ESR-led EU Thematic Network on Advancing Precision Medicine held successful 1st Stakeholder Webinar

Nearly 150 participants joined the 1^st Stakeholder Webinar on 11 September to learn more about the ESR-led EU Health Policy Platform (HPP) Thematic Network on Advancing Precision Medicine for Europe’s Cancer Patients with AI-powered Imaging.

In this first virtual stakeholder dialogue, Prof. Regina Beets-Tan, Chair of Radiology at Netherlands Cancer Institute and former ESR President, and her colleagues from the Thematic Network’s core group presented the background and policy context, vision as well as the proposed elements of the joint statement to be developed with stakeholder input as a major outcome of the Thematic Network. The joint statement will include a Call for Action, proposing measures such as reviewing and validating existing literature, considering AI powered imaging in clinical trials and cancer screening, ensuring interdisciplinary stakeholder engagement and the development of a strategy for research on AI solutions, among others.
EUCAIM Scientific Coordinator Prof. Luis Martí-Bonmatí provided insights into how Cancer Image Europe, being the cornerstone of the European Commission-initiated European Cancer Imaging Initiative, a flagship of Europe’s Beating Cancer Plan (EBCP), contributes to the Thematic Network. The presentations were followed by a lively Q&A with valuable comments from stakeholders and the European Commission, who pointed out, for example, the importance for the imaging community to contribute to shaping the implementation of the European Health Data Space (EHDS).

The network leaders concluded by encouraging all relevant stakeholders interested in contributing to, and finally endorsing, the Joint Statement to join the Thematic Network on the EU HPP or to contact the Network leaders at [email protected].


The Thematic Network on Advancing Precision Medicine for Europe’s Cancer Patients with AI-powered Imaging was launched following a successful proposal submission by the ESR and Cancer Image Europe (EUCAIM) (see ESR press release here). It will run until November 2024 and aims to offer a transformative approach to cancer care by enabling healthcare professionals to analyse vast amounts of patient data more efficiently and accurately, with the ultimate goal of contributing to the fight against cancer, which could otherwise become the leading cause of death in Europe by 2035.

The collaborative effort will conclude with a joint statement to be developed with relevant health stakeholders.