these data to be merged with those recorded in the cancer registry. "Thanks to the responsiveness of the Ministry of Health and its subordinate institutions - the Center for Disease Prevention and Control and the National Health Service - significant progress has already been made in the planning of such a data system. Our task now is to create such a registry and get it used by all participating organizations, then to achieve the minimum quality indicators that are a mandatory prerequisite for an organized cancer screening," comments prof. Mārcis Leja.

Thirdly, Latvia must take targeted steps towards the establishment of a Comprehensive Cancer Center and a Comprehensive Cancer Network, which would also be included in the relevant network of European Cancer Centers. Such a center would be an institution oriented towards comprehensive cooperation, where patients could receive not only the highest quality cancer treatment and care, but where the cancer research and education processes of all participating organizations - research institutes, universities, laboratories - would be concentrated. At the same time, the path of the Riga Eastern Clinical University Hospital to the establishment of an internationally accredited Cancer Center, which could eventually serve as the core of a Comprehensive Cancer Center, was started. The creation of a Comprehensive Cancer Network would mean that patients would receive equally high-quality cancer treatment not only at Riga Eastern Clinical University Hospital, but also in Liepāja, Daugavpils and other Latvian hospitals.

Dr Andre Carvalho

Photo by Toms Grīnbergs, University of Latvia Communication department

As one of the most significant challenges in the implementation of recommendations in Latvia, the experts involved indicate the currently low interoperability of organizations - related to the availability of health data at the clinical level. ”Latvia has skilled specialists. The implemented "green corridor" system, in which symptomatic patients receive access to treatment outside the waiting line, is a positive thing. To improve the efficiency of cancer care, it is very important to improve the data system and integrate all the elements of the developed recommendations. For project outcomes to be sustainable, the commitment of local stakeholders is important. We see that Latvia's policy makers and decision makers are ready to put our prepared recommendations into practice, and so we expect a positive impact moving forward,” comments the principal investigator of the project Dr Andre Carvalho (IARC/WHO).

In the course of the project, as the experts regularly communicate with Latvian health sector specialists, the practical implementation of the recommendations has already begun. The European Commission will continue to follow the progress of the implementation of the recommendations in Latvia.

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The project is supported by the European Union’s Technical Support Instrument (TSI) and implemented in cooperation with the European Commission’s Directorate-General for Structural Reform Support (DG REFORM).

The activity of the Ludza Research Center has begun

Photo: Training of employees at the Ludza Research Center.

On February 28, the GISTAR research center opened its doors in Ludza. Until March 2, training was conducted there for future GISTAR research center employees. GISTAR participants will be invited to participate in the "EUROHELICAN and TOGAS cohort dynamic control monitoring study of GISTAR study participants" within the research stage.

On March 1, the scientific director of the GISTAR project, director of the Institute of Clinical and Preventive Medicine Institute of the University of Latvia (IL ICPM), gastroenterologist, and professor at the University of Latvia, Mārcis Leja, gave a lecture on the possibilities of reducing mortality caused by stomach cancer and European perspectives on these issues in the Microsoft Teams environment. As lecturers, the new project scientist Sergejs Paršutins, senior expert at ICPM, GISTAR research administrative manager Aiga Rūdule, ICPM researchers Reinis Vangravs and Edgars Dauss participated in the training in person.

During the training, the new team was introduced to the research website, data usage and security rules, the GISTAR data management system, research protocol, the inclusion of study participants, and the acquisition of all standard procedures in practice.

On March 3, the inclusion of study participants in the dynamic control monitoring study of the cohort (EUROHELICAN and TOGAS projects) began at the Ludza research center.

The "Accelerating gastric cancer reduction in Europe through Helicobacter pylori eradication” project, or EUROHELICAN for short, is an EU-supported project under the EU4Health program. It will evaluate a population-based strategy for testing and eradicating the Helicobacter pylori bacteria. As a result of the project, world and European experts will develop guidelines for the introduction of gastric cancer screening and recommendations for evaluating its effectiveness. In Latvia, it is led by the Institute of Clinical and Preventive Medicine Institute of the University of Latvia in collaboration with the National Institute of Public Health of Slovenia (NIJZ), the International Agency for Research on Cancer of the World Health Organization (IARC/WHO, France), Nantes University Hospital (France), and the Community Healthcare Center Dr. Adolf Drolc Maribor (Slovenia). The project will continue until the end of April 2025.

