The “Personalized CANcer Primary Prevention research through Citizen Participation and digitally enabled social innovation” (4P-CAN) is a four-year European-funded Horizon Cancer Mission project. Kicked off in May 2023, it gathers 17 organisations from 11 countries, including the Balkan countries, which are European Union (EU) Member States (Romania, Bulgaria) and non-EU Member States (North Macedonia, Moldova), and Western EU Member States such as Portugal, Italy, France, Ireland, and Belgium.

The main mission of 4P-CAN is to improve cancer prevention and reduce inequalities by promoting the adoption of innovative research activities involving European citizens.

 

The 4P-CAN project seeks to understand the complex system surrounding the citizen and how it increases the risk of cancer on three levels - macro (at the national level), meso (at the community level), and micro (at the individual level).

The 4P-CAN project follows the narrative of the European Code Against Cancerv, implementing research, social sciences, humanities with behavioural sciences to create personalised tools for the primary prevention of cancer.

 

4P-CAN tries to identify barriers to cancer primary prevention measures adoption by studying risk factors for cancer such as smoking, alcohol consumption, physical inactivity, excess body weight, HPV and HBV infections (preventable through vaccination) and environmental pollution.

 

4P-CAN aims to gather evidence around individual adherence to healthy behaviours in countries from Eastern Europe such as Romania, Bulgaria, Republic of Moldova, North Macedonia, Montenegro, and Ukraine.

Living-Labs

4P-CAN has established two Living-Labs, targeting the adoption of preventive behaviours based on the 12 recommendations of the European Code Against Cancer. Two regional Living-labs have been established in South-Muntenia, Romania, and Plovdiv, Bulgaria, where citizens have the opportunity to share their attitudes, perceptions, and behaviours related to cancer prevention and a healthy lifestyle.

 

 

Education Academy

4P-CAN Education Academy aims to empower and educate young stakeholders, healthcare professionals, media representatives, and others, fostering a deeper understanding of cancer prevention. Through knowledge sharing and comprehensive education, we strive to equip individuals with the tools and insights needed to make informed decisions and drive positive change in the fight against cancer.

Access the episodes of the 4P-CAN Project podcast and learn more about the project’s stakeholders and their activities.

1. Innovative Approaches in Cancer Primary Prevention and Research
2. Insights into the European Code Against Cancer
3. Addressing Tabacco Control in Eastern Europe
4. Decoding Cancer: Insights from Eric Solary
5. The Role of All.Can in the 4P-CAN Project
6. Military-Generated Pollution and Cancer

Within the 4P-CAN Project, ENSP coordinates WP2: Multi-level Assessment of Cancer Risk Factors Preventive Legislation. This Work Package focuses on a multi-level assessment of policies, legislation, and regulatory frameworks related to cancer primary prevention (CPP) risk factors, such as smoking, alcohol, sugar and food, excess body weight, physical activity (PA), HPV and HBV infections, and air pollution, implemented in the 4P-CAN countries. The objectives of this WP are:

• To establish a comprehensive set of performance indicators for CPP.
• To map both traditional and non-traditional CPP stakeholders, their interactions, and their societal impact.
• To analyze policies, legislation, regulations, and the implementation status at national, regional, and community levels for the main risk factors.
• To assess the impact of environmental factors on cancer cases.

ENSP team also led Task 2.2: CPP Policy, legislation, and implementation analysis in 4P-CAN countries and more specifically Task 2.2.1 on Tobacco control directives/legislation implementation by assessing the implementation of the EU Directives (TPD 2014, TAD 2003, TTD 2011) in the field of tobacco control at the national level for EU countries and assessed the national policy, legislation, and regulatory framework for tobacco control in non-EU countries within 4P-CAN Consortium. The analysis is based on conducting a scoping review of publicly available information regarding the tobacco control legislative framework and in-depth interviews with relevant national stakeholders.

 

All targets have been achieved during the first 18 months, with all related activities under WP2 successfully completed.