UNCAN-Connect Approach
Work Packages
UNCAN-Connect operational framework is organized into four strategic pillars, managing everything from data infrastructure to patient-centric clinical use cases.
Project structure
Work Packages Overview
An integrated framework of 15 Work Packages collaborating to build a federated European cancer research data ecosystem. Our structure bridges technical infrastructure, data governance, and clinical validation to accelerate patient-centric outcomes.
WP3 Data governance, compliance and operational framework
WP4 Data processing at Source
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WP5 Setting up infrastructure for the federation and decentralized health research environment, UNCAN.eu platform
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WP6 Federated and scalable infrastructure services for the UNCAN.eu platform
Clinical Use Cases and Validation
Pillars
Governance & Stakeholder Engagement
Work Package 1
Project Management
Timeline
M1➞M60
WP1 ensures the overall coordination, governance, quality assurance, risk management, and administrative, financial, and ethical oversight of the project. It establishes and operates the governance structures required for effective decision-making and smooth project implementation.
Deliverables
- D1.1 – Project Handbook
- D1.2 – Risk Management and Data Management Plan
- D1.3 – Quality Management Plan
- D1.4 – Interim Governance Structure Implementation Report
- D1.5 – UNCAN Implementation Report
LEAD: UTARTU
Work Package 2
Stakeholders’ Engagement, Awareness and Alignment
Timeline
M1➞M60
WP2 focuses on identifying, engaging, and aligning key stakeholders across the UNCAN-CONNECT ecosystem. It ensures continuous interaction with stakeholders to support adoption, relevance, and sustainability of project outcomes.
Deliverables
- D2.1 – Stakeholder Engagement Strategy
- D2.2 – Stakeholder Engagement Report (V0.5)
- D2.3 – Stakeholder Engagement Report (V1.0)
LEAD: Sciensano
Data Governance & Infrastructure
Work Package 3
Data Governance, Compliance and Operational Framework
Timeline
M1➞M60
WP3 develops the legal, ethical, and governance framework enabling compliant secondary use of health data within UNCAN-Connect. It ensures alignment with the European Health Data Space (EHDS) and embeds trustworthiness across the data and AI lifecycle.
Deliverables
- D3.1 – Legal and governance landscape for secondary use of health data (EHDS)
- D3.2 – Trustworthy AI framework for UNCAN-Connect
- D3.3 – Updated data access & processing policies and user journeys
- D3.4 – Handbook for data governance, compliance and operations
LEAD: BBMRI-ERIC
Work Package 4
Data Processing at Source
Timeline
M1➞M60
WP4 establishes harmonised, high-quality, and compliant data processing procedures at data source level. It delivers guidelines, tools, and methodologies for data harmonisation, quality assessment, and provenance tracking within the federated platform.
Deliverables
- D4.1 – Provenance chains guidelines (V1)
- D4.2 – Data processing & deposition guidelines (V1)
- D4.3 – Data processing & deposition guidelines (V3)
- D4.4 – Data harmonization tool (V1)
- D4.5 – Data quality assessment tool (V1)
- D4.6 – Provenance chains guidelines (V2)
- D4.7 – Data harmonization tool (V2)
- D4.8 – Data quality assessment tool (V2)
- D4.9 – Data processing & deposition guidelines (V2)
LEAD: SIB
Work Package 5
Infrastructure for Federation & UNCAN.eu Platform
Timeline
M1➞M60
WP5 designs, develops, and deploys the core technical infrastructure of the UNCAN.eu federated research platform. It enables secure discovery, access, and reuse of data and software across distributed nodes.
Deliverables
- D5.1 – Requirements gathering and analysis
- D5.2 – First infrastructure specifications
- D5.3 – First federated discovery & access implementation
- D5.4 – Data use harvesting platform
- D5.5 – Final federated discovery & access implementation
- D5.6 – UNCAN.eu platform – first release
- D5.7 – UNCAN.eu platform – final release
LEAD: BBMRI-ERIC
Work Package 6
Federated & Scalable Infrastructure Services
Timeline
M12➞M60
WP6 provides scalable, secure, and interoperable infrastructure services supporting the operation of the UNCAN.eu platform. This includes identity management, cybersecurity, federated learning, wearable device integration, and trusted research environments.
