Europe charts its next steps against cancer as ECHoS2 launches in Lisbon

The Portuguese Agency for Clinical Research and Biomedical Innovation (AICIB) launched ECHoS2 at its kick-off meeting in Lisbon, held from 9 to 11 September 2026.

Building on the first phase of ECHoS, which supported the establishment of 17 National Cancer Mission Hubs (NCMHs), the project enters a new five-year phase to consolidate and expand this European network.

Funded with €15 million through the Horizon Europe Mission on Cancer, ECHoS2 brings together 61 organisations from 30 countries. It will strengthen cooperation at national, regional and local levels, helping to translate the EU Mission on Cancer into concrete action for patients and citizens.

ECRIN is an active consortium partner. Through EU-AMRI, ECRIN will help build strong links with existing National Cancer Mission Hubs and promote strategic partnerships with European and international organisations, alongside EATRIS and BBMRI. ECRIN will also contribute to one of ECHoS2’s one of the two project flagship use cases: scaling personalised cancer-prevention pathways across Europe.

Over the next five years, ECHoS2 will support national hubs through training, demonstration initiatives and peer learning, bringing together patients, researchers, healthcare professionals, policymakers, civil society and industry to strengthen cancer research, care and policy across Europe.