Working together to provide digital solutions in oncology – the "COST Action" project

5.09.2024

Empowering Cancer Survivors: Innovations and Insights through Digital Solutions conference was held on August 28 at the Medical University of Gdańsk in a hybrid format. The meeting was organized as a part of the COST Action CA21152 project (Implementation Network Europe for Cancer Survivorship Care, INE-CSC), chaired by Prof. Josephine Hegarty of University College Cork in Ireland. The event under the institutional sponsorship of MUG brought more than 150 researchers together, representing 22 European countries.

The conference was initiated by Ewa Pawłowska, M.D., a radiation therapist from the Department of Oncology and Radiotherapy at MUG, vice-chairperson of the project. Participants in the event were welcomed by Prof. Marcin Gruchała, then Rector of the Medical University of Gdańsk, and Prof. Rafał Dziadziuszko, Head of the Department of Oncology and Radiotherapy at MUG.

Fifty-three papers on new technologies and digital solutions in oncology were presented during 5 sessions. Lectures were presented by Dr. Habil. Anna Supernat, oordinator of the Centre of Biostatistics and Bioinformatics Analysis, and Maciej Bobowicz, Ph.D. of the Second Department of Radiology at MUG. Each session was moderated by foreign scientists and representatives of the University: Prof. Jacek Jassem, dr hab. Andrzej Badzio, Artur Bandura, MD and psychologist Dr. Milena Lachowicz from the Department of Oncology and Radiotherapy), as well as Ada Stajewska from the Omea Life patient organization.

This was the first conference organized by the Medical University of Gdańsk in cooperation with the COST Action project. The INE-CSC includes over 230 scientists from all over Europe, medical doctors, nurses, physiotherapists, bioengineers, statisticians, epidemiologists, as well as staff from national oncological registries. Those wishing to collaborate on the project can contact via the e-COST website or directly with Ewa Pawłowska, M.D..

As a part of the COST Action (Implementation Network Europe for Cancer Survivorship Care, INE-CSC) project, there were also workshops for PhD students held on August 30, entitled: Training School and PhD Forum for European Implementation Network for Cancer Survivorship Care CA21152.

The meeting was divided into two thematic blocks. In the first one, on digital solutions in oncology, Ewa Pawłowska, Ph.D. the vice-chairperson of the COST project, gave a presentation on the HORUS application and the problems associated with producing and implementing medical applications. The second part of the meeting focused on guiding the scientific career path and preparing grant applications. The workshop opened the forum for doctoral students organized as a part of the COST project, with 10 young scientists from Europe collaborating with experienced researchers, with the aim of increasing the scientific value of their doctorates, providing opportunities for scientific internships and starting international collaborations. About 80 researchers from 16 European countries took part in the workshop.

Photo: Paweł Sudara/MUG