Strategic Alignment
Engaging Stakeholders
UNCAN-Connect brings together innovators, researchers, patients, and the wider European communitiy to support collaboration and alignment in cancer research across Europe.
The Collaborative Framework
Research & Innovation Community
UNCAN-Connect develops and validates a federated approach to support cancer research across Europe. The project addresses data fragmentation by enabling the responsible use of distributed cancer data, while respecting ethical, legal, and institutional requirements.
By connecting distributed data sources with researchers through a federated infrastructure, the project enables high-impact analysis across institutions and countries. This approach allows sensitive patient data to remain securely at source while still supporting collaborative cancer research and innovation.
- Researchers & Academic Institutions
- Clinicians
- Biobanks & Registries
- SMEs & HealthTech Developers
- Biotech & AI Developers
6 cancer types
Validating the Approach
The UNCAN-Connect approach is validated through scientific and clinical use cases addressing six different cancer types. Together, these use cases demonstrate how federated data use can support cross-border cancer research and enable analysis across diverse datasets and institutions.
Secure Contribution
For Data Providers
Enable the use of cancer data for research while retaining responsibility for data governance and compliance. UNCAN-Connect supports data contribution within a federated framework that aligns with institutional policies, ethical standards, and data protection requirements.
Research Scalability
For Data Users
Conduct cancer research using data made available through a coordinated European framework. UNCAN-Connect supports research and innovation across institutions and countries by improving data consistency and interoperability under agreed access conditions.
Patient-Centric Impact
The Patient Community
Cancer affects patients and families in deeply personal ways. While progress has been made, outcomes still vary across Europe, and many decisions in cancer care depend on the quality of available evidence. UNCAN-Connect works behind the scenes to improve how cancer data are used responsibly for research, helping build knowledge that can support better care over time.
By placing the patient experience at the center of our technical framework, we ensure that research isn't just about numbers—it’s about lives.
- Patients
- Families & Caregivers
- Patient Organisations
- Healthcare Providers
- Policy & Public Health Stakeholders
Ethical Safeguards
Privacy by Design
UNCAN-Connect is designed with strong data protection and ethical safeguards in mind. The project supports the use of cancer data for research through a federated approach, where data remain under the responsibility of healthcare and research institutions and are used in line with European data protection and ethical requirements.
Research insights
Understanding Cancer Differences
By supporting research that brings together cancer data from different institutions and countries, UNCAN-Connect helps improve understanding of how cancer diagnosis and treatment can differ between patients and over time. This research contributes to stronger evidence that can inform future studies and healthcare planning, with a strong focus on individual treatment decisions.
Transparency
Patient Perspectives
UNCAN-Connect recognises the importance of transparency in cancer research. The project works with patient organisations to support ethical data use and to promote public trust in research activities.
National Coordination
UNCAN Nodes
National Cancer Data Nodes are nationally designated coordination points for cancer-related data within participating Member States. They connect national data holders such as hospitals, cancer registries, and research institutions to the UNCAN-Connect infrastructure, ensuring structured participation in the European Health Data Space (EHDS) while data remain stored and governed locally.
- Hospitals & Clinical Centres
- Cancer Registries
- Research Institutions
- Data & Digital Infrastructures
- National Authorities
Federated Network
A Unified European Presence
Through coordination with the Central UNCAN Platform, National Cancer Data Nodes link national cancer data ecosystems to European standards and initiatives, including the EHDS. Together, the Nodes create a distributed but coordinated European network that strengthens interoperability, data quality, and responsible cross-border collaboration.
Strategic Integration
Mission Roadmap
National Cancer Data Nodes support the alignment of national cancer data infrastructures with broader European objectives under the EU Mission on Cancer. By implementing shared governance principles, interoperability standards, and monitoring mechanisms, they contribute to consistent and harmonised participation across Member States.
Operational Support
Technical Onboarding
National Nodes provide the operational and technical support required for institutions to join the UNCAN-Connect infrastructure. In coordination with the Central UNCAN Platform, this includes access to governance documentation, technical guidance, roadmap and monitoring tools, a collaboration environment, and secure document management to support compliant and interoperable integration.
CORDIS Project Information
UNCAN-Connect is also listed on the European Commission’s CORDIS platform, where stakeholders can access official information on the project scope, funding and consortium.