Project SHIELD uses innovative multiplex immunoassays and AI for comprehensive early detection and monitoring of high-risk individuals with pancreatic cancer, ensuring strong ethics, privacy, and regulatory compliance through expert oversight.
SHIELD is developing a simple, affordable blood test to detect pancreatic cancer at its earliest, most treatable stage. By identifying and testing people with elevated genetic risk, SHIELD aims to reduce late-stage diagnoses and increase Europe’s five-year survival rate from under 10% today to 30% by 2035.
Detection
Early detection for high-risk individuals enables timely diagnosis
SHIELD aims to pioneer a proactive approach to identifying pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) at its earliest stages, when treatment is most effective. To achieve this, SHIELD will develop and optimise a multi-purpose recruitment platform
to support the implementation of a structured surveillance program. This platform is expected to include a user-friendly web interface and conversational AI, ensuring
accessibility, privacy compliance (GDPR), and support for localisation. By leveraging large language models, the platform will facilitate automation, optimisation, and
secure management of sensitive data.
The platform will be co-created with patient organisations and medical experts to ensure usability and alignment with clinical guidelines. It will prioritise access for
remote populations and individuals with limited health literacy, promoting equity in early detection.
SHIELD plans to pilot a surveillance program targeting the early detection of PDAC in high-risk individuals. These individuals will be identified through a multi-faceted recruitment strategy, including in-hospital identification, targeted outreach, and public awareness campaigns. Eligibility will be assessed based on genetic testing and family history, and those eligible will be invited to enrol in a structured surveillance program involving annual MRI scans and blood collection to monitor for early signs of disease.
The program is set to be implemented across seven European regions, including three regions of specific interest, and in collaboration with existing screening programs such as IDIKA. SHIELD aims to reach over 5,000 individuals, offer 3,000 genetic tests, and enrol at least 1,000 participants in the annual surveillance program.
Diagnostics
A cost-effective blood test for fast, affordable, and accurate diagnosis
SHIELD will support the clinical validation of Reccan-IA, a 5-plex protein-based blood test, along with the Risk-Indicating PDAC Algorithm (RIPA). An observational clinical study is planned to evaluate the test’s sensitivity (>80%), specificity (>92%), positive predictive value (PPV), negative predictive value (NPV), and its potential impact on quality of life.
This objective aligns with SHIELD’s mission to develop an affordable and accessible biomarker-based test using blood samples for early pancreatic cancer detection. The clinical validation study will stratify the participant population by age, sex, and risk factors, aiming to demonstrate robust performance across diverse groups.
SHIELD will also aim to identify novel protein biomarkers through next-generation proteomics (Olink Explore) to expand the test’s diagnostic capabilities for additional
high-risk indications, such as new-onset diabetes (NOD). Planned analyses include bioinformatics and pathway exploration to investigate the biological mechanisms behind protein signatures, alongside the collection of lifestyle data to examine the interplay between environmental and genetic risk factors.
Key targets include the discovery of over 5 novel biomarkers and the establishment of meaningful risk factor associations to support future diagnostic innovation.
Impact
Fewer late diagnoses lead to earlier treatments and reduce overall mortality
SHIELD is committed to reducing the number of late-stage pancreatic cancer diagnoses by enabling earlier detection and intervention. A key objective is to assess the feasibility and cost-effectiveness of deploying the Reccan-IA test and surveillance program in high-risk populations. This assessment will aim to demonstrate potential healthcare cost reductions and improved patient outcomes through earlier diagnosis and treatment.
The project will focus on developing a scalable and affordable solution and will engage with key stakeholders to explore the innovation and implementation potential of Reccan-IA across the targeted regions. Planned evaluations include cost-
effectiveness studies in three EU Member States and monitoring quality of life outcomes among surveillance participants.
To ensure long-term impact, SHIELD will work to scale up the surveillance program for integration into regional and national early detection initiatives. The project will collaborate with key opinion leaders (KOLs), government agencies, and healthcare systems to explore integration pathways.
This upscaling objective aligns directly with SHIELD’s vision of embedding accessible and affordable diagnostic tools into routine healthcare, with the goal of
reducing cancer mortality across Europe.