More about the EUROHELICAN project - https://www.kpmi.lu.lv/lv-lv/petijumi-un-projekti/eurohelican

The project “Towards gastric cancer screening implementation in the European Union”, abbreviated as TOGAS, will begin in March 2023, with UL ICPM being the leading partner, collaborating with more than 20 institutions throughout Europe.

Funded by the European Union. Views and opinions expressed are however those of the author(s) only and do not necessarily reflect those of the European Union or European Health and Digital Executive Agency (HADEA). Neither the European Union nor the granting authority can be held responsible for them.

Where authors are identified as personnel of the International Agency for Research on Cancer/World Health Organization, the authors alone are responsible for the views expressed in this article and they do not necessarily represent the decisions, policy or views of the International Agency for Research on Cancer/World Health Organization.

Experts will present recommendations for improving cancer care for patients in Latvia

Publicity photo: Simon Oberst (OECI) during a meeting in Latvia

For two days, on March 8 and 9, a conference at the premises of the University of Latvia will be held where international experts of a cancer care coordination and screening improvement project will present recommendations for improving cancer care for patients in Latvia to Latvian health sector specialists, politicians, public officials and patient advocate organisations.

"In a way, it will be a historic event," summarizes one of the chairmen of the project, director of the Institute of Clinical and Preventive Medicine of the University of Latvia (UL ICPM), Professor Mārcis Leja. After a thorough expertise on cancer care conducted in Latvia, representatives of the International Agency for Research on Cancer of the World Health Organization (IARC/WHO), the Organisation of European Cancer Institutes (OECI), and the ERASMUS University Medical Center (EMC) will present recommendations to create, improve and ensure equally high-quality and equally accessible cancer care for all patients in Latvia.

Anyone interested is invited to attend the public part of the conference on March 9, held at the Great Hall of the University of Latvia, 19 Raiņa Boulevard, Riga, at 9:00 a.m. - 12:30 p.m. To apply, interested parties are invited to register: ej.uz/konference_9_marts Each registered participant who will attend the conference in person will be receiving an electronic certificate of participation.

The expert report will be covering a very wide area. The expertise of the project is divided into three areas – cancer screening, cancer registration, and creation of comprehensive cancer centers and cancer care network. However, the report will also include recommendations, which, if implemented, would lead to a better progress in future, such as modern diagnostics, molecular councils and other related processes.

Publicity photo: Co-chairman of the project prof. Mārcis Leja

"It is of great importance that, in our opinion, the world's best experts with relevant experience, knowledge and opinion are involved in the working groups. In this case, it will be an opportunity to exchange opinions, not only with specialists and public officials, but also with representatives of society and patients who were not present during the project implementation process," emphasizes Mārcis Leja.

The principal investigator of the project, IARC/WHO scientist Andre Carvalho, Director of Quality and Accreditation – OECI Simon Oberst, Professor of the ERASMUS University Medical Center, an expert in cost-effectiveness modeling of cancer screening Iris Lansdorp-Vogelaar, as well as staff of the Directorate-General for Structural Reform Support (DG REFORM) of the European Commission supporting the project and the Commission Representation in Latvia will participate in the conference.

“The project is a unique partnership between IARC, European Commission’s DG REFORM and the ministries of health of Latvia and Slovakia to fulfil the Europe’s Beating Cancer Plan goal of ensuring access to quality assured well organized cancer screening to more than 90% of eligible European populations,” says Dr Andre Carvalho from IARC, principal investigator for the project.

