Objective
CUE-CAN unites 14 partners from 8 European countries and Canada to reduce childhood and young adolescent cancers by preventing and detecting carcinogenic environmental exposures. Focusing on prenatal development and early childhood, the project will elucidate how external agents initiate or promote carcinogenesis and generate evidence for actionable prevention. CUE-CAN integrates epidemiological and clinical data from >2.5 million children and >10 million health records across nine cohorts, enriched with tumour molecular profiles, internal exposome measurements, geospatial exposure models and AI-driven hazard prediction. At least 25 modifiable exposures will be prioritised, with ≥10 investigated mechanistically in human organoid and stem cell systems representing haematopoietic, neural and intestinal tissues. CRISPR-based exposure–gene interaction screens and causal inference methods will pinpoint critical developmental windows and pathways. The project will deliver interoperable, predictive exposure-risk models validated across multiple datasets and ≥10 exposure–cancer risk profiles with characteristic molecular signatures and biomarkers suitable for surveillance and targeted guidance. CUE-CAN will co-create prevention outputs with stakeholders, including ≥5 policy recommendations, technical guidance, and stakeholder workshops to inform public health strategies and EU-level regulation. To secure long-term impact, CUE-CAN will implement a harmonised, FAIR-compliant data architecture linking cohort, registry and molecular data with ≥3 EU platforms (e.g. UNCAN.eu EHDS, PARC), ensuring reusability and scalability. The resulting framework will advance understanding of environmentally driven childhood cancer, equip regulators and health systems with policy-ready evidence and tools, and accelerate translation from discovery to prevention, contributing to a healthier future for Europe’s next generations.
This action is part of the Cancer Mission cluster of projects on “Understanding – environmental exposure in CAYA.
Fields of science (EuroSciVoc)
CORDIS classifies projects with EuroSciVoc, a multilingual taxonomy of fields of science, through a semi-automatic process based on NLP techniques. See: The European Science Vocabulary.
CORDIS classifies projects with EuroSciVoc, a multilingual taxonomy of fields of science, through a semi-automatic process based on NLP techniques. See: The European Science Vocabulary.
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Keywords
Project’s keywords as indicated by the project coordinator. Not to be confused with the EuroSciVoc taxonomy (Fields of science)
Project’s keywords as indicated by the project coordinator. Not to be confused with the EuroSciVoc taxonomy (Fields of science)
Programme(s)
Multi-annual funding programmes that define the EU’s priorities for research and innovation.
Multi-annual funding programmes that define the EU’s priorities for research and innovation.
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HORIZON.2.1 - Health
MAIN PROGRAMME
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HORIZON.2.1.2 - Environmental and Social Health Determinants
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HORIZON.2.1.3 - Non-Communicable and Rare Diseases
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Topic(s)
Calls for proposals are divided into topics. A topic defines a specific subject or area for which applicants can submit proposals. The description of a topic comprises its specific scope and the expected impact of the funded project.
Calls for proposals are divided into topics. A topic defines a specific subject or area for which applicants can submit proposals. The description of a topic comprises its specific scope and the expected impact of the funded project.
Funding Scheme
Funding scheme (or “Type of Action”) inside a programme with common features. It specifies: the scope of what is funded; the reimbursement rate; specific evaluation criteria to qualify for funding; and the use of simplified forms of costs like lump sums.
Funding scheme (or “Type of Action”) inside a programme with common features. It specifies: the scope of what is funded; the reimbursement rate; specific evaluation criteria to qualify for funding; and the use of simplified forms of costs like lump sums.
HORIZON-RIA - HORIZON Research and Innovation Actions
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Call for proposal
Procedure for inviting applicants to submit project proposals, with the aim of receiving EU funding.
Procedure for inviting applicants to submit project proposals, with the aim of receiving EU funding.
(opens in new window) HORIZON-MISS-2025-02
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Net EU financial contribution. The sum of money that the participant receives, deducted by the EU contribution to its linked third party. It considers the distribution of the EU financial contribution between direct beneficiaries of the project and other types of participants, like third-party participants.
3584CS Utrecht
Netherlands
The total costs incurred by this organisation to participate in the project, including direct and indirect costs. This amount is a subset of the overall project budget.