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A European “shield” against colorectal cancer (ONCOSCREEN)

Principal Investigator
Name
Amal Elgammal
Degrees
Ph.D.
Institution
Amal Elgammal
Position Title
Associate Professor
Email
About this CDAS Project
Study
PLCO (Learn more about this study)
Project ID
PLCO-1845
Initial CDAS Request Approval
Mar 18, 2025
Title
A European “shield” against colorectal cancer (ONCOSCREEN)
Summary
With Colorectal Cancer (CRC) being accountable for 12.4% of all deaths due to cancer, and with only 14% of EU citizens participating in screening programmes, there is an urgent need for accurate, non-invasive, cost-effective screening tests based on novel technologies and an increased awareness on the disease and its detection. Furthermore, personalized approaches for screening are needed, to consider genetic and other socioeconomic variables and environmental stressors that lead to different onsets of the disease. ONCOSCREEN responds to these challenges by developing a risk-based, population-level stratification methodology for CRC, to account for genetic prevalence, socio-economic status, and other factors. It complements this methodology by a) developing a set of novel, practical, and low-cost screening technologies with high sensitivity and specificity, b) leveraging AI to improve existing methodologies for CRC screening, allowing for the early detection of polyps and provision of a personalized risk status stratification, and c) providing a mobile app for self-monitoring and CRC awareness raising. Furthermore, ONCOSCREEN develops an Intelligent Analytics dashboard for policy makers facilitating effective policy making at regional and national levels.
Aims

1) To provide a multi-tier, CRC risk-based stratification methodology on target population groups, basedon genetic prevalence, socio economic status, environmental stressors, behavioral factors, gender aspects,educational background, urbanization inequalities both between and within EU countries.
2) To develop novel, non-invasive, easy-to-use, low-cost, CRC screening technologies of high sensitivityand specificity for early polyp indication, detection, classification and personalized risk status stratification.
3) To enhance existing methodologies for precise CRC detection from clinicians and evidence-baseddecision making from Policy makers, through AI-based integrated diagnostics and analytics.
4) To assess feasibility of adoption and design viable pathways for EU wide uptake ofONCOSCREEN solutions in everyday medical practice for wide-population CRC screening.
5) To enhance citizen awareness, participation and acceptance of CRC screening programs

Collaborators

1. EXUS Software Monoprosopi Etairia Periorismenis Evthinis EXUS EL
2. Universitaetsmedizin Der Johannes Gutenberg-Universitaet Mainz UMC-Mainz DE
3. Institute Of Communication And Computer Systems ICCS EL
4. Firalis FIRALIS FR
5. Universitätsklinikum Schleswig-Holstein UzL DE
6. Lietuvos Sveikatos Mokslu Universitetas LSMU LT
7. Medizinische Universitat Graz MUG AT
8. Instituto Portugues De Oncologia Do Porto Francisco Gentil, Epe IPO PT
9. Institutul Oncologic Prof. Dr. Alexandru Trestioreanu Bucuresti IOB RO
10. Technion - Israel Institute Of Technology TECHNION IL
11. CCASSSURED CCASSSURED NL
12. Universidade Do Minho UMINHO PT
13. Stichting Katholieke Universiteit Brabant Tilburg TLBG NL
14. Vlaamse Instelling Voor Technologisch Onderzoek N.V. VITO BE
15. Ethniko Kentro Erevnas Kai Technologikis Anaptyxis CERTH EL
16. Innovation Sprint iSPRINT BE
17. Scientific Academy For Service Technology Ev SERVTECH DE
18. Ainigma Technologies AINIGMA BE
19. Catalink Limited CTL CY
20. Konnekt Able Technologies Limited KONN IE
21. Beia Consult International Srl BEIA RO
22. Universidad De La Rioja URIOJA ES
23. Time.Lex TIMELEX BE
24. Carr Communications Limited CARR IE
25. Ministry Of Health-Greece MoH-GR EL
26. Pagalbos Onkologiniams Ligoniams Asociacija POLA LT
27. Europacolon Portugal - Associação De Apoio Ao Doente Com Cancro Digestivo ECPT PT
28. Hellenic Society Of Gastrointestinal Oncology HSGO EL
29. European Society Of Digestive Oncology ESDO AT
30. Fundatia Youth Cancer Europe YCE RO
31. Medizinische Universitat Innsbruck MUI AT
32. Lietuvos Respublikos Sveikatos Apsaugos Ministerija MoH-LT LT
33. Ey Advisory Spa EY IT
34. Agencia Estatal Consejo Superior De Investigaciones Cientificas CSIC ES
35. Universite De Franche-Comte Besancon UFC FR
36. Rozenbaum Konsulting ROSENBAUM BG
37. Gie Axa AXA FR
38. Gercor GERCOR FR