Based on the advice of the international experts, a Project Steering Committee was established. The committee includes the representatives of the Ministry of Health, Ministry of Education and Science, Ministry of Finance, Ministry of Environmental Protection and Regional Development of the Republic of Latvia and their subordinate institutions, as well as representatives of patient advocates and other institutions. The steering committee is chaired by the Minister of Health of the Republic of Latvia Līga Meņģelsone.

The project's activities are set in accordance with the strategic policy documents of the European Commission 2021-2027: the Europe's Beating Cancer Plan (developed under the supervision of DG SANTE) and the recommendations of the EU Mission on Cancer (developed under the supervision of DG Research & Innovation).

Among the project priorities are such objectives of the Europe's Beating Cancer Plan as to optimize existing screening programs, to develop new approaches, to create comprehensive cancer centers that must be networked at the European level, to develop a comprehensive cancer infrastructure, and to create and develop a well-functioning cancer registry. The latter was determined a priority in Latvia in 2022.

The project "Improving cancer care coordination and screening in Latvia and Slovakia - ICCCS" implementation in Latvia was initiated by the UL ICPM and has been taking place since the beginning of 2022.  The project is co-led by the Director of UL ICPM, Professor Mārcis Leja and Smart Technology Adviser to the President of Latvia Rolands Lappuķe. The project management model was approved by the Ministry of Health and Ministry of Finance of the Republic of Latvia.

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The project is supported by the European Union’s Technical Support Instrument (TSI) and implemented in cooperation with the European Commission’s Directorate-General for Structural Reform Support (DG REFORM).

A networking event for UL ICPM, GASTRO and RECUH specialists took place

UL ICPM director, prof. Mārcis Leja introducing the project implemented

GASTRO chairman of the boeard presenting their activities in research

On February 28, the Institute of Clinical and Preventive Medicine of the University of Latvia (UL ICPM) in cooperation with the Center for Digestive Diseases GASTRO and the specialists of Riga Eastern Clinical University Hospital (RECUH) organized an event to promote cooperation and research among medical workers. Specialists in the medical field met to share current events in various research projects, including the projects implemented by UL ICPM:

The result of the project "Patients-centered SurvivorShip care plan after Cancer treatments based on Big Data and Artificial Intelligence technologies" – PERSIST,

topicalities of the project “Accelerating gastric cancer reduction in Europe through Helicobacter pylori eradication” – EUROHELICAN,

and “Digital Health Literacy for the Hospital of the Future” – Pragma-TIC, supported by the EU programme ERASMUS+, with participation of the RECUH specialists,

as well as other project implemented by the institute.

UL ICPM researcher Dina Bēma presenting PERSIST project

The scientific manager of the PERSIST project, prof. Mārcis Leja and project researcher Dina Bēma shared the achieved project results, including details about the newly developed application for monitoring patients' physical activities and well-being.

Read more about the project and the results: https://projectpersist.com 

Presentation on the project results is available online: https://projectpersist.com/we-persist-the-future-is-in-our-hands/

This project has received funding from the European Union’s “Horizon 2020” research and innovation programme under grant agreement No 875406

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Today, on Ferbuary 28, a regional research center begins work in Ludza, as part of the project EUROHELICAN. Those patients who have already participated in the GISTAR study, conducted by UL ICPM since 2013, will be re-invited. The operation of the center will be ensured by two qualified nurses in specially separated rooms of the Ludza hospital. After the nurse training, GISTAR former patients will be invited to re-submit analyzes free of charge for their inclusion in the GISTAR database, as well as for determining the patient's health status.

Read more about the GISTAR study: www.gistar.eu

More information about the project EUROHELICAN is available: https://www.kpmi.lu.lv/en-gb/eurohelican

Funded by the European Union. Views and opinions expressed are however those of the author(s) only and do not necessarily reflect those of the European Union or European Health and Digital Executive Agency (HADEA). Neither the European Union nor the granting authority can be held responsible for them.

Where authors are identified as personnel of the International Agency for Research on Cancer/World Health Organization, the authors alone are responsible for the views expressed in this article and they do not necessarily represent the decisions, policy or views of the International Agency for Research on Cancer/World Health Organization.

