Launch of OPTIMA: new research project aims to improve treatment for patients with prostate, breast and lung cancer through artificial intelligence

ELF is pleased to announce that it is part of a new Innovative Medicines Initiative (IMI) project called OPTIMA (Optimal Treatment for Patients with Solid Tumours in Europe Through Artificial Intelligence). It is a € 21.3 million public-private research programme that will seek to use artificial intelligence (AI) to improve care for patients with lung, prostate and breast cancer.  

In this project 36 partners from 13 countries will: 

• Establish a secure, large-scale evidence data platform for lung, prostate and breast cancer that includes real-world data from more than 200 million people. With a focus on patient privacy, the platform will be GDPR-compliant and contain only anonymized health data.  

• Drive new knowledge by developing advanced analytics and AI models to identify, prioritise and fill the main knowledge gaps in lung, prostate and breast cancer – and propose improved clinical guideline recommendations. 

• Develop AI-based decision support tools that will help clinicians make care decisions based on the leading clinical practice guidelines for lung, prostate and breast cancer. 

Working together with the ELF Lung Cancer Patient Advisory Group, Lung Cancer Europe (LuCE), and patients with experience of prostate and breast cancer, ELF will ensure that patients are at the heart of this project and that the findings of the project are what patients need and want. 

Anne-Marie Baird, President of LuCE and member of the ELF Lung Cancer Patient Advisory Group said of the project: “Artificial intelligence (AI) holds great promise to improve the lives of people impacted by cancer. Therefore, it is very exciting for the lung cancer community to see OPTIMA getting funded through IMI. We hope that OPTIMA will harness AI to advance clinical guidelines, which will result in better outcomes for people living with this disease.” 

If you want to be part of this exciting new project, please get in touch clare.williams@europeanlung.org

Read the ERS/ELF joint press release

Visit the OPTIMA website

OPTIMA is funded through the IMI2 Joint Undertaking and is listed under grant agreement No. 101034347. IMI2 receives support from the European Union’s Horizon 2020 research and innovation programme and the European Federation of Pharmaceutical Industries and Associations (EFPIA). IMI supports collaborative research projects and builds networks of industrial and academic experts in order to boost pharmaceutical innovation in Europe.

The views communicated within are those of OPTIMA. Neither the IMI nor the European Union, EFPIA, or any Associated Partners are responsible for any use that may be made of the information contained herein.