Detection
Early detection for high-risk individuals enables timely diagnosis
SHIELD aims to pioneer a proactive approach to identifying pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) at its earliest stages, when treatment is most effective. To achieve this, SHIELD will develop and optimise a multi-purpose recruitment platform
to support the implementation of a structured surveillance program. This platform is expected to include a user-friendly web interface and conversational AI, ensuring
accessibility, privacy compliance (GDPR), and support for localisation. By leveraging large language models, the platform will facilitate automation, optimisation, and
secure management of sensitive data.
The platform will be co-created with patient organisations and medical experts to ensure usability and alignment with clinical guidelines. It will prioritise access for
remote populations and individuals with limited health literacy, promoting equity in early detection.
SHIELD plans to pilot a surveillance program targeting the early detection of PDAC in high-risk individuals. These individuals will be identified through a multi-faceted recruitment strategy, including in-hospital identification, targeted outreach, and public awareness campaigns. Eligibility will be assessed based on genetic testing and family history, and those eligible will be invited to enrol in a structured surveillance program involving annual MRI scans and blood collection to monitor for early signs of disease.
The program is set to be implemented across seven European regions, including three regions of specific interest, and in collaboration with existing screening programs such as IDIKA. SHIELD aims to reach over 5,000 individuals, offer 3,000 genetic tests, and enrol at least 1,000 participants in the annual surveillance program.
Diagnostics
A cost-effective blood test for fast, affordable, and accurate diagnosis
SHIELD will support the clinical validation of Reccan-IA, a 5-plex protein-based blood test, along with the Risk-Indicating PDAC Algorithm (RIPA). An observational clinical study is planned to evaluate the test’s sensitivity (>80%), specificity (>92%), positive predictive value (PPV), negative predictive value (NPV), and its potential impact on quality of life.
This objective aligns with SHIELD’s mission to develop an affordable and accessible biomarker-based test using blood samples for early pancreatic cancer detection. The clinical validation study will stratify the participant population by age, sex, and risk factors, aiming to demonstrate robust performance across diverse groups.
SHIELD will also aim to identify novel protein biomarkers through next-generation proteomics (Olink Explore) to expand the test’s diagnostic capabilities for additional
high-risk indications, such as new-onset diabetes (NOD). Planned analyses include bioinformatics and pathway exploration to investigate the biological mechanisms behind protein signatures, alongside the collection of lifestyle data to examine the interplay between environmental and genetic risk factors.
Key targets include the discovery of over 5 novel biomarkers and the establishment of meaningful risk factor associations to support future diagnostic innovation.
Impact
Fewer late diagnoses lead to earlier treatments and reduce overall mortality
SHIELD is committed to reducing the number of late-stage pancreatic cancer diagnoses by enabling earlier detection and intervention. A key objective is to assess the feasibility and cost-effectiveness of deploying the Reccan-IA test and surveillance program in high-risk populations. This assessment will aim to demonstrate potential healthcare cost reductions and improved patient outcomes through earlier diagnosis and treatment.
The project will focus on developing a scalable and affordable solution and will engage with key stakeholders to explore the innovation and implementation potential of Reccan-IA across the targeted regions. Planned evaluations include cost-
effectiveness studies in three EU Member States and monitoring quality of life outcomes among surveillance participants.
To ensure long-term impact, SHIELD will work to scale up the surveillance program for integration into regional and national early detection initiatives. The project will collaborate with key opinion leaders (KOLs), government agencies, and healthcare systems to explore integration pathways.
This upscaling objective aligns directly with SHIELD’s vision of embedding accessible and affordable diagnostic tools into routine healthcare, with the goal of
reducing cancer mortality across Europe.
Detection
Early detection for high-risk individuals enables timely diagnosis
Diagnostics
A cost-effective blood test for fast, affordable, and accurate diagnosis
Impact
Fewer late diagnoses lead to earlier treatments and reduce overall mortality
| Project Acronym: | SHIELD |
| Project Name: | Comprehensive Surveillance of High-risk Individuals and Health Integration for Early detection of Pancreatic cancer utilising innovative multiplex immunoassays |
| Grant Agreement number: | 101214779 |
| Call Identifier: | HORIZON-MISS-2024-CANCER-01 |
| Topic: | HORIZON-MISS-2024-CANCER-01-03 |
| Type of action: | HORIZON-IA |
| Starting Date: | 1 May 2025 |
| Duration: | 48 months |