SUNRISE Project Holds 4th Plenary Meeting in Ghent, Building on Momentum from European Parliament Event

Announcement
June 30, 2025

From June 25–26, 2025, the 4th Plenary Meeting of the SUNRISE Project took place in Ghent, Belgium, hosted by Ghent University. The two-day gathering marked a key milestone as the consortium continues its mission to promote long-term, healthy behavior change among adolescents through digital innovation, co-creation, and public engagement.

This meeting followed a major highlight in the project’s trajectory, a special high-level event at the European Parliament in Brussels just days earlier, on June 24. Titled “SUNRISE: Bridging Policy Gaps in Cancer Prevention Starting from Adolescence,” the Brussels event brought together leading voices in public health, research, and EU policy to spotlight the urgent need for inclusive and technology-driven strategies in cancer prevention.

Brussels Spotlight: Policy Meets Prevention

Hosted by MEP Vlad Voiculescu (Romania) and moderated by Dr. Adela Maghear, the Brussels session featured keynote presentations and panel discussions centered on adolescent health and prevention.

The SUNRISE Project took center stage, with Dr. Andreas Triantafyllidis (Centre for Research and Technology Hellas) presenting how digital tools are being developed to support sustainable behavior change from a young age.

Additional insights were provided by Dr. Delia Nicoară – Public Health Expert, Oncology Institute Prof. Dr. Ion Chiricuță, Marc Van den Bulcke – Head of Service, Belgian Cancer Centre, Sciensano, Joost Wesseling – Executive Director, European Nutrition for Health Alliance (ENHA) and Elias Blanckaert – Youth Representative, bringing the adolescent perspective.

This event underscored a shared commitment to making prevention a political priority and catalyzing innovation across sectors.

Building on the energy and visibility from Brussels, the Ghent plenary served as a collaborative space to evaluate pilot activities, review findings, and fine-tune intervention strategies tailored to diverse youth populations.

Key highlights from the Ghent meeting included the demonstration of upcoming digital tools, with a focus on their relevance and adaptability. Interactive workshops covered co-creation with adolescents, behavioral design, and implementation strategies. Discussions also included ethical considerations and dissemination planning, ensuring the project remains inclusive, impactful, and aligned strategically with EU health priorities and the Horizon Europe frameworks.

The SUNRISE Project now enters a crucial phase, with large-scale testing and stakeholder engagement set to expand in the coming months. By fostering cross-border collaboration and embracing digital innovation, SUNRISE continues to lead the way in rethinking how Europe prevents cancer, starting early, inclusively, and sustainably.

About the SUNRISE Project

Funded by Horizon Europe, the SUNRISE Project aims to develop and implement innovative digital interventions that promote long-term, healthy behavior change among adolescents, laying the groundwork for effective cancer prevention. The project unites a dynamic consortium of educators, adolescents, public health experts, researchers, and policymakers.

Learn more about the SUNRISE Project