Madrid, Spain – March 20th-21st, 2024: The battle against cancer is about to take a transformative leap forward with the launch of the BRECISE project, a cutting-edge five-year research initiative co-funded by the Innovative Health Initiative (IHI) and private industry under the Horizon Europe program. BRECISE aims at accelerating the clinical validation and implementation of Next-Generation Sequencing (NGS)-based, multi-modality Artificial Intelligence (AI) biomarkers. The project commenced on January 1, 2025, and will officially kick off in Madrid on Thursday, March 20, 2024, with events continuing through Friday, March 21.
BRECISE aims to revolutionize the diagnosis, treatment selection, and disease monitoring of prostate and bladder cancer by addressing key regulatory and technical challenges. The project will establish a systematic integrated approach to biomarker development aiming at delivering clinical applications, ultimately improving patient outcomes and healthcare efficiency.
A New Era in Precision Oncology
Prostate and bladder cancers affect millions of patients globally, yet validated biomarkers that can reliably predict treatment response, disease progression, and therapy resistance remain scarce in clinical practice. BRECISE seeks to change this by integrating cutting-edge technologies such as Next-Generation Sequencing (NGS), Artificial Intelligence (AI), and ex vivo drug testing to refine personalized treatment pathways.
Dr. Ralf Hoffmann, Principal at Philips Research in Eindhoven, The Netherlands, and industry project leader, emphasized the transformative potential of BRECISE:
"BRECISE represents a paradigm shift in precision oncology and cancer care. By using advanced NGS technologies to validate biomarker models, we can enable personalised treatment for prostate and bladder cancer patients; providing more accurate diagnoses, predict treatment responses, and ultimately improve patient outcomes. By moving beyond trial-and-error treatment approaches, we are paving the way for more precise and individualised care. This project will integrate clinical data and biomarker insights into a comprehensive platform for revolutionising cancer treatments. This approach not only improves patient outcomes but also optimises healthcare resources by optimising treatment strategies. BRECISE is bringing the future of cancer care into the present."
Gary McMannus, Research Project Manager at South East Technological University and BRECISE coordinator, highlighted the importance of BRECISE:
“The BRECISE project strengthens Europe’s position as a leader in innovative cancer research. By advancing biomarker-driven precision medicine, we are benefiting patients, healthcare systems, and society as a whole. With experts from both clinical and technical fields working together, we are eager to see how our discoveries can improve patient outcomes, reduce unnecessary treatments, and side effects.”
In the view of Dr. Maria Eugenia (Xenia) BELTRAN, Senior Project Manager at Bridg-OU, and deputy coordinator of the project, added:
"The integration of multi-modal data—genomic, transcriptomic, and clinical—will allow us to develop more precise and personalized treatment strategies. BRECISE is not just about technology; it's about creating a framework that can be adopted across healthcare systems benefiting patients care. By bringing together key partners from the private and public sector, we can accelerate the development of advanced cancer biomarkers by leveraging the latest innovations, cutting-edge technologies, and industry best practices.”
The Role of Policy and Collaboration
The success of BRECISE will depend not only on technological innovation but also on the alignment of policy and healthcare systems to facilitate the integration of these advancements into routine care. Denis Horgan, Executive Director, European Alliance for Personalised Medicine a leading voice in health policy, highlighted the importance of collaboration:
"For projects like BRECISE to succeed, it is crucial that policymakers, healthcare providers, and industry leaders work together. The European Union has a unique opportunity to lead the way in precision oncology, but this requires a coordinated effort to ensure that these innovations are accessible to all patients, regardless of where they live."
Key Objectives and Impact
BRECISE is structured around four core objectives:
The project will have a profound impact on both patients and healthcare systems:
"Through our collaboration, we’ve advanced the interoperability of our Digital Drug Assignment tool, accelerating access to precision oncology for cancer patients everywhere." — Istvan Petak, physician-scientist, Founder & CEO of Genomate Health
A Collaborative Effort
Led by Philips and the South East Technological University, BRECISE brings together a consortium of 12 private, 15 public, and 3 associate partners; linking academic institutions, research centers, healthcare providers, industry leaders, and patient organizations to ensure a holistic and multi-stakeholder approach to biomarker validation. This collaborative effort will be critical in translating scientific discovery into clinical impact.
Looking Ahead
The launch of BRECISE in Madrid marks the beginning of a new chapter in the fight against cancer. By establishing biomarker-driven solutions for oncology, the project aims to look forward to the adoption of prostate and bladder biomarkers, integrating precision medicine into routine care, setting new benchmarks for personalized cancer treatment.
Join us in Madrid to witness the future of cancer care.
For more information please visit: https://brecise.eu/. For project queries, please link to us through contact@brecise.eu
Website: https://brecise.eu/
Genomate Health Inc. is a medical technology company based in Cambridge, MA, developing computational solutions for personalized medicine. Its flagship product, Genomate®, is the first clinically validated universal computational reasoning model to predict response to multiple targeted therapies by analyzing each patient's unique combinations of genetic alterations and biomarkers. Genomate® delivers the first computational reasoning solution to implement the true promise of precision oncology of N-of-1 therapy based on the genomic profile of the patient’s tumor. The result is presented as a comprehensive, data-backed report that guides oncologists and patients toward the most suitable treatment, enhancing the efficacy of therapies. A key contributor to the White House-led CancerX initiative, a graduate of the Mayo Clinic Accelerate Program, and a member of the Precision Medicine Coalition, Genomate Health remains steadfast in its mission to democratize precision oncology worldwide. For more information, visit www.genomate.health.
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