Lung cancer remains the primary cause of cancer-related deaths in EU nations, affecting both genders. A year ago, HaDEA conducted an interview with the co-scientific coordinators of the EU4Health project SOLACE to discuss their efforts to enhance lung cancer screening in Europe. Identifying high-risk individuals allows for earlier detection of lung cancer, which can improve outcomes and lessen the strain on healthcare systems.
The SOLACE project has now completed its activities with significant achievements:
- A thorough and standardized evaluation of lung cancer screening (LCS) across all EU and EEA countries was conducted, highlighting a diverse implementation landscape. SOLACE created a systematic mapping of national policies, guidelines, infrastructure, workforce capacities, and quality assurance frameworks, pinpointing major structural barriers in governance, funding, infrastructure, and data availability.
- Three LCS pilot programs were organized across 17 sites in 11 countries, focusing on underrepresented groups, including women and those at higher risk. This involved developing and optimizing recruitment strategies through ambassadors and mediators, deploying mobile screening units, implementing a common data model across all sites, and recruiting over 30,000 individuals.
- The SOLACE Knowledge Hub, a digital platform with resources for healthcare professionals and the general public, was established. It offers evidence-based resources like the Guideline, Quality Assurance and Implementation Package (GIP), and the European framework for LCS training curriculum. The platform also provides access to the SOLACE project webpage.
- An extensive analysis of at-risk populations for LCS was conducted to support risk-based screening strategies, offering consolidated evidence on the benefits, harms, and cost-effectiveness of LCS programs.
- Emerging approaches, including artificial intelligence applications, were evaluated for their potential to enhance screening performance and scalability.
- The European Lung Cancer Screening Alliance (ELCSA) was established to ensure the sustainability of efforts carried out during the SOLACE project.
SOLACE contributes to a more equitable and effective lung cancer screening implementation across Europe. It also participated in a webinar on cancer inequalities organized by the European Commission’s Directorate-General for Health and Food Safety (SANTE) and HaDEA in May 2026.
Related links:
SOLACE is funded under EU4Health.
In February 2026, along with EU4Health projects PRAISE-U and TOGAS, focusing on prostate and gastric cancer screening, SOLACE organized the European Cancer Screening and Early Detection Policy Summit. Key findings from the projects were discussed with policymakers, clinicians, patient advocates, and researchers: Key moments from the European Cancer Screening and Early Detection Policy Summit – SOLACE
Background:
EU4Health is the fourth and largest EU health program. It extends beyond addressing the COVID-19 crisis to strengthen European healthcare systems’ resilience. The program funds national authorities, health organizations, and other bodies through grants and public procurement, contributing to a healthier Europe. HaDEA manages most of the EU4Health budget and implements the program by managing calls for proposals and tenders.
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