Joint Action EU CanScreen
RCC and the National Board of Health and Welfare are participating in the Joint Action CanScreen, a project funded by the European Union with the aim of making screening data available to all.
Our Work in the CanScreen Project
Learn more about the tasks carried out by RCC and the National Board of Health and Welfare within the framework of the project, as well as their current status.
5.4 Implementing Data Collection with Open Source Software and Standardized Data Models for Screening to Produce Key Quality and Performance Indicators
Two statisticians from RCC are participating in the development of an “R package” for data management. An R package is a bundled set of functions, data, and documentation intended for use in programming—similar to a library—which facilitates code reuse and sharing for data handling. This work will primarily be activated in 2026. RCC contributes expertise in developing the R package and presenting data through interactive reports.
6.4 Addressing Barriers in Immigrant Populations
RCC, together with the National Board of Health and Welfare, will contribute to a randomized study targeting Syriac women eligible for breast cancer screening. The intervention group will receive culturally adapted informational material, while a control group will not. The outcome measure is whether participation in breast cancer screening increases within the group. The study is currently being planned, and Norway, which leads the work package, will provide the study protocol. The study is scheduled to begin in spring 2026.
6.6 Outreach Strategies to Gender Minorities and Other Vulnerable Populations
RCC is exploring participation in a pilot for an opt-in registry for transgender individuals who wish to continue participating in breast and cervical cancer screening but are no longer automatically invited due to legal gender change. The pilot is planned for 2026/2027. RCC also contributes to the development of gender-neutral informational materials for screening.
6.8 Information Intervention and Toolkit of Best Practice Communication Resources
RCC is co-developing a video-based informational resource on breast cancer screening, culturally and linguistically adapted in Arabic. This material will be used as the intervention in the randomized study described in task 6.4.
7.3 Integration of Artificial Intelligence in Cancer Screening Programmes
RCC is represented by AI and breast cancer screening expert Fredrik Strand from Karolinska Institutet (KI), who researches validation platforms for AI in breast cancer screening. He is involved in identifying ways to address challenges in testing and implementing AI in clinical practice and supporting national efforts across Europe. Fredrik leads a working group within this package.
8.1 Support to Methodology and Harmonization of Data Sets for Lung Cancer Screening Pilots
This work package has primarily focused on collecting data on which member states have implemented lung cancer screening programmes or are conducting/planning pilot projects. The National Board of Health and Welfare and RCC contribute via clinical expert Mikael Johansson, senior physician at Umeå University, who is medically responsible for one of the implementation studies currently underway in Sweden. Mikael will share insights on project planning and progress, including potential early results.
9.3 Individualized Cervical Cancer Screening, Including Integration of State-of-the-Art Triage Methods
RCC contributes clinical expertise through Miriam Elfström, focusing on cervical cancer elimination. Sweden has already implemented HPV testing as the primary method and HPV vaccination, aiming to eradicate cervical cancer.
9.4 Risk-Based Colorectal Cancer Screening
Sweden contributes clinical expertise via Birger Pålsson in colorectal cancer screening. Sweden uniquely applies different cut-off values for men and women in its screening programme. The expert will also share knowledge on testing for Lynch Syndrome.
11.5 Cervical Cancer Screening Specialist Training and Regional Training Centre
RCC is providing two clinical experts to train colposcopists on-site in several member states. A course schedule is already in place, and Swedish experts will conduct training in Slovenia, among other countries. They are also involved in theoretical training components related to cervical cancer prevention.