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The Pragma-TIC project consortium is currently actively preparing for the start of the study - development of training programs and materials for improving patients' digital skills with the aim of accelerating their inclusion in the e-medicine system.

Find out more: https://pragma-tic.eu/projet/

The project Pragma-TIC "Digital Health Literacy for the Hospital of the Future” (grant No. 21PCA0019 / 2021-1-BE01-KA220-ADU-000033677) is funded by the Erasmus+ programme of the European Union.

Research participants have been informed about the results of the PERSIST project

Publicity photo: UL ICPM researcher Dina Bēma presenting the projekt PERSIST results

On February 23, the project “Patients-centered SurvivorShip care plan after Cancer treatments based on Big Data and Artificial Intelligence technologies” - PERSIST study participants were informed about the study results.

The goal of the PERSIST project, which was supported by the European Union with 5 million euros of funding, was to improve the quality of life of patients after cancer treatment, offering the possibility for doctors to effectively monitor the patient's state of health. By combining the capabilities of big data and artificial intelligence, a new model of aftercare for cancer patients was developed using various technologies, including predictive models and apps. As a result, a new model of cancer care supported by various technological tools such as predictive models and web applications, among others, was created.

Based on artificial intelligence for the capture and standardisation of data for each patient, the system developed by PERSIST partners supports oncologists' decision making for the early detection of cancer recurrence. Project’s objective is based on supporting the best follow-up and intervention strategy, empowering patients to participate in their own care and promoting their emotional health in the fight against the fear of relapse and of not being detected early in primary care or in follow-up with their oncologist. As a result, technologically innovative solutions were presented that would help detect and predict the possible recurrence of the disease in patients who have suffered from colorectal or breast cancer.

During the meeting, the patients received information about the total data obtained from patients in the hospitals of all four member states - Belgium, Spain, Slovenia and Latvia (Riga East Clinical University Hospital). As an example, Belgian patients were mentioned, whose physical activity was on average lower than that of participants from other countries, while Latvian patients rated the experience of recording video diaries in the "mHealth" app developed in the project the lowest in surveys.

PERSIST is a European project that started in 2020. Gradiant has coordinated all the research in which 13 entities from 10 countries have participated: Sergas and Dedalus (Spain); Univerza Mariboru and Univerzitetni Klinicni Center Maribor (Slovenia); Haute Ecole Specialisée De Suisse (Switzerland); Latvijas Universitate (Latvia); Cyberethics Lab (Italy); Centre Hospitalier Universitaire de Liège (Belgium); Symptoma (Austria); Rubynanomed (Portugal); National Patients' Organization (Bulgaria); and Emoda (Turkey).

In Latvia, the project was led by the director of UL ICPM, the head of the Science Department of Riga East Clinical University Hospital, prof. Mārcis Leja, with the participation of UL ICPM Biobank expert Ilona Aleksandraviča. Surgeons Krista Arcimoviča and Anna Marija Leščinska of the Oncosurgery Clinic of the Oncology Centre of Latvia, Riga East Clinical University Hospital worked with the patients. The project was coordinated by UL ICPM researcher Dina Bēma.

Read more on: https://projectpersist.com 

This project has received funding from the European Union’s “Horizon 2020” research and innovation programme under grant agreement No 875406

UL researchers and Gradiant offer an innovation against colon and breast cancer relapses

Publicity photo: Latvian representatives during the PERSIST meeting in Madrid

As a result of three years of research in Madrid, Spain, technologically innovative solutions have been presented that would help detect and predict the possible recurrence of the disease in patients who have suffered from colorectal and breast cancer.

In the recently concluded international project "Patients-centered SurvivorShip care plan after Cancer treatments based on Big Data and Artificial Intelligence technologies" - PERSIST, 166 patients and 32 health specialists were involved in four European hospitals - in Spain, Belgium, Slovenia and also in Latvia, with the Institute of Clinical and Preventive Medicine of the University of Latvia cooperating with the Riga East Clinical University Hospital. As a result, a new model of cancer care supported by various technological tools such as predictive models and web applications, among others, was created.

