Working together for personalised cancer medicine in Europe
01/20/2026To sustainably improve personalised cancer medicine: This is the goal that 151 organisations have set themselves in a European project. The University Hospital of Würzburg is one of them.
Even with the same cancer, two people treated in two different European countries often still receive very different diagnostic and treatment options. Modern molecular tests, genetic risk assessments or personalised therapies are not available to the same extent everywhere. This is precisely where the "Joint Action on Personalised Cancer Medicine" (JA PCM) comes in: a European initiative for the sustainable improvement of personalised cancer care. The European Commission is funding the project for all partner organisations with around 32 million euros.
As part of the EU programme EU4Health, JA PCM brings together around 151 partner organisations from numerous European countries, including university hospitals, research institutes, health authorities, cancer centres and patient representatives. One partner is the University Hospital of Würzburg (UKW). The official kick-off meeting took place on 14 and 15 January 2026 in Brussels.
The aim is to develop joint European solutions, share proven models and anchor personalised cancer medicine in national healthcare systems in the long term. By harmonising standards, recommendations and care models, the project aims to reduce inequalities between European countries.
A holistic approach for Europe
The joint action pursues a holistic approach along the entire care chain. It aims to improve personalised prevention and early detection, particularly for people with an increased genetic cancer risk. However, the focus is also on strengthening modern diagnostics, for example through molecular and genomic testing procedures, and promoting personalised treatment decisions through structured molecular tumour boards.
In addition, the aftercare and long-term care of cancer patients is to be optimised. These objectives are being realised in thematic work packages and in Europe-wide pilot projects. In these projects, new care concepts are developed, trialled and made transferable.
A pilot project in Würzburg
The UKW has particular expertise in personalised cancer medicine, especially at the interface between oncology, human genetics, molecular diagnostics and clinical care. It is involved in several work packages. In addition, the UKW is assuming a prominent responsibility by coordinating one of two Europe-wide pilot projects: "CPS Compass - Personalised management of cancer predisposition across the patient journey".
This project focuses on the personalised care of people with a genetic predisposition to cancer. The project looks at the entire "patient journey" - from risk identification and prevention to diagnostics, therapy and structured aftercare. The aim is to develop Europe-wide, compatible models that better integrate genetic counselling and diagnostics, clinical care and interdisciplinary collaboration. The project is led by Professor Anke Katharina Bergmann, Director of the UKW Institute of Clinical Genetics and Genomedicine.
The CPS Compass pilot project is being coordinated by Dr. J. Matt McCrary and his newly founded research group "Health Services Research in Genomic Medicine" at the Institute of Clinical Genetics and Genomedicine. The UKW will work with 13 partner organisations from nine EU countries to achieve the goals of this pilot project.
Hospital with a strong oncological profile
"Personalised cancer medicine is regarded as the key to modern, effective and patient-centred oncology. By taking into account individual biological characteristics such as genetic changes, molecular tumour profiles or familial cancer risks, it enables targeted adaptation of prevention, diagnostics, therapy and aftercare to individual patients. However, despite major scientific advances, there are still structural differences in access to these innovations across Europe," comments Anke Katharina Bergmann. With the JA PCM, they want to establish personalised cancer medicine not as an exception, but as a natural part of standard care in Europe, says the professor.
The UKW combines a strong oncological profile. This is based on extensive clinical experience in the treatment of complex cancers, excellent genetic and genomic expertise, interdisciplinary care structures that closely link research and clinical practice. The University Hospital also has a long tradition in national and European collaborative projects. This combination makes it possible not only to develop innovative concepts scientifically, but also to implement them in practice and integrate them into existing care systems - a central claim of the Joint Action JA PCM.
