Zagreb, Croatia – [07.10.2025]
Cancer remains one of the leading causes of death in Europe, and Croatia continues to face regional disparities in access to comprehensive oncology services. To address these inequities, the EU-funded CORN-CCI4EU Deep Dive, launched under the Horizon Europe CCI4EU project, is supporting the development of Comprehensive Cancer Infrastructures (CCIs) in Croatia. The project aims at European Beating Cancer Plan recommendation by 2030 at least 90 percent of patients who could benefit from multidisciplinary cancer care will have equitable access, regardless of their geographic location, as well as most of the components of Croatian Plan Against Cancer.
A central component of the initiative is the integration of research into clinical practice. Capacity-building programs are enabling healthcare professionals to strengthen clinical research infrastructure, apply data-driven decision-making, and promote evidence-based care. Participating centers are encouraged to expand cooperation with academic institutions, increase patient participation in clinical trials, and incorporate translational research into routine oncology workflows.
To improve quality across the system, CORN-CCI4EU is supporting the standardization and optimization of patient pathways through the use of real-world data and outcome indicators. Activities include comprehensive site assessments, regional educational events, and the establishment of secure platforms for data sharing, benchmarking, and knowledge exchange.
Building on this European framework, Croatia has identified priority actions in cancer research, cancer care, and data management. These include drafting a three-year national cancer research strategy, accrediting five University Cancer Centers, and developing structured clinical pathways for lung and colorectal cancer. Efforts are also underway to align national systems with EU Health Data Space requirements and to centralize clinical trial data in order to ensure interoperability across hospitals and population registries.
The CORN-CCI4EU Deep Dive is designed to reduce inequalities in cancer care, align research with clinical practice, and strengthen national capacity to deliver sustainable, innovation-driven oncology services. The consortium is embedded in the Croatian Cancer Research Society, an entity with existing reputation and international collaborations. The initiative is endorsed by the Ministry of Science which recognized the need for collaboration in healthcare. The results of the CORN-CCI4EU Deep Dive will be shared with the Ministry of health, in good faith that they will be embedded in future development of cancer care in Croatia, connecting research with relevant clinical practice.
More about CORN here: https://corn.com.hr/