The recording of the presentation of the project results can be viewed online: https://projectpersist.com/we-persist-the-future-is-in-our-hands/

The goal of the PERSIST project, which was supported by the European Union with 5 million euros of funding, was to improve the quality of life of patients after cancer treatment, offering the possibility for doctors to effectively monitor the patient's state of health.

By combining the capabilities of big data and artificial intelligence, a new model of aftercare for cancer patients was developed using various technologies, including predictive models and apps. Based on artificial intelligence for the capture and standardisation of data for each patient, the system developed by PERSIST partners supports oncologists' decision making for the early detection of cancer recurrence. Project’s objective is based on supporting the best follow-up and intervention strategy, empowering patients to participate in their own care and promoting their emotional health in the fight against the fear of relapse and of not being detected early in primary care or in follow-up with their oncologist.

The project was led by the Spanish technology company "Gradiant", and 13 partners from 10 European countries participated in it. In Latvia, the project took place by cooperation between the Institute of Clinical and Preventive Medicine of the University of Latvia and the Oncology Clinic of the Riga East Clinical University Hospital.

As part of the project in Latvia, each of the 46 participants used a smart wristband and a smartphone with the newly developed "mHealth" app.

The devices helped doctors remotely monitor various indicators of patient's emotional and physical health. The system included data from each patient's medical history and real-time data, including metrics such as blood pressure, heart rate, and video recorded by the patient using a mobile application. The obtained data and the possibilities provided by artificial intelligence were used in the further development of the innovative health care support system.

"The PERSIST project has allowed us to have a better understanding of the implications of cancer survival, both for the survivors themselves and for the health system and its professionals. It has also demonstrated how technology can support care models that put the patient at the centre, empower them to actively participate in the process, and allow better monitoring and definition of a personalised clinical strategy for each cancer survivor," explained Alberto Sánchez, head of eHealth at Gradiant and coordinator of PERSIST.

In Latvia, the project was led by the director of UL ICPM, the head of the Science Department of Riga East Clinical University Hospital, prof. Mārcis Leja, with the participation of UL ICPM Biobank expert Ilona Aleksandraviča. Surgeons Krista Arcimoviča and Anna Marija Leščinska of the Oncosurgery Clinic of the Oncology Centre of Latvia, Riga East Clinical University Hospital worked with the patients. The project was coordinated by UL ICPM researcher Dina Bēma.

PERSIST is a European project that started in 2020. Gradiant has coordinated all the research in which 13 entities from 10 countries have participated: Sergas and Dedalus (Spain); Univerza Mariboru and Univerzitetni Klinicni Center Maribor (Slovenia); Haute Ecole Specialisée De Suisse (Switzerland); Latvijas Universitate (Latvia); Cyberethics Lab (Italy); Centre Hospitalier Universitaire de Liège (Belgium); Symptoma (Austria); Rubynanomed (Portugal); National Patients' Organization (Bulgaria); and Emoda (Turkey).

Read more on: https://projectpersist.com 

This project has received funding from the European Union’s “Horizon 2020” research and innovation programme under grant agreement No 875406

An invitation to submit abstracts for the V World Congress of Latvian Scientists

 

Latvian and Latvian scientists studying or working abroad, PhD students and students are invited to submit their poster papers for presentation at the congress.

Applications can be submitted in Latvian and English or only in English until March 31, 2023 on the "Research Latvia" congress website www.zinatneskongress.lv

Application form https://www.zinatneskongress.lv/stenda-referati

The LUCIA consortium kickoff conference hosted in Haifa

Publicity group photo

At the beginning of February, kickoff conference for LUCIA took place in Israel, Haifa – an international consortium supported by the Horizon Europe Program and headed by the Israel Institute of Technology Technion. The two-day event was attended by sixty experts from all over Europe.

The consortium’s goal is to improve the management of lung cancer from the aspects of early diagnosis, prevention and treatment, notably of lung cancers that are relatively rare. The results of the consortium’s work will be translated into policy recommendations, which will be integrated into the early diagnosis program and into methods for addressing the disease effectively.

