Europe needs cancer intelligence that is timely, comparable, connected and fit for the future.
A new editorial in Acta Oncologica sets out how CancerWatch is working to strengthen the foundations of cancer intelligence across Europe.
CancerWatch builds on the long-standing collaboration between population-based cancer registries (PBCRs), the ENCR European Network of Cancer Registries and the Joint Research Centre (European Commission), strengthening their collective contribution to Europe’s cancer intelligence.
With 92 partners from 29 countries, CancerWatch is working across the cancer data lifecycle and supporting change at both national and European level.
Our work includes:
🔹 Strengthening population-based cancer registries and their capacity to deliver high-quality, timely information
🔹 Harmonising methods, standards and quality approaches to make cancer information more comparable across countries
🔹 Accelerating digital transformation, including the development and testing of AI-supported tools
🔹 Building stronger connections between cancer registries, health data and European infrastructures, including the European Health Data Space (EHDS)
🔹 Improving cancer indicators and insights to support the monitoring of cancer burden, inequalities, outcomes and cancer control
🔹 Building sustainable capacity and collaboration that can continue beyond the Joint Action
This is about more than faster data.
It is about building a stronger, more connected and sustainable European cancer intelligence system — one that can support better understanding, better evaluation and better decisions across the cancer continuum.