Improving and upscaling primary prevention of cancer through implementation research

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Programme Category

EU Competitive Programmes

Programme Name

Horizon Europe (2021-2027)

Programme Description

Horizon Europe is the European Union (EU) funding programme for the period 2021 – 2027, which targets the sectors of research and innovation. The programme’s budget is around € 95.5 billion, of which € 5.4 billion is from NextGenerationEU to stimulate recovery and strengthen the EU’s resilience in the future, and € 4.5 billion is additional aid.

Programme Details

Identifier Code

HORIZON-MISS-2022-CANCER-01-01

Call

Improving and upscaling primary prevention of cancer through implementation research

Summary

For an increasing number of cancer indications potential mechanisms and means to prevent the onset of cancer have been identified. However, with cancer incidence steadily increasing across all age groups, parts of society, European Member States, Associated Countries and elsewhere, decisive action on primary prevention should be stepped up and made a collective responsibility. Implementing and upscaling of primary cancer-centred prevention programmes would contribute to achieving this goal.

Detailed Call Description

Adoption and efficacy of primary cancer prevention programmes in real-life has been insufficient, due to factors related to local context, such as organisation and digitalisation of healthcare services, resources, cultural, and geographical situation. To appropriately adapt interventions and scale-up to different geographical, economic and cultural settings, proposals should aim at delivering results through implementation research, which are directed, tailored towards and contributing to all of the following expected outcomes:

  • Citizens will benefit from the outcomes of evidence-based, tailored and affordable primary prevention programmes targeting known cancer risk factors and health determinants, including behavioural factors, that are tailored to the specific needs of local communities and effectively adopted;
  • Healthcare professionals and patient organisations will be able to provide evidence based information targeted at individuals and families on cancer prevention, including through vaccination, improved health literacy, issuing of better guidelines and counselling;
  • Regional and national policymakers and authorities will engage in implementing and scaling-up the most suitable prevention programmes, including possible legislative policies;
  • Civil society, charities, foundations, and innovators will seize opportunities to further upscale and innovate primary prevention programmes at local, urban, rural, regional, national or international level.

Scope: Investments are needed to establish, scale-up or improve primary cancer prevention programmes. The barriers that prevent their uptake and effective implementation should be identified and addressed. Also, primary cancer prevention programmes should be tailored to the particular needs of the target populations, taking into account socio-economic, cultural and geographical conditions. Digital tools and datasets may be considered where needed.

Proposals should address all of the following:

  • Focus on implementation and upscaling of evidence-based primary cancer prevention interventions, at local, regional or national level, addressing known risk or protective factors and determinants.
  • Proposals should clearly justify and describe the existing evidence supporting the chosen intervention, including evidence of cost-effectiveness and affordability, across health or other sectors.
  • As effective prevention includes behavioural change, due consideration should be given to the factors that facilitate or impede behavioural change.
  • Identify and address the bottlenecks and barriers that might influence uptake and implementation of cancer prevention programmes in accessible, affordable and equitable ways, and their impact in a defined public health context.
  • Provide evidence and recommendations to inform policy and decision-makers and propose a pathway to integrate the intervention into local, regional or national health systems, policies and practices.
  • Applicants are required to co-create with relevant stakeholders, including representatives of citizens, people at risk of cancer, patients, survivors, health practitioners, payers, and policymakers in the design and conduct of research and evaluation of its outcomes. Such partners will be integral to the success and sustainability of the programme and it is essential that they are engaged early in the definition of problems and barriers.
  • Proposals should align with commitments or planned commitments at a regional or country level to implement evidence-based interventions. Researchers should collaborate closely with responsible authorities. The latter should provide the interventions and the financial means.
  • Approaches, methodologies and frameworks used should be specific to implementation
    science, and based on appropriate outcomes, such as feasibility, acceptability,
    sustainability, uptake and cost effectiveness.
  • The design of the proposed interventions should take the gender dimension and ethics into account, and contribute to reducing health inequalities.
  • The organisational and resource requirements (data, digital tools, personnel and financing) necessary for the implementation of the intervention must be described, tracked and evaluated in detail. The research and system-wide scientific monitoring should allow future users (researchers, healthcare providers, policy makers, and the public) to review the step-by-step, partial outcomes of the intervention, thus facilitating a wider adoption of these practices. The appropriate contextual, financial and politicaleconomic analyses should be provided.

Call Total Budget

€50 000 000

Financing percentage by EU or other bodies / Level of Subsidy or Loan

The Commission estimates that an EU contribution of between EUR 3.00 and 8.00 million would allow these outcomes to be addressed appropriately. Nonetheless, this does not preclude submission and selection of a proposal requesting different amounts.

Thematic Categories

  • Health
  • Research, Technological Development and Innovation

Eligibility for Participation

  • Associations
  • Central Government
  • Chambers
  • International Organisations
  • Large Enterprises
  • Legal Entities
  • Local Authorities
  • NGOs
  • Non Profit Organisations
  • Private Bodies
  • Researchers/Research Centers/Institutions
  • Services Providers
  • Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs)
  • State-owned Enterprises

Call Opening Date

24/05/2022

Call Closing Date

07/09/2022

National Contact Point(s)

Research and Innovation Foundation
29a Andrea Michalakopoulou, 1075 Nicosia
P.O.Box 23422, 1683 Nicosia
Phone Number: +357 22205000
Email Address: support@research.org.cy
Website: https://www.research.org.cy/en/

Contact Person:
Myrto Anastassiadou
Contact Phone: +357 22 205 069
Contact Email: manastassiadou@research.org.cy