René Bernards (EACR Past President) and Johanna Joyce (EACR President Elect), together with Michael Baumann and Anton Berns, have written a new commentary highlighting the urgent need to strengthen cancer research in Europe.
Writing on behalf of the European Association for Cancer Research (EACR) and the European Academy of Cancer Sciences (EACS), the authors note that cancer cases continue to rise and healthcare systems are under increasing strain. To meet this challenge, they call for smarter and sustained support across the full research pathway – from curiosity-driven discovery science to clinical trials and patient access. This focus on curiosity-driven research directly reflects the EACR’s ongoing #KeepResearchCurious campaign, which champions the fundamental science that underpins tomorrow’s breakthroughs.
The article sets out clear priorities, including investment in prevention, support for academic-led clinical research, better pathways for start-ups, and stronger opportunities for early-career scientists. It notes how the European Commission has a unique opportunity in the next budget period to direct a portion of its proposed €2 trillion (2028–2034) towards cancer research and the systems needed to translate discoveries into patient benefit.
The commentary has the full backing of the Boards of the EACR and the EACS – a united call to put scientific discovery at the centre of Europe’s response to the cancer burden.
Europe has the talent, the ideas, and the collaborative strength to lead the next wave of progress against cancer. With the right support and urgency, the breakthroughs of tomorrow can happen here, making a real difference for patients and their families.