Deliverables
- D6.1 – Federated infrastructure services report (v1.0)
- D6.2 – UNCAN.eu AAI report
- D6.3 – IT SMS final release
- D6.4 – Cybersecurity & privacy risk assessment (v1.0)
- D6.5 – Wearable Devices Interface documentation (v1.0)
- D6.6 – Federated Learning platform release (v1.0)
- D6.7 – Federated infrastructure services report (v2.0)
- D6.8 – Cybersecurity & privacy risk assessment (v2.0)
- D6.9 – Federated Learning platform release (v2.0)
LEAD: EGI
Clinical Research Use Cases
Work Package 7
Clinical UCs – Paediatric Cancer
Timeline
M1➞M60
WP7 implements and validates clinical use cases in paediatric cancer, focusing on cardiovascular risk and infection prediction. It demonstrates the clinical value of UNCAN-Connect through real-world studies and validated algorithms.
Deliverables
- D7.1 – CVRISK-4CANCERKIDS initiation package
- D7.2 – Mid-term recruitment report
- D7.3 – CV impairment risk score validation report
- D7.4 – Clinical recommendations for cardio-oncology
- D7.5 – SWISS 2024 CVSM initiation package
- D7.6 – SWISS 2024 CVSM mid-term report
- D7.7 – Infection prediction algorithm report
LEAD: FSJD-CERCA
Work Package 8
Clinical UCs – Pancreatic Cancer
Timeline
M1➞M60
WP8 addresses pancreatic cancer through clinical studies and biomarker validation. It demonstrates the integration of harmonised datasets and advanced analytics to support early detection and disease monitoring.
Deliverables
- D8.1 – Clinical study initiation package (ethics & MTAs)
- D8.2 – Harmonised datasets from data nodes
- D8.3 – Retrospective sample analysis report
- D8.4 – PRM-PDAC mid-term study report
- D8.5 – Prospective biomarker validation report
LEAD: UKSH
Work Package 9
Clinical UCs – Lymphoid Malignancies
Timeline
M1➞M60
WP9 develops and validates AI-supported follow-up strategies for lymphoid malignancy survivors. It focuses on personalised monitoring using wearable devices, liquid biopsies, and predictive models.
Deliverables
- D9.1 – Clinical study initiation package
- D9.2 – LymphoRisk-WD evaluation report
- D9.3 – LymphoRisk-LB evaluation report
- D9.4 – Personalised follow-up guidelines
- D9.5 – AI-based follow-up strategy report
- D9.5 – AI-based follow-up strategy report
LEAD: GOTEL
Work Package 10
Clinical UCs – Lung Cancer
Timeline
M1➞M60
WP10 focuses on the implementation and validation of lung cancer–related clinical use cases using harmonised data, statistical models, and AI-based analysis within the UNCAN-Connect framework. It supports risk prediction, study execution, and multimodal data analysis to demonstrate the use of the UNCAN.eu platform in lung cancer research.
Deliverables
- D10.1 – Semantic harmonisation best practices
- D10.2 – Ethics permits & compliance reports
- D10.3 – Systematic review & meta-analysis (UC4.1)
- D10.4 – Factor & gap analysis (UC4.1)
- D10.5 – Validated lung cancer risk model
- D10.6 – CEDALC study initiation package
- D10.7 – CEDALC mid-term recruitment report
- D10.8 – CEDALC results posting
- D10.9 – NSCLC tumour microenvironment data
- D10.10 – Multimodal analysis pipelines
- D10.11 – Treatment combinations (2D/3D)
- D10.12 – Validated combined treatment strategies
LEAD: UTARTU
Work Package 11
Clinical UCs – Ovarian Cancer
Timeline
M1➞M60
WP11 focuses on ovarian cancer by applying causal inference, target trial emulation, and AI-enhanced screening approaches. It evaluates clinical outcomes, quality of life, and cost-effectiveness of tailored treatment strategies.
