Unified Network for International Cancer Advancement

Transforming European cancer screening and early detection through federated AI

Integrating Heterogeneous Real-World Cancer Data: The EUCAIM CDM and Hyper-Ontology for Semantic Interoperability

June 26, 2026 | 12:00 CEST

UNICA Webinar: The Future of Cancer Screening

Advancing cancer research across Europe requires not only access to high-quality data, but also a shared semantic framework that enables systems and institutions to truly understand each other. This webinar, jointly organised by UNICA consortium partners 81Watts, POLIMI, and UPV, in collaboration with EIBIR and FORTH, explores how the European Cancer Imaging Initiative (EUCAIM) is addressing semantic interoperability challenges in oncology through the development of a FAIR-compliant hyper-ontology and Common Data Model.

The session presents how EUCAIM enables the harmonisation of heterogeneous clinical, biological, and imaging data across distributed European repositories, supporting interoperable and federated cancer research. Viewers will gain insights into ontology-based data integration, semantic mappings, and FAIR data practices that facilitate scalable AI-driven analysis while preserving data sovereignty and compliance with European standards.

Through real-world use cases in breast and prostate cancer, the webinar demonstrates how semantically enriched infrastructures support advanced image annotation, federated querying, and trustworthy AI development across diverse healthcare environments. The session also highlights UNICA’s broader vision for holistic and privacy-preserving cancer data integration across Europe.

Speakers:
Elia Broggio – Data Scientist at Datrix
Valia Kalokyri – Research Data Engineer at Foundation for Research and Technology - Hellas (FORTH)
Oscar Pastor – Full Professor of Computer Science at UPV
Yuliia Sobko – Data Analyst and Project Developer at 81Watts

Watch here

Learn more →

Cancer Screening in Portugal and the Azores: Zélia Rego on UNICA’s Impact

Zélia Rego, Consultant Radiologist at the Hospital do Divino Espírito Santo in the Azores, discusses the current state of prostate, breast, and lung cancer screening in Portugal and how UNICA is helping go beyond.

Zélia explains how UNICA provides a real-world setting to test digital health innovations, supports federated data sharing across hospitals, and aligns with EUCAIM requirements. She highlights how the project will improve lesion detection and classification, reduce unnecessary follow-ups, and make workflows more efficient - helping doctors detect cancer earlier and deliver better patient care.

Watch to learn how UNICA is transforming cancer screening and healthcare innovation across Europe.

Making the Invisible Visible: Cancer Screening in Ukraine and the Power of UNICA, Ihor Sokolovskyi

Dr. Ihor Sokolovskyi, Head of the Radiology Department at a Ukrainian hospital participating in the UNICA project, gives us insight into the reality of cancer screening in Ukraine - for prostate, breast, and lung cancers - and how radiologists continue working around the clock, even during the war. He explains how modern mammography and X-ray equipment, supported by European partners, help maintain high-quality diagnostics despite difficult conditions.

He reflects on the human side of medicine: what patients truly hope for when they enter the radiology room, and why empathy remains as essential as technology.

Dr. Sokolovskyi shares how UNICA goes beyond current practices by giving clinicians powerful AI tools designed to support their decisions while keeping each patient’s uniqueness at the center.

AI for Cancer Screening in UNICA: Alessandra Colli on Datrix’s Role

Alessandra Colli, Data Scientist at Datrix, sheds light on the company’s contribution to the UNICA project and the development of AI models for breast and lung cancer screening.

She explains how federated learning allows AI models to learn from distributed hospital data across Europe, ensuring robust results while preserving patient privacy. She also highlights the collaboration with clinicians to create AI tools that truly support decision-making and integrate smoothly into clinical workflows.

Watch to learn how Datrix is helping UNICA turn AI innovation into tangible benefits for cancer detection and patient care.

Advancing Cancer Screening in Greece and Europe: Insights from Alexandros Tzallas

Dr. Alexandros Tzallas, Associate Professor of Biomedical Engineering at the University of Ioannina and Director of the Human-Computer Interaction Lab, explains how UNICA goes beyond current cancer screening efforts in Greece by creating a pan-European federated imaging platform with standardized, AI-ready datasets. His team contributes high-quality imaging data for breast, lung, and prostate cancers, supporting early detection, personalized care, and AI-driven innovation.

Page 1 of 3