CONFERENCE
EUCanScreen is a large-scale project co-funded by the European Union, involving 98 partners from 29 countries. Running from 2024 to 2028, the project has already completed its first 20 months, during which significant results and insights have been achieved, while also identifying some of the main challenges.
During the meeting, partners presented progress achieved within their respective areas of responsibility and outlined the next phases of their involvement, including participation in activities aimed at improving the accessibility and quality of cancer screening, strengthening communication, promoting informed choice and developing personalised, evidence-based screening approaches.
The Joint Action is coordinated by the University of Latvia, which, together with other Latvian institutions – RSU, PSKUS and SPKC – is involved in a broad range of scientific activities. Latvian institutions are contributing to the development of methodologies and the harmonisation of data sets in the fields of gastric cancer prevention and prostate cancer screening. Work is also under way to assess the feasibility of H. pylori stool antigen testing (SAT) in combination with FIT-based colorectal cancer screening programmes.
In addition, efforts are focused on improving screening communication and the quality of information materials, promoting informed choice, and developing risk-stratified screening approaches. Work is also progressing on refining cervical cancer screening models and developing individualised cervical cancer screening programmes, including the integration of state-of-the-art triage methods and adapting screening programmes to HPV-vaccinated birth cohorts.
Furthermore, innovative approaches are being developed to enhance participation among target populations in cancer screening programmes, alongside outreach strategies tailored to gender minorities and other vulnerable population groups.
Considerable amount of focus in the project is devoted to strengthening specialist capacity. Latvian institutions are involved in activities aimed at improving the quality of colposcopy and organising related training, as well as providing specialist training in cervical cancer screening and establishing regional training centres. A regional mammography training centre has been established in Latvia.
The meeting fostered a shared understanding of the progress of project activities involving Latvian partners, allowing partner institutions to exchange experience and highlight key issues, while strengthening a coordinated and aligned approach to achieving the project’s objectives at European level.
Co-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 HADEA. Neither the European Union nor the granting authority can be held responsible for them.
 met at the Riga Stradiņš University (RSU) Anatomy Museum. The event brought together representatives from the University of Latvia (LU), RSU, the Centre for Disease Prevention and Control (SPKC Pauls Stradiņš Clinical University Hospital (PSKUS) and the Ministry of Health.){kind=link}