Deliverables
- D11.1 – Scoping review report
- D11.2 – Causal graph documentation
- D11.3 – Target trial emulation report
- D11.4 – Quality of life database
- D11.5 – Cost-effectiveness trade-off report
- D11.6 – AI-enhanced robotic screening assessment
LEAD: UMIT TIROL
Work Package 12
Clinical UCs – Prostate Cancer
Timeline
M1➞M60
WP12 validates multimodal data integration and explainable AI methods in prostate cancer care. It supports improved diagnosis, patient stratification, and treatment response prediction through clinical studies.
Deliverables
- D12.1 – Common data model & ETL workflows
- D12.2 – Key biological pathways report
- D12.3 – Multimodal data framework analysis
- D12.4 – EDIPP-MRI initiation package
- D12.5 – Multimodal XAI prediction report
- D12.6 – EDIPP-MRI mid-term report
- D12.7 – Multimodal XAI stratification report
- D12.8 – EDIPP-MRI results posting
LEAD: TAU
Dissemination, Impact & Ethics
Work Package 13
Dissemination, Communication & Exploitation
Timeline
M1➞M60
WP13 ensures effective communication, dissemination, and exploitation of project results. It supports stakeholder engagement, policy dialogue, business modelling, and sustainability of UNCAN-Connect outcomes.
Deliverables
- D13.1 – Project website
- D13.2 – Dissemination, Exploitation & Communication Plan
- D13.3 – Final hackathons, training & open call report
- D13.4 – Business model & pricing simulation
- D13.5 – Final Independent Ethics Advisor Report
- D13.6 – Conclusions of “Understanding” meetings
- D13.7 – Policy Dialogue Group meeting minutes
LEAD: NETHUB
Work Package 14
Impact Assessment & Recommendations
Timeline
M18➞M60
WP14 assesses the scientific, technical, and societal impact of UNCAN-Connect. It develops evidence-based guidelines and recommendations to support long-term adoption and policy uptake at national and EU level.
Deliverables
- D14.1 – Deployment, risk & data utility report
- D14.2 – AI trustworthiness assessment (V0.5)
- D14.3 – Guidelines & best practices for UNCAN-Connect
- D14.4 – AI trustworthiness assessment (V1.0)
LEAD: GPA
Work Package 15
Ethics Requirements
Timeline
M1➞M60
WP15 ensures full compliance with ethical, legal, and data protection requirements throughout the project. It monitors ethics obligations and reports on adherence to approved ethical standards.
Deliverables
- D15.1 – H Requirement No.1
- D15.2 – HCT Requirement No.2
- D15.3 – POPD Requirement No.3
- D15.4 – POPD Requirement No.4
- D15.5 – NEC-EPQ Requirement No.5
- D15.6 – AI Requirement No.6
- D15.7 – OEI Requirement No.7
- D15.8 – OEI Requirement No.8
- D15.9 – OEI Requirement No.9
- D15.10 – OEI Requirement No.10
- D15.11 – OEI Requirement No.11
LEAD: UTARTU
The cross-pillar architecture
How it Connects
UNCAN-Connect builds a federated cancer research ecosystem by linking secure data infrastructure, real clinical use cases, and long-term policy impact.
1. The Infrastructure
UNCAN-Connect establishes the legal, governance, and technical foundations that enable secure and compliant cross-border access to sensitive cancer research data across Europe, aligned with the European Health Data Space.
2. The Science
The project validates this infrastructure through six real clinical use cases across multiple cancer types, demonstrating how harmonised data and advanced analytics can support high-quality cancer research.
3. The Impact
Building on these results, UNCAN-Connect assesses impact and develops evidence-based guidelines and recommendations to support the future use and sustainability of the UNCAN.eu infrastructure at EU level.