Challenge

The CANDLE project addresses the fragmented landscape of cancer research data infrastructures across Europe. Despite existing national and international health data systems, there is a pressing need to scale up and harmonize these infrastructures to support the implementation of the European Health Data Space (EHDS). Specific challenges include aligning with national EHDS implementations in member states, integrating Health Data Access Bodies (HDABs), Data Access and Analysis Mechanisms (DAAMs), and Secure Processing Environments (SPEs). Additionally, the project aims to identify and resolve potential barriers that could hinder the effective implementation of UNCAN.eu and the European Cancer Patient Digital Centre (ECPDC) digital platforms.

Solutions

CANDLE, which stands for National Cancer data Node Developers, is a three-year EU-funded project. Coordinated by Health-RI, the project brings together a consortium of 40 partners from 20 European countries. Its primary objective is to support member states in establishing National Cancer Data Nodes (NCDNs) that manage and share cancer data both nationally and across borders. These nodes will be closely linked to other European cancer data initiatives, such as the UNCAN.eu platform and the ECPDC. To facilitate this, CANDLE will develop a ‘ready-to-use’ CANDLE Resource Kit designed to equip data users and NCDN developers in a process-oriented manner, considering aspects like the research journey, patient journey, and data life cycle.

Results

By establishing a federated network of National Cancer Data Nodes, CANDLE aims to play a strategic role in supporting the European Health Data Space (EHDS). These nodes will serve as demonstrators for national disease-specific implementation of the EHDS, aligning EU-wide health data policies with regional and national requirements. Furthermore, CANDLE contributes to the EU Mission on Cancer and Europe’s Beating Cancer Plan by facilitating their implementation at the national level and fostering dialogue with other major initiatives. The project is expected to enhance the adoption of best practices in data sharing, improve maturity in data access, and foster cross-domain collaboration, ultimately reducing the burden of cancer across Europe.