Cancer Image Europe: Transforming Cancer Diagnosis and Treatment for Patients with Data and AI

Imagine a future where doctors, researchers, and innovators across Europe can work more closely together, using a large pool of high-quality cancer images and advanced tools not only to detect cancer earlier but also to treat it more precisely. That future is already beginning to take shape through Cancer Image Europe, a digital infrastructure deployed by the EUCAIM project, co-funded by the European Union.

The EUCAIM project is building this platform to gather a large amount of already available data and ensure that doctors and researchers can use it in support of their research and artificial intelligence (AI) development to improve cancer care. Launched as the flagship project of the European Cancer Imaging Initiative of the European Commission, EUCAIM brings together hospitals, scientists, and technology experts from across the European Union. The project began in 2023 and will continue through 2026, gradually expanding its network and available data.

Instead of storing all medical images in one place, EUCAIM uses a distributed approach. This allows institutions to access and use imaging data securely, without moving it from its original source. This protects patient privacy at every step, as no data needs to be transferred. This way of sharing data fits perfectly with the new EU regulation called the European Health Data Space (EHDS), which will soon be applied across all EU countries. The EHDS will make it easier and safer for doctors and researchers to reuse existing health data for specific purposes, such as research and developing new medical tools, while ensuring strong privacy protections EUCAIM is one of the first projects demonstrating how this can work in practice to improve cancer care across Europe.

Why Does This Matter?

Advances in AI have shown that AI tools can detect the earliest signs of cancer in medical images that even skilled doctors might miss. However, to build such tools, large amounts of high-quality data are needed. With a wide range of imaging data from different European countries, regions, and equipment, researchers can develop smarter, more adaptable tools that are better suited to real-life medical needs and safe for the patient.

Patient Privacy Comes First

What’s important about EUCAIM isn’t just the technology. The project follows Europe’s strict privacy laws to ensure that patient data is protected at every step. Data is either pseudonymized or anonymized according to General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) and EHDS rules. No patient-identifiable information is available to users, and data cannot be downloaded to personal devices. Trust and safety are at the heart of everything EUCAIM does.

How Patient Data is Included

No patient data is automatically included in EUCAIM. Data holders provide information voluntarily through signed agreements with EUCAIM and Cancer Image Europe. The minimum data shared includes:

• Imaging data
• Age at diagnosis (or birth year and year of diagnosis)
• Sex
• Tumour site (topography)
• Histology (morphology)
• Number of days between imaging procedure and tumour incidence

This ensures that AI tools can be developed effectively without compromising patient privacy.

Access to Data

Access to EUCAIM data is carefully controlled. Only verified and authenticated researchers and innovators may request access, including those from commercial entities. To gain access, users must:

• Verify Identity: Register via Life Science AAI (e.g., ORCID, institutional login) and agree to the Acceptable Use Policy.
• Submit an Application: Include purpose of access, duration, and measures to prevent unauthorized use.
• Provide Ethical & Legal Documentation: Ethics Committee Certificate, AI Risk Analysis (if applicable), and description of ethical data usage.
• Demonstrate Research Intent: Activities must aim to generate new scientific knowledge, with findings expected to be published and shared.
• Meet Compliance Obligations: Activities must comply with legal and ethical standards; re-identification of individuals is strictly prohibited.
  
  

Data Ownership & Anonymity

The original provider retains ownership of the data if it is not fully anonymized. All shared data is de-identified and cannot be traced back to individual patients by users.

Participating Institutions

EUCAIM brings together a diverse network of leading universities, research organisations, research infrastructures, companies, university hospitals, and hospitals/research centres from across Europe. The project fosters collaboration, secure data sharing, and the development of advanced AI tools to improve cancer diagnosis and care.

The consortium includes 8 university hospitals, 15 hospitals and research centres, 5 research infrastructures, and 10 industry partners, bringing together 95 organisations in total.

Data Collection Criteria & Quality Assurance

Data quality can vary depending on equipment and interpretation by treating doctors. EUCAIM relies on data providers to ensure quality but has minimum data specifications and tools to monitor quality. Guidelines are in place to help standardize and maintain high-quality datasets across participating institutions.

How do Patients benefit from Cancer Image Europe?

The Cancer Image Europe platform allows researchers and innovators to develop and test new AI tools that will lead to:

• Earlier diagnoses
• More accurate diagnoses
• Personalised treatment plans
• Better care overall

At the same time, it gives researchers the tools they need to continue advancing cancer research and to ensure state-of-the-art diagnosis and care are accessible to Europe’s patients.

The EUCAIM project is helping to create a future where cancer care is not only smarter, but more connected, and more focused on the needs of every cancer patient in Europe.

If you have questions about Cancer Image Europe, please reach out to us at [email protected].

Website