May was a particularly productive and inspiring month for the SHIELD consortium, bringing together partners, researchers, clinicians, and stakeholders from across Europe for a series of important meetings focused on advancing hereditary cancer prevention and early detection.
SHIELD 3rd General Assembly in Palermo
On 19–20 May, SHIELD partners gathered in Palermo, Sicily, for the project’s 3rd General Assembly Meeting. Over two intensive days, consortium members reviewed project progress, shared updates across work packages, strengthened collaboration, and aligned on the next steps towards achieving SHIELD’s objectives.
The meeting provided a valuable opportunity for partners to work closely together, exchange expertise, and ensure continued coordination across all project activities. Productive discussions covered scientific developments, implementation strategies, communication activities, and future milestones, reinforcing the consortium’s shared commitment to improving the early detection of hereditary pancreatic cancer.
Beyond the formal agenda, the General Assembly also offered an important space for networking, collaboration, and planning future initiatives that will further strengthen the project’s impact.
EARLYSCAN Cluster Meeting: Building Synergies Across Europe
Following the General Assembly, SHIELD joined its sister projects for the 1st Annual EARLYSCAN Cluster Meeting, held in Pompeii, Italy. The event brought together researchers, clinicians, policymakers, patient advocates, and representatives from EU-funded projects with a common goal: advancing the prevention and early detection of hereditary cancers across Europe.
The meeting opened with a welcome from Mev Dominguez Valentin, coordinator of the PREDI-LYNCH project, followed by a presentation from Marianne Da Silva of the European Health and Digital Executive Agency (HaDEA), who highlighted the vision of the EU Cancer Mission and the growing importance of collaborative cluster initiatives in accelerating scientific progress and maximizing impact.
EARLYSCAN brings together three complementary projects:
- DISARM EU, focused on hereditary ovarian cancer
- PREDI-LYNCH, addressing Lynch syndrome
- SHIELD, dedicated to hereditary pancreatic cancer
Together, these projects are developing a coordinated European approach to hereditary cancer detection, surveillance, and follow-up.
Showcasing Complementary Approaches
During the meeting, project coordinators presented their respective initiatives, highlighting how each project addresses different hereditary cancer pathways while contributing to a common European strategy for prevention and early detection.
Representatives from DISARM EU, PREDI-LYNCH, and SHIELD demonstrated the strong complementarity between the projects, emphasizing the importance of aligning expertise, harmonising approaches, and creating shared value to strengthen implementation and impact across Europe.
The discussions reinforced the four core pillars of the EARLYSCAN cluster:
- Data sharing and reuse
- Citizen and patient engagement
- Reducing inequalities in access and care
- Strengthening scientific collaboration across Europe
A key message emerging from the meeting was that hereditary cancers represent one of the clearest opportunities for earlier diagnosis and improved patient outcomes. Through targeted identification of individuals at inherited risk, appropriate surveillance programmes, and long-term follow-up pathways, significant advances can be achieved in cancer prevention and early detection.
Engaging with Stakeholders and Raising Awareness
Alongside scientific discussions and strategic planning, consortium members participated in interviews and communication activities aimed at increasing awareness of hereditary cancer research and the objectives of the EARLYSCAN cluster.
One of the highlights of the event was the launch of the first joint EARLYSCAN cluster video, developed in collaboration with DISARM EU and PREDI-LYNCH. The video showcases the cluster’s shared ambition to advance early cancer detection through innovative research, cross-border collaboration, and patient-centred approaches across Europe.
Looking Ahead
The meetings in Palermo and Pompeii demonstrated the value of collaboration at both project and cluster levels. By strengthening partnerships, sharing knowledge, and aligning efforts across complementary initiatives, SHIELD and its EARLYSCAN partners are contributing to a stronger European framework for hereditary cancer prevention, early detection, and patient care.
We would like to thank all partners, stakeholders, and participants for their contributions and engagement. We look forward to continuing this important work together in the months ahead.
Izidor Mlakar, SHIELD Mission Coordinator
Over the past year, the consortium has concentrated on building the operational, ethical, and technical foundations required for large-scale clinical pilots. With key systems now in place, SHIELD is moving from preparation into implementation. Project Coordinator Izidor Mlakar reflects on the progress achieved so far and the priorities for the year ahead.
Meet Prof. Roland Andersson
