Category: News

  • 🇪🇺 ISCTE Joins New EU Project “CANDLE” to Strengthen Cancer Data Infrastructure Across Europe 🧬

    We are excited to announce that BRU_Digital Health International at ISCTE has joined the newly launched CANDLE project – National CAncer data Node DeveLopErs – funded under the Horizon Europe Mission on Cancer programme.

    Launched on 1 June 2025, the three-year CANDLE project brings together 40 partners from 20 countries to support the development of National Cancer Data Nodes (NCDNs). These nodes will play a key role in structuring and sharing cancer-related health data both within and across EU Member States, ultimately feeding into two major European platforms:

    • UNCAN.eu, the federated cancer research platform, and
    • the European Cancer Patient Digital Centre (ECPDC).

    The CANDLE initiative contributes directly to implementing the European Health Data Space (EHDS) and Europe’s Beating Cancer Plan by building an interoperable, inclusive and sustainable cancer data ecosystem.

    ISCTE’s Contribution

    ISCTE, through BRU_DHI, plays a leading role in shaping policy dialogue and regulatory alignment within the project. As part of Work Package 5 (WP5), our team supports the development of:

    • National policy outreach strategies for NCDNs,
    • Stakeholder engagement with public authorities, researchers and patients,
    • Recommendations to align cancer data efforts with EHDS regulation.

    Our contribution ensures that national implementation strategies are grounded in sound governance and that they reflect both technological feasibility and policy relevance.

    👉 You can learn more about the project by reading the official press release:

    CANDLE Press Release Project StartDownload

    Stay tuned as we share updates on our work and contribute to shaping the future of digital cancer research in Europe.

    Follow the CANDLE project LinkedIn page to remain up-to-date with all the advancements.

  • XiA Project Kick-Off event – Lisbon: Agenda & Summary

    XiA Project Kick-Off event – Lisbon: Agenda & Summary

    The XiA project coordination was thrilled to welcome you to the project kick-off event at Iscte in Lisbon, Portugal!

    Meeting summary and agenda:

    Note: you need to view this page on a computer to display the PDF document.

  • Introducing the XiA Project: Transforming Healthcare Through Digital Interoperability Education

    Introducing the XiA Project: Transforming Healthcare Through Digital Interoperability Education

    PRESS RELEASE

    Lisbon, Portugal, Tue 23 Jan 2025––The Xpanding Innovative Alliance (XiA) project, is co-funded by the Erasmus + Programme, Alliances for Innovation – Lot 2: Alliances for Sectoral Cooperation on Skills (implementing the ‘Blueprint’), and represents a significant milestone in digital healthcare. Building on the foundations of the successful XpanDH project, XiA seeks to address key interoperability challenges while preparing healthcare professionals for the advanced standards of the European Health Data Space (EHDS) regulation. It is linked with the Pact for Skills, that aims to get public and private organisations together and encourage them to make concrete commitments to upskilling and reskilling adults.

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    The XpanDH project laid the groundwork for developing scalable training in healthcare interoperability, creating the tools and networks that the Xpanding Innovative Alliance (XiA) project will now expand. By enhancing educational frameworks, XiA aims to amplify the impact of its predecessor, ensuring a broader reach and a stronger focus on real-world application. Through the creation and distribution of high-quality materials and courses about digital health interoperability, XiA aims to empower stakeholders—healthcare professionals, providers, and health IT providers and digital health solution providers—with the necessary skills to embrace EHDS-related standards and foster a culture of interoperability.
    Spanning 48 months and involving 23 organisations from 18 European countries, XiA focuses on bridging the digital skills gap, promoting adoption of the European Electronic Health Record Exchange Format (EEHRxF), and linking interoperability with others major issues (cybersecurity, standardisation of Health data, data privacy and protection).

    A High-Impact Project: Facts and Figures
    Core Objectives:
    • Build upon XpanDH’s success by creating personalised learning pathways for healthcare professionals and industry stakeholders.
    • Issue micro-certifications (microcredentials) recognised across Europe, enabling career growth and cross-border employability.
    • Innovate in educational practices by integrating interoperability training into healthcare programmes.

    Expected Outcomes:
    • Certified training for over 10,000 professionals across Europe by 2028.
    • Expanded adoption of EEHRxF-compliant solutions to facilitate seamless, secure cross-border healthcare collaboration.
    • Establishment of sustainable educational networks, such as a Community of Practice (CoP), to ensure the project’s long-term impact.

    A Pan-European Alliance: XiA Consortium Members
    The XiA consortium unites leading academic institutions, hospitals, private enterprises, and NGOs from across Europe, including:
    • Portugal: ISCTE – Instituto Universitário de Lisboa, UMinho, Unidade Local de Saúde de Santo António
    • Finland: Laurea University of Applied Sciences, Clinipower
    • Greece: Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, University of Crete
    • France: Fyrstain

    “XiA builds on the achievements of XpanDH, taking the next logical step in preparing Europe’s healthcare workforces for the challenges of digital transformation. Interoperability, strengthened by EEHRxF and cybersecurity standards, ensures safer, more effective, and patient-centred care. XiA seeks to create sustainable partnerships that empower healthcare providers and digital health companies alike.”

    Henrique Martins, XiA Project Coordinator and Associate Professor at ISCTE – Instituto Universitário de Lisboa.

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    About XiA
    Leveraging the results of the XpanDH project, XiA employs an interdisciplinary approach to deliver impactful and accessible training tools. Educational modules will focus on interoperability standards such as Fast Healthcare Interoperability Resources (FHIR), EEHRxF, and critical aspects of cybersecurity. The project also aims to build lasting awareness among policymakers and private sector leaders about the importance of secure and interoperable digital transformation for sustainable healthcare.
    XiA is part of a broader EU effort to strengthen cross-border collaboration in healthcare, aligning with the European Union’s vision for a unified digital health ecosystem.

    Discover the XiA Flyer!
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    For more information, please contact our team:
    bru-dhi@iscte-iul.pt
    Follow the XiA project: Linkedin Page