Insights from the REBECCA Plenary Gathering in Athens, Greece
Stimulating discussions, enlightening feedback, and active participation characterised the third REBECCA plenary meeting, taking place on the 22nd and 23rd 2024 of February in the city of Athens. The two-day agenda brought together 12 partners from seven European countries, both online and on-site at Harokopio University, to discuss the project’s key developments, future steps, and progress made in REBECCA studies across three pilot sites in the plenary.
During the meeting, partners shared the results achieved in the previous months, presenting significant findings from their research efforts. The suggestions from the fruitful discussions were significant in supporting clinical research and enhancing the workflow of breast cancer studies.
Dr. Elena Mieres from the breast cancer research group at INCLIVA presented advancements in studies on bone health and quality of life during the development of the REBECCA project. Further notable progress was discussed by the experts Dr. Ingrid Holsvik Dahl, Dr. Karina Bru, and Dr. Marius Stensland from Stavanger University Hospital, focusing on cancer-related fatigue. Additionally, Dr. Theodoros Foukakis from REGION STOCKHOLM presented studies on peripheral neuropathy induced by breast cancer treatment.
On the second day, partners engaged in in-depth discussions covering important matters and possible progress in the REBECCA project. Topics included the feasibility study in Stockholm, behavioural indicator analysis, sustainability planning, the extension of the REBECCA project, and the cost-benefit analysis. Regarding the cost-benefit analysis, it will provide evidence to healthcare policymakers and medical product approval bodies of the savings that result from supporting and adopting the use of real-world data for clinical research. It will also contribute to the evaluation of the effectiveness of various forms of treatment.
Professors Christos Diou, Niki Kiriakidou, and Aristotelis Ballas from Harokopio University of Athens presented a comprehensive data analysis to examine the prevalence of comorbidities associated with cancer, including osteopenia, osteoporosis, diabetes mellitus, cardiovascular diseases, and the presence of mental health issues. This represents a key step in REBECCA’s studies, as it prioritises both research and the patient experience at the forefront of the investigative efforts.
We were fortunate to have excellent patient representation during the meeting through AMAZONA, the Breast Cancer Association. AMAZONA plays a crucial role in supporting individuals affected by breast cancer and their families, as well as promoting awareness about breast cancer and the significance of early detection while refraining from providing medical advice. Within the context of REBECCA, a digital technology project, the patient perspective holds paramount importance in shaping the development of any technological advancements.
Additionally, communication regarding the progress of such projects and engaging stakeholders is vital. To address this, Ms. Olga Polyaeva and Ms. Isabella Cina from European Health Management Association (EHMA) delivered insightful presentations and shared their plans for future initiatives in the upcoming year. Their contributions underscored the importance of collaboration and strategic planning in advancing the objectives of the project and ensuring its success.
Concluding these two days, we are highly satisfied with the fruitful and stimulating discussions that brought the REBECCA project a big step forward!
The Consortium looks forward to the future developments of the project, anticipating more significant updates and continue working towards improving the lives of breast cancer patients.
Stay informed about the latest activities of REBECCA by following the project’s social media channels on Twitter and LinkedIn, and sign up for the REBECCA newsletter.