Agenda of the Second European Cancer Mission Fair 2026

ENGAGE, SHARE, CONNECT

Hilton Nicosia, Nicosia, Cyprus

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We are delighted to invite you to the 2nd EU Cancer Mission Fair, an inspiring European gathering spotlighting citizen engagement, collaboration, and shared experiences in cancer research and care. Following last year’s success, the Fair will bring together citizens, patients, and experts from across Europe to share best practices and drive collaborations. Organised as part of the Establishing Cancer Mission Hubs: Networks and Synergies (ECHoS) project, in collaboration with the European Commission’s EU Cancer Mission, this year’s event will take place in Nicosia, Cyprus, under its European Union Presidency, offering a unique opportunity to learn from best practices, foster collaboration across sectors and experience interactive exhibitions and an art gallery.

From Co-Design to System Change: Making the Pentahelix Work WELCOME SESSION

	Name
09:15 – 10:00	Representatives from Cyprus, European Commission, ECHoS Patient testimonial
10:00 – 10:45	Keynote MISSION-LED SCALING OF HEALTH INNOVATIONS • Christian Bason, Co-founder of Transition Collective, Adjunct Professor, University of Technology Sydney
10:45 – 11:15	COFFEE BREAK Art gallery, posters, and interactive exhibitions
11:15 – 12:30	INNOVATIVE YOUTH-DRIVEN INITIATIVES: DISCUSSION ON THE TOPIC OF ADOLESCENCE AND YOUNG ADULTS • The Youth Cancer Council, Katie Rizvi, Co-founder and Executive Director, Youth Cancer Europe • YARN, the European Youth Cancer Network, Katie Rizvi, Co-founder and ExecutiveDirector, Youth Cancer Europe • Co-creation of AYA ward – Practical example from Vall d’Hebron University Hospital, Dr. Lucas Moreno, Head of the Paediatric Oncology & Haematology Division, Vall d'Hebron Hospital • MELODIC - Mental Health Support for Young Adults with Cancer, TBD
11:15 – 12:30	PARALLEL WORKSHOP
11:15 – 12:30	POLICY DIALOGUES AS TOOL TO INFORM DECISION-MAKING IN CANCER • Florian Tille, The European Observatory on Health Systems and Policies
12:30 – 13:30	LUNCH BREAK Art gallery, posters, and interactive exhibitions
13:30 – 14:00	Lecture Citizen science in oncology: highlighting patients’ voices in research • Ria Wolkorte, Chair of European Citizen Science Association working group on Health, University of Twent
14:00 - 15:30	Pitch Session PATIENT AND CITIZEN ENGAGEMENT: REAL WORLD EXPERIMENTATION T DRIVE MORE EQUITABLE, IMPACTFUL, HUMAN CENTRED SOLUTIONS. • OriON – Joint Action on Contribution to the Cancer Inequalities Registry to Monitor National Cancer Control Policies, Marjetka Jelenc, Senior Researcher, National Institute of Public Health, Slovenia • ONCODIR – Evidence-based Participatory Decision Making for Cancer Prevention through implementation, Michele Calabrò, Director,EUREGHA • Healthy lifestyle practices of Breast Cancer Survivors in Cyprus (HEROES), Constantinos Koshiaris, Assistant Professor of Medical Statistics and Epidemiology, University of Nicosia • Onkofest – Building a Community-Centred Cancer Ecosystem, Kristel Leif, Co-founder of Onkoloogika • Co-designing the National Information Platform for Cancer: A Patient-Journey Approach, Nathalie Mentior – Communication Officer, INC Luxembourg • TRACE: Bridging Cancer Research and Real-World Impact Through Co-Creation and Community Engagement, Carina Dantas, CEO SHINE 2 Europe • From patient voice to system change – The UCAN Model, Miriam Staunton, Chair UCAN Ireland (United Cancer Advocates Network), Ireland • Bridging the Gap: From Available Screening to Used Screening, Marzia Zambon, CEO EUROPA DONNA, Italy
13:30 – 15:30	PARALLEL WORKSHOPS
13:30 – 15:30	ENGAGING CITIZENS IN MISSION-ORIENTED INNOVATION, • Christian Bason, Co-founder of Transition Collective, Adjunct Professor, University of Technology Sydney MAPPING CANCER RISK: NETWORK ANALYSIS AND ART-BASED COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT IN RURAL LIVING LABS, • Marian-Gabriel Hâncean, Professor of Quantitative Sociology, Research director at the Center for Innovation in Medicine (INOMED
15:30 – 16:00	COFFEE BREAK Art gallery, posters, and interactive exhibitions
16:00 – 17:15	Lecture CO-DESIGNING WITH PATIENTS: MISSION-ORIENTED LEADERSHIP AND PENTAHELIX COLLABORATION FOR HEALTH SYSTEM READINESS Lessons from the Swedish innovation ecosystem Vision Zero Cancer, Testbed Sweden & FOCU.SE • Ebba Hallersjö Hult, Senior Advisor, Stockholm School of Economics Pannel discussion FROM CO-DESIGN TO SYSTEM CHANGE: MAKING THE PENTAHELIX WORK National and international representatives from Health & Care, Public Administration, Citizens & Civil Society, Business, Knowledge and Academia. • Moderator: Jonas Vikman, Policy Expert, Testbed Sweden Precision Health Cancer
16:30 – 17:15	PARALLEL WORKSHOP
16:30 – 17:15	Beyond Pilots: Synergising EU Cancer Projects for Ethical, Inclusive Real-World Implementation • Carina Dantas, CEO SHINE 2 Europe
17:15 – 17:30	CLOSURE