DISARM

Ovarian cancer (OC), a malignant tumour in one or both ovaries, is the most lethal of female gynecologic cancers in Europe. Often referred to as a “silent killer,” OC is typically diagnosed at an advanced stage due to its subtle, non-specific symptoms, and the lack of effective screening, underscoring the urgent need for improved early detection strategies. As one of the most heritable forms of cancer, with a significant proportion of cases linked to family history and genetic predisposition, OC also highlights the critical importance of multifactorial risk assessment tools to accurately identify high-risk individuals and enable targeted prevention.

The DISARM project addresses these critical challenges of hereditary OC by advancing both multifactorial risk assessment and early detection through cutting-edge technologies. By integrating innovative diagnostic tools, AI-driven analytics, and citizen-centered digital platforms, DISARM aims to transform how OC risk is assessed and detected across Europe. The project is structured around four key pillars: 1) Pillar A focuses on multifactorial OC risk assessment in routine healthcare, investigating multifactorial risk assessment versus standard practices in 4 EU MS (Lithuania, Portugal, Czech Republic, Greece); 2) Pillar B targets early detection of OC and encompasses a set of easy-to-use, highly accurate and affordable technologies to be upscaled and validated in 5 countries (UK, Lithuania, Portugal, Czech Republic, Greece); 3) Pillar C comprises several intelligent digital assets that can optimally support and enhance risk assessment (pillar A) and early detection (pillar B) in routine healthcare; 4) Pillar D involves all activities designed for ensuring the uptake and adoption of DISARM solutions in routine healthcare.

In summary, the DISARM project offers a multidimensional approach to tackling hereditary OC across Europe. By combining personalized risk assessment, innovative early detection methods, and AI-driven digital tools, it sets a new standard for prevention and diagnosis. With a coordinated effort involving 26 partners from 12 countries (10 EU MS, the UK and Canada), and a strong emphasis on citizen engagement and sustainability, DISARM is shaping a future of more equitable, effective, and informed OC care.

ITI-CERTH has a critical role in the project by contributing to the AI Explainability and Federated AI in both AI-driven tools for risk stratification and early detection. It is also responsible for the federated AI components of a Privacy-preserving Integrated Platform, which unifies DISARM’s digital assets and enables secure and compliant analysis of sensitive health data. Moreover, ITI-CERTH leads the development of a virtual catalogue that offers structured, harmonised metadata to improve data findability and support FAIR principles (Findable, Accessible, Interoperable, Reusable).

Consortium

EREVNITIKO PANEPISTIMIAKO INSTITOUTO SYSTIMATON EPIKOINONION KAI YPOLOGISTON, Greece
INSTITUTO PORTUGUÊS DE ONCOLOGIA DE LISBOA FRANCISCO GENTIL, EPE, Portugal
IMPERIAL COLLEGE OF SCIENCE, TECHNOLOGY AND MEDICINE, AFFILIATED WITH THE IMPERIAL COLLEGE NHS TRUST, United Kingdom
ETHNIKO KAI KAPODISTRIAKO PANEPISTIMIO ATHINON, Greece
UNIVERZITA KARLOVA, Czech Republic
LIETUVOS SVEIKATOS MOKSLU UNIVERSITETAS, Lithuania
NSCR ‘DEMOKRITOS, Greece
KYPRIAKO IDRYMA EREVNON GIA TI MYIKI DISTROFIA, Cyprus
VOC DIAGNOSTICS AB, Sweden
EREVNITIKO IDRIMA P.L., Cyprus
UNIVERSITY OF BIRMINGHAM, United Kingdom
TIMELEX BV/SRL, Belgium
KATHOLIEKE UNIVERSITEIT LEUVEN, Belgium
ASSOCIAÇÃO EVITA – CANCRO HEREDITÁRIO, Portugal
ELLINIKI OMOSPONDIA KARKINOU, Greece
WORLD OVARIAN CANCER COALITION, Canada
EXUS SOFTWARE MONOPROSOPI ETAIRIA PERIORISMENIS EVTHINIS, Greece
CARE ACROSS LTD, UK
ETHNIKO KENTRO EREVNAS KAI TECHNOLOGIKIS ANAPTYXIS, Greece
AINIGMA TECHNOLOGIES, Belgium
1st REGIONAL HEALTH AUTHORITY OF ATTICA, Greece
LIETUVOS RESPUBLIKOS SVEIKATOS APSAUGOS MINISTERIJA, Lithuania
UNIVERSIDAD DE LA RIOJA, Spain
EY ADVISORY SPA, Italy
CARR COMMUNICATIONS LIMITED, Ireland
PHASE CLINICAL RESEARCH AND PHARMA CONSULTING S.A., Greece