SOLACE+ launches to scale up lung cancer screening across Europe

SOLACE+ (Strengthening the screening of Lung Cancer in Europe – Pilots, Learning, Uptake and Sustainability) launches today, bringing together 46 partners from 22 EU Member States and Norway, to speed-up and standardise high-quality lung cancer screening across Europe. The launch coincides with Lung Cancer Awareness Month, underscoring the urgent need for action on Europe’s deadliest cancer.

The 3-year project, co-funded by the EU4Health Programme, builds on the achievements of the original SOLACE project, which screened over 30,000 people across 11 countries, demonstrated that targeted outreach reaches groups often missed by screening and influenced national screening policy in Croatia and other countries.

SOLACE+ directly supports Europe’s Beating Cancer Plan, the EU’s comprehensive framework to tackle cancer from prevention to treatment and survivorship. The project contributes to the Plan’s early detection pillar by helping Member States implement the Council Recommendation on cancer screening, which includes lung cancer screening for high-risk groups.

SOLACE+ will support Member States to design, plan, launch, evaluate and optimise low-dose CT (LDCT)-based lung cancer screening programmes. The project focuses on reaching high-risk and vulnerable populations, strengthening quality assurance and workforce capacity, integrating AI responsibly into radiological workflows and addressing remaining gaps including smoking cessation and adherence after baseline screening.

The project will evaluate and implement AI-assisted tools for nodule detection, risk stratification and workflow optimisation. These technologies support radiologists by improving detection accuracy, reducing reading time and enabling consistent quality across screening sites, while maintaining human oversight and clinical judgment.

Torsten Blum, Scientific Co-coordinator of the SOLACE+ project, said:

“Screening saves lives if people can access it and quality is consistent. SOLACE proved that targeted outreach works. We screened over 30,000 people across 11 countries and reached groups who are often missed. SOLACE+ is about taking what we learned and making it work at scale.

Rozemarijn Vliegenthar, Scientific Co-coordinator of the SOLACE+ project, added:

“Within SOLACE+ we will support 19 countries to build screening programmes that are sustainable, equitable and grounded in real-world evidence. That is how we turn lung cancer screening from a goal into practice.”

The project is coordinated by EIBIR (the European Institute for Biomedical Imaging Research) and scientifically led by Rozemarijn Vliegenthart and Torsten Blum with the support of Joanna Chorostowska-Wynimko and Helmut Prosch, representing the European Respiratory Society and the European Society of Radiology. The project brings together universities, university hospitals, health authorities, professional associations, patient organisations and research institutions from across Europe.

SOLACE+ aims to utilise this collaboration to deliver positive health outcomes at the individual level. By establishing sustainable screening programmes, the project aims to make early detection a reality for thousands more people.

Maria aged 68, from Athens, Greece, took part in the first SOLACE pilot programme. She had no symptoms but during the programme, the CT scan detected a spot on her lungs that was confirmed to be cancerous after testing. Talking about her experience, she said:

“I consider myself very lucky. If I had not participated, I wouldn’t have had any tests on my own. I had no symptoms to signal that there was any issue. When people ask me about screening, I tell them not to be afraid because this is an act of self-care. It absolutely has to do with loving your life.”

Lung cancer is the leading cause of cancer death in Europe, responsible for over 250,000 deaths annually. Every November, Lung Cancer Awareness Month highlights the urgent need for action on this preventable tragedy. Evidence shows that LDCT screening can reduce lung cancer deaths, but implementation remains uneven across Member States. SOLACE+ addresses this by creating a coordinated cross-country implementation network, developing common standards, and building sustainable capacity for the long term – all aligned with Europe’s Beating Cancer Plan objectives.