Every thirty seconds, someone, somewhere in the world, dies of lung cancer, making this disease the deadliest in terms of the number of lives it claims. The average 5-year survival rate is presently 17% for men and 24% for women. Although smoking is considered a significant risk factor for this disease, lung cancer often also occurs among nonsmokers. Accordingly, the consortium will work on identifying all risk factors and on developing new methods for the diagnosis, prevention, and treatment of the disease.

“The LUCIA Consortium is being launched at the right time, with the right partners,” said the head coordinator, Prof. Hossam Haick at the opening of the conference. “We are fortunate to have many skilled, outstanding partners from a variety of fields, and we will be working together for the next four years, applying a multidisciplinary approach, to further the understanding of the disease and develop methods to prevent, diagnose and treat it more effectively. Our work will not focus exclusively on the medical aspects of lung cancer; rather, we will be assisted by experts on law and ethics and by decision makers to put our findings into effect for the benefit of society as a whole.”

The establishment of the consortium, headed by the Technion, was funded by the EU’s research and innovation program, Horizon Europe, which supports international collaborations expected to deliver practical technological solutions to modern-day challenges, and was awarded 14.6 million euros. LUCIA has 22 members – academic institutions and other entities – all working together to map risk factors for lung cancer while focusing on three aspects: individual risk factors, including lifestyle and exposure to pollutants; external factors, including urban or built-up areas, traffic, climate and socio-economic aspects; and biological reactions, including aging and genetic, epigenetic and metabolic changes. To this end, LUCIA’s experts are working on gaining an understanding of the molecular mechanism of the disease, the identification and analysis of relevant data repositories, and other areas. In Latvia, the project is implemented by the scientists of the UL Institute of Clinical and Preventive Medicine, under the scientific guidance of prof. Alvils Krams.

 

This project has received funding from the European Union’s research and innovation programme Horizon Europe under grant agreement No 101096473.

 

Views and opinions expressed are however those of the author(s) only and do not necessarily reflect those of the European Union. Neither the European Union nor the granting authority can be held responsible for them.

The number of participants in the GISTAR study has reached 11 000

We are pleased to announce that the number of participants in the GISTAR study, implemented by UL ICPM, has reached 11 000, and currently the number of participants in the research center in Liepāja has just exceeded 630 people.

We kindly thank the participants who have already participated in our research, as well as welcome everyone who wants to participate in the GISTAR study in Liepāja. The GISTAR study is carried out for the early diagnosis of digestive diseases, where the population aged 40-64 has the opportunity to perform free examinations for diseases of the gastrointestinal tract.

As previously announced, so far the study, conducted in cooperation with the Liepāja Regional Hospital, proves that every fourth resident of the Liepāja region should carefully monitor the health of their digestive tract.

World Cancer Day: “Close the Care Gap”

Every year on February 4, the World Cancer Day, led by Union for International Cancer Control (UICC), is held. By raising worldwide awareness, improving education and catalysing personal, collective and government action, we are all working together to reimagine a world where millions of preventable cancer deaths are saved and access to life-saving cancer treatment and care is equitable for all - no matter who you are or where you live. 

While we live in a time of awe-inspiring advancements in cancer prevention, diagnosis and treatment, many of us who seek cancer care hit barriers at every turn. Income, education, geographical location and discrimination based on ethnicity, gender, sexual orientation, age, disability and lifestyle are just a few of the factors that can negatively affect care. 

This year's World Cancer Day's theme is “Close the Care Gap”. We celebrate progress in its many forms that enable more people to seek and receive the care they need and deserve.

We celebrate the awareness day together with our projects’ Persist partners noting that every person deserves to have an equal chance of quality healthcare and life.

The PERSIST H2020 project aims to improve the health outcomes and quality of life of breast and colorectal cancer survivors by developing innovative tools based on Big Data and advanced data analytics to support the decision-making of physicians. It will provide evidence base and tools that contribute to optimal follow-up and development of personalized survivorship care plans.

