The initiative involves coordinated and comprehensive activities in the field of personalized medicine in oncology. These actions will cover the entire care pathway, from prevention, through diagnostics and treatment, to post-treatment patient monitoring.
Main objectives of the project
The primary aim of the project is to implement the concept of precision oncology, especially by promoting modern genetic testing using next-generation sequencing (NGS) technologies for cancer patients, as well as for early diagnosis of cancer. The project seeks to develop solutions to overcome barriers to accessing such testing, promote its use, and provide educational activities for both healthcare professionals and patients.
Who represents WUM
Our university is represented in the project by Prof. Tomasz Stokłosa, Head of the Department of Cancer Biology and Genetics at WUM and Head of the Genetics Laboratory at the University Center for Laboratory Medicine, UCK WUM. Prof. Stokłosa attended the project’s kick-off meeting in Brussels in January this year, as well as the first meeting of Polish partners in February.
JA PCM is another EU-funded project carried out at the Department of Cancer Biology and Genetics at WUM. Between 2022 and 2025, as part of the CAN.HEAL project, regular meetings of molecular oncology boards, known as Molecular Tumor Boards (MTBs), were initiated. These are now becoming standard in cancer care across Europe, particularly for patients with a poor prognosis and rare or treatment-resistant cancers. Such regular meetings have been held for two years at the Department of Neurosurgery of UCK WUM, led by Prof. Przemysław Kunert, as a joint initiative with Prof. Tomasz Stokłosa. Participants include clinicians such as neurosurgeons, oncologists, and radiologists, as well as specialists in nuclear medicine, radiation oncology, pathology, and genetics. As a result of this initiative, WUM researchers became co-authors of EU guidelines on the functioning of molecular tumor boards: “A decalogue of Molecular Tumor Board (MTB) recommendations from the CAN.HEAL Consortium,” published in the prestigious journal European Journal of Cancer.
Tasks of WUM and other centers within JA PCM
The specific tasks in which WUM will participate include, among others, promoting the concept of Molecular Tumor Boards (MTBs), where WUM researchers are pioneers in its implementation. Other areas include the use of “liquid biopsy” for early cancer detection and disease monitoring, involving the detection of circulating tumor cells or genetic material in the blood.
The JA PCM action plan also includes numerous pilot projects covering:
- access to cancer prevention, along with risk assessment
- development of care pathways and implementation of prevention strategies based on multigene risk scores
- analysis of genetic predispositions to cancer
- development of new treatment models based on risk-sharing
- innovative solutions for patient monitoring
Cross-cutting project activities include external quality assurance (EQA), education and training, addressing ethical, legal, and social issues, health technology assessment (HTA), and effective data management and accessibility.
Other institutions involved in the project
In addition to the Medical University of Warsaw, the following Polish institutions are involved in the JA PCM project:
- Maria Skłodowska-Curie National Research Institute of Oncology (NIO-PIB), acting as the coordinating institution
- Lower Silesian Oncology, Pulmonology and Hematology Center (DCOPiH)
- Medical University of Białystok (UMB)
More information is available on the project’s official website and the Ministry of Health website.