European Parliament Hosts Landmark Event on Adolescent Cancer Prevention and Digital Innovation

Announcement
June 25, 2025

Brussels, Belgium — On 24 June 2025, the European Parliament became the stage for a pivotal dialogue on adolescent cancer prevention during the high-level event entitled ‘SUNRISE: Bridging Policy Gaps in Cancer Prevention starting from Adolescence’, hosted by MEP Vlad Voiculescu (Renew Europe, Romania). Moderated by Dr Adela Maghear, Senior Health Policy Advisor, the session convened policymakers, public health experts, and leading researchers to discuss urgent actions needed to mitigate preventable cancer risks among Europe’s youth.

The event spotlighted the alarming reality that up to 40% of cancer cases are preventable, calling for stronger, more inclusive policies focused on risk reduction through lifestyle change. A key emphasis was placed on digital health innovation, with the SUNRISE Project showcased as a leading example of how technology can support sustainable health behaviour change in adolescents.

Spotlight on SUNRISE: A Digital Path to Prevention

The SUNRISE Project, coordinated by Dr. Andreas Triantafyllidis from the Centre for Research and Technology Hellas, was presented as a forward-thinking initiative combining scientific research, digital tools, and behavioural science to address cancer risk factors in young people. The project unites a multidisciplinary European consortium to promote healthier lifestyles through engaging, accessible, and scalable digital interventions.

Dr. Triantafyllidis stated: “The SUNRISE project shows how prevention can start early and smart.”

By engaging young people through intuitive and user-friendly digital solutions, SUNRISE aims to empower sustainable behaviour change and reduce long-term cancer risks.

Key Themes and Policy Takeaways

Participants engaged in a constructive and insightful exchange, addressing a range of interrelated issues central to adolescent cancer prevention. Key points of discussion included:

• The role of schools, families, and communities in shaping lifelong health behaviours
• The potential of digital platforms to enhance preventive education and outreach
• The necessity of tailored, youth-specific policy interventions at both EU and national levels

MEP Vlad Voiculescu emphasised:
“It’s time to bring adolescent cancer prevention high on the EU health policy agenda.”

Dr. Delia Nicoară, Public Health Expert and EU Project Manager at IOCN, observed:
“Adolescent-focused prevention is no longer optional.”

Additional contributions came from Mr. Marc Van den Bulcke, Head of Service at the Belgian Cancer Centre, Sciensano; Mr. Joost Wesseling, Executive Director of the European Nutrition for Health Alliance (ENHA); and Elias Blanckaert, youth representative, who brought a valuable adolescent perspective to the discussion.

A Call for Long-Term Commitment

The event concluded with a shared recognition that tackling cancer risk in adolescence demands sustained political will, cross-sectoral collaboration, and inclusive, digitally empowered solutions. With cancer remaining a major public health challenge, proactive and preventive approaches—starting early in life—are essential to building healthier future generations.

Dr. Adela Maghear, moderator of the event, concluded:
“Policy action is needed to protect young people from preventable cancers.”

About the SUNRISE Project

The SUNRISE Project is an EU-funded initiative aimed at developing and deploying digital tools to foster long-term, healthy behaviour change in adolescents. By combining the expertise of educators, public health professionals, families, and policymakers, SUNRISE addresses societal health challenges through collaborative research and development.

Learn more about the SUNRISE Project: thesunriseproject.eu.