Read more on: https://projectpersist.com 

This project has received funding from the European Union’s “Horizon 2020” research and innovation programme under grant agreement No 875406

Every fourth resident of Liepāja should carefully monitor the health of their digestive tract

Publicity photo: Toms Grīnbergs, UL Communication department

The GISTAR study, conducted in Liepāja by the University of Latvia Institute of Clinical and Preventive Medicine (UL ICPM) and the Liepāja Regional Hospital proves that every fourth resident of the Liepāja region should carefully monitor the health of their digestive tract.

Of the 584 residents who have participated in the study so far, 119 have been diagnosed with H.pylori, a bacteria promoting development of stomach cancer. In such cases, research participants are prescribed eradication therapy for the mentioned bacteria. For those study participants who are found to have deviations from the norm in their blood or fecal samples, which has been the case in another 30 cases, additional examinations are prescribed - upper endoscopy or colonoscopy.

The statistics of cancer of the digestive system in Latvia, in Europe and throughout the world are increasing every year. Every fourth newly diagnosed cancer develops in the digestive tract. Gastrointestinal tumors are the third leading cause of cancer deaths. Colorectal (colon and rectal) cancer and stomach cancer are the most common tumors of the digestive system. About 1,100 people are diagnosed with colorectal cancer and 700 die from it in Latvia annually. Every year, 500 - 600 inhabitants of Latvia fall ill with stomach cancer, which, compared to the indicators of European Union countries, is one of the highest in relation to the number of inhabitants. Scientists involved in the GISTAR study remind that a  detection of malignant tumors allows for successful treatment, which also significantly increases the survival rate of the patients.

Also currently, the residents of Liepāja and the surrounding area between the ages of 40 and 64 are invited to check upon health of their digestive tract. Free health examinations are held in Liepāja, 23 Jūrmalas Street, every working day from 7:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. More information about the the tests is available on the research website www.gistar.eu, application by phone - 25679868

The project is funded by the ERDF (European Regional Development Fund) 1.1.1.1. project ‘Practical Studies’, 4th phase, project ID Nr. 1.1.1.1/20/A/035 ‘Hybrid-sensor breath analysis for colorectal cancer screening’. The project is co–financed by REACT-EU to mitigate the effects of the pandemic crisis.

International Health Data Innovation Council begins work

After a preliminary preparatory phase, on January 25, 2023, the activity of an international Health Data Innovation Council was launched in the format of a virtual meeting. The council is an informal organization that brings together medical and data specialists, as well as lawyers and ethics experts.

Latvia is represented in the Council by Rolands Lappuķe, Smart Technology Adviser to the President of Latvia, and Mārcis Leja, director of the University of Latvia Institute of Clinical and Preventive Medicine (UL ICPM).

At the meeting, problematic issues in the areas of data exchange and secondary use were brought up. The participants decided to summarize the issues that hinder the development of research in different EU countries. The need for a data pilot project was widely discussed, highlighting the GAIA-X project led by Latvia as a positive example.

A scientific paper on identifying potential volatile biomarkers of gastric cancer has been published

© Photo: Book publishing photo created by Racool_studio - www.freepik.com

A new scientific paper on identifying potential volatile biomarkers of gastric cancer has been published in ‘Diagnostics’:

Identification of Key Volatile Organic Compounds Released by Gastric Tissues as Potential Non-Invasive Biomarkers for Gastric Cancer

Conclusions are that pyridine is found to be the most promising biomarker candidate for detecting gastric cancer. The difference in the volatilomic signatures can be explained by cancer-related changes in the activity of certain enzymes, or pathways. The results of this study confirm that the chemical fingerprint formed by volatiles in gastric tissue is altered by gastric cancer.

