Emerging technologies in cancer care – AI and digital health tools

Artificial intelligence (AI) in oncology is no longer a distant prospect. It is already shaping daily experiences for clinicians, researchers and patients. Across Europe, as many as 50 AI tools are currently being tested on images from more than 100,000 cases across nine tumour types in 16 countries.

 

The results cannot come soon enough. Each year, an estimated 2.7 million people in the European Union are diagnosed with cancer, with figures continuing to rise. To address this growing caseload, Europe is pairing the expertise of oncologists with the speed and scale of trained algorithms.

 

The challenge: policymakers and the cancer community must be ready to navigate this rapidly evolving capability, balancing innovation with ethical, legal, and privacy concerns.

 

To address these questions, the Young Cancer Professionals Roundtable, organised by the European Cancer Organisation (ECO) and the European Oncology Nursing Society (EONS), brings experts together for a timely discussion.

 

Join us on Tuesday, 3 March, 16:00 to 17:30 CET, and hear the debate. Register now.

03 March 2026 16:00 - 17:30 CET

Online

YCP x EONS RT horizontal

From its very start in 2021, Europe’s Beating Cancer Plan identified the potential of artificial intelligence (AI) to support clinicians in making faster, more accurate decisions, improving diagnosis and treatment, and enabling predictive, personalised medicine.

However, AI cannot be treated like conventional software. Clear standards for accountability, transparency and clinical validation are essential, alongside ways to trace and explain AI-driven decisions. These safeguards are vital to protect patients and to provide legal certainty for healthcare professionals and developers.

This roundtable will explore the realities of this technological revolution, the exciting opportunities AI offers in cancer care, and how the European Union is responding to the associated risks.

The roundtable is co-chaired by:

  • Robbe Saesen, Vice-Chair, Digital Health Network, European Cancer Organisation, and Scientist at Sciensano
  • Stavroula Chante, Board Member and Treasurer, European Oncology Nursing Society, and Macmillan Lead Cancer Nurse at The Royal Wolverhampton NHS Trust

Register now via the link below.

Speakers

  • Robbe Saesen Vice-Chair, Digital Health Network, ECO and Scientist, Sciensano
  • Stavroula Chante Board Member and Treasurer, EONS and Macmillan Lead Cancer Nurse, The Royal Wolverhampton NHS Trust
  • Francesco Baglivo Medical Doctor, University of Pisa
  • Annelies Verbiest Medical Oncologist, University of Antwerp
  • Hannah van Kolfschooten Postdoctoral researcher, University of Basel and Advisor, WHO Technical Advisory Group on Artificial Intelligence for Health (TAG-AI)

Speakers

  • Robbe Saesen Vice-Chair, Digital Health Network, ECO and Scientist, Sciensano
  • Stavroula Chante Board Member and Treasurer, EONS and Macmillan Lead Cancer Nurse, The Royal Wolverhampton NHS Trust
  • Francesco Baglivo Medical Doctor, University of Pisa
  • Annelies Verbiest Medical Oncologist, University of Antwerp
  • Hannah van Kolfschooten Postdoctoral researcher, University of Basel and Advisor, WHO Technical Advisory Group on Artificial Intelligence for Health (TAG-AI)
  • Robbe Saesen Vice-Chair, Digital Health Network, ECO and Scientist, Sciensano
  • Stavroula Chante Board Member and Treasurer, EONS and Macmillan Lead Cancer Nurse, The Royal Wolverhampton NHS Trust
  • Francesco Baglivo Medical Doctor, University of Pisa
  • Annelies Verbiest Medical Oncologist, University of Antwerp
  • Hannah van Kolfschooten Postdoctoral researcher, University of Basel and Advisor, WHO Technical Advisory Group on Artificial Intelligence for Health (TAG-AI)

Speakers

  • Robbe Saesen Vice-Chair, Digital Health Network, ECO and Scientist, Sciensano
  • Stavroula Chante Board Member and Treasurer, EONS and Macmillan Lead Cancer Nurse, The Royal Wolverhampton NHS Trust
  • Francesco Baglivo Medical Doctor, University of Pisa
  • Annelies Verbiest Medical Oncologist, University of Antwerp
  • Hannah van Kolfschooten Postdoctoral researcher, University of Basel and Advisor, WHO Technical Advisory Group on Artificial Intelligence for Health (TAG-AI)

Programme

16:00-16:05
Welcome and introductions by Roundtable Co-Chairs
 
  • Robbe Saesen, Vice-Chair, Digital Health Network, ECO and Scientist, Sciensano
  • Stavroula Chante, Board Member and Treasurer, EONS and Macmillan Lead Cancer Nurse, The Royal Wolverhampton NHS Trust
16:05 – 16:25
General introduction on AI, views of Young Cancer Professionals on the topic
 
  • Francesco Baglivo, Medical Doctor, University of Pisa
16:25 – 16:45
A healthcare professional’s perspective on AI: Barriers, questions, and real-world challenges
 
  • Annelies Verbiest, Medical Oncologist, University of Antwerp
16:45– 17:05
EU AI Act: Why do we need to regulate medical AI, and how is the EU addressing the associated risks and responsibilities?
 
  • Hannah van Kolfschooten, Postdoctoral researcher, University of Basel and Advisor, WHO Technical Advisory Group on Artificial Intelligence for Health (TAG-AI)
17:05-17:25
Q&A and interactive discussion
17:25-17:30
Closing remarks by Co-Chairs

 

Speakers

  • Robbe Saesen Vice-Chair, Digital Health Network, ECO and Scientist, Sciensano
  • Stavroula Chante Board Member and Treasurer, EONS and Macmillan Lead Cancer Nurse, The Royal Wolverhampton NHS Trust
  • Francesco Baglivo Medical Doctor, University of Pisa
  • Annelies Verbiest Medical Oncologist, University of Antwerp
  • Hannah van Kolfschooten Postdoctoral researcher, University of Basel and Advisor, WHO Technical Advisory Group on Artificial Intelligence for Health (TAG-AI)

Speakers

  • Robbe Saesen Vice-Chair, Digital Health Network, ECO and Scientist, Sciensano
  • Stavroula Chante Board Member and Treasurer, EONS and Macmillan Lead Cancer Nurse, The Royal Wolverhampton NHS Trust
  • Francesco Baglivo Medical Doctor, University of Pisa
  • Annelies Verbiest Medical Oncologist, University of Antwerp
  • Hannah van Kolfschooten Postdoctoral researcher, University of Basel and Advisor, WHO Technical Advisory Group on Artificial Intelligence for Health (TAG-AI)