Notice of the LUCIA Project Working Group Meeting

During the meeting, the LUCIA project leader in Latvia, the leading researcher at the University of Latvia's Institute of Clinical and Preventive Medicine, and the chief specialist in pulmonology at the Riga East Clinical University Hospital, Professor Alvils Krams, informed about the LUCIA consortium members' meeting in Bilbao, where the progress of the project's work packages, the development of technical and clinical aspects, as well as the topic of genomics, which is one of the project's areas, were discussed. The project coordinator in Latvia, the deputy director for scientific work at the University of Latvia's Institute of Clinical and Preventive Medicine, Ilmārs Stonāns, introduced the meeting participants to the progress of the LUCIA project in Latvia, detailing how participant involvement took place—individuals from several healthcare institutions, including family doctor practices, are participating. In total, the LUCIA project plans to include approximately 6,000 adults aged 40-80, both smokers and non-smokers. From Latvia, 250 participants are included in the study.

The LUCIA study is a European multicenter study aimed at developing predictive models for the early diagnosis of lung cancer based on the identification of risk factors and understanding the disease at the cellular level, utilizing risk assessment tools, non-invasive screening devices, and genomic analysis. As a result of the project, recommendations for an early diagnostic program and methods for effective lung cancer prevention will be developed. "In the European Union, lung cancer is the third most common cause of death. The five-year survival rate after diagnosis is less than 20%. This can be attributed to late diagnosis and the lack of effective screening programs. Aside from smoking, understanding of other lung cancer risk factors, such as environmental, occupational, or genetic factors, remains insufficient, which is why we have high hopes for the results of the LUCIA project that will help prevent lung cancer," emphasized Professor Alvils Krams.

The LUCIA project is led by the Technion - Israel Institute of Technology, while in Latvia, the project is implemented by scientists from the University of Latvia's Institute of Clinical and Preventive Medicine under the scientific guidance of the institute's leading researcher and the chief specialist in pulmonology at Riga East Clinical University Hospital, Professor Alvils Krams.

The project is funded by the European Union's research and innovation program "Horizon Europe" under grant agreement No. 101096473, which is financed by the European Union.