The paper was prepared by Pawel Mochalski, along with Daria Ślefarska-Wolak representing Jan Kochanowski University of Kielce Institute of Chemistry, and University of Innsbruck Insitute of Breath Research, Mārcis Leja, representing Digestive Diseases Centre GASTRO and, along with Linda Mežmale, Institute of Clinical and Preventive Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, University of Latvia and Riga East University Hospital. The publication was also prepared by Veronika Patsko of National Cancer Institute of Ukraine, Clemens Ager and Chris A. Mayhew, representing University of Innsbruck Insitute of Breath Research, Agnieszka Królicka from AGH University of Science and Technology Faculty of Materials Science and Ceramics Department of Building Materials Technology, and Gidi Shani and Hossam Haick from Technicon—Israel Institute of Technology Russel Berrie Nanotechnology Institute Department of Chemical Engineering.

The article is openly accessible on ‘Diagnostics’: https://www.mdpi.com/2075-4418/13/3/335

The international project AIDA will develop an AI diagnostic assistant to help detect lesions before gastric cancer

Publicity photo

On January 12- 13, in Valencia, Spain, an international, multicentre project to develop an Artificial Intelligence (AI)-based diagnostic assistant to help researchers, doctors and patients understand, diagnose and treat chronic gastric inflammation, which often precedes gastric cancer started.

The project, called AIDA (An Artificially Intelligent Diagnostic Assistant for gastric inflammation), launched this January and held its kick-off meeting at INCLIVA, has a four-year duration and is supported by over 7 million euros between European and British funding.

The project is coordinated by INCLIVA Biomedical Research Institute. The project consortium comprises 15 centres of excellence from eight European countries, including the Latvian University Institute of Clinical and Preventive Medicine. The consortium brings together a multidisciplinary team including some of the leading European authorities on gastric inflammation and cancer (areas of epidemiology, immunology, oncology, pathology and gastroenterology), experts in bioinformatics, artificial intelligence and machine learning and in data governance and privacy, representatives of the public administration and patient advocates.

Gastric cancer is the fifth most common cancer type and the third leading cause of cancer death in the world in both sexes. It affects almost one million people, and to date no strategy has improved the prognosis of the disease. It causes 783,000 deaths a year, and the survival rate for patients at an advanced stage is only about 12 months.

Despite current multimodal treatments including surgery, chemotherapy and radiotherapy to improve loco-regional control and reduce the rate of tumour dissemination, progress is still limited, and more action is needed in primary and secondary prevention.

Most cases of gastric cancer are detected at late stage, so diagnosing those at risk of developing gastric cancer in the presymptomatic stage could significantly improve their prognosis. A wealth of data is available on the risk factors for developing gastric cancer. Individually, none are supported by robust evidence, but combining and correlating them will provide a much clearer picture.

AIDA: an assistant to guide strategies for gastric cancer prevention

The AIDA project goal is to create an AI-powered tool to help clinicians diagnose precancerous inflammation, provide personalized medical follow-up, recommend action to monitor patients’ health status, and select treatment. AIDA will pool together data from different sectors, including research and innovation centres, clinical partners, industry and patients, while adhering to European data protection law.

AIDA is one of 13 European projects to obtain funding through the Horizon Europe program in the HORIZON-HLTH-2022-STAYHLTH-02-01 call for proposals, having been selected from among the 72 proposals submitted within the health cluster. Horizon Europe is the largest research and innovation program in the European Union and carries out a thorough evaluation of all submitted proposals before granting funds.

 

Funded by the European Union (grant number 101095359) and supported by the UK Research and Innovation (grant number 10058099). Views and opinions expressed are however those of the author(s) only and do not necessarily reflect those of the European Union or the Health and Digital Executive Agency (HaDEA). Neither the European Union nor the granting authority can be held responsible for them.

The International Scientific Conference on Medicine accepts the abstracts until 22nd January

Following a request of participants, the 81st International Scientific Conference on Medicine will accept the abstarst up until 22nd January 2023.

The International Scientific Conference on Medicine is the largest section of the UL conference and will be held online on 24-25 March 2023. The event will cover a variety of disciplines in clinical and research medicine, pharmacy, nursing and public health.

Abstracts are welcome from both seasoned and young researchers (also students). In the spirit to foster international collaboration, participation is free of charge.

Find out more and submit the abstracts on: conferences.lu.lv/e/medicine2023