PHOENIX participates in the 5 Years of the EU Cancer Mission event in Brussels

The PHOENIX project took part in the 5 Years EU Cancer Mission: Stronger Through Connection event, held in Brussels from 29 September to 1 October 2026. Organised by the European Commission, the event brought together researchers, clinicians, policymakers, patients, innovators, funders and industry representatives to reflect on five years of progress and discuss the road ahead towards achieving the EU Cancer Mission’s 2030 goal, in alignment with Europe’s Beating Cancer Plan.

For PHOENIX, the event marked an important milestone: the first opportunity since the project kick-off in June 2026 to engage with the wider European cancer community and showcase its mission and objectives. Through its project booth, PHOENIX raised awareness of its work to advance new treatment options for children and adolescents affected by high-risk cancers, for whom significant unmet medical needs remain.

Building connections across paediatric oncology

The event also provided a valuable opportunity to meet other European projects and initiatives, exchange ideas and explore potential synergies around childhood cancer and access to better treatments. In particular, PHOENIX began building connections with its sister project THEODORA, together with its Project Coordinator and Communication Lead, Emilie Vinolo.

PHOENIX, THEODORA and EPICA-DIPG are part of the Diagnosis and Treatment – Innovative Clinical Trials for Paediatric Cancer cluster, which aims to encourage collaboration and strengthen the complementarity of research efforts in paediatric oncology. With the cluster’s official kick-off approaching, these initial exchanges laid the groundwork for future cooperation and knowledge sharing.

Participation in this European milestone reinforced the importance of collaborative research and cross-project synergies in addressing unmet needs in paediatric oncology, improving access to innovative treatments and reducing cancer inequalities.

This is just the beginning. PHOENIX looks forward to building on these connections and working with the wider European cancer community to help improve outcomes for children and adolescents affected by cancer.