University’s contribution to society award 2025 is given for cancer prevention and treatment

The University of Tartu contribution to society award 2025 is granted for establishing the Estonian Cancer Network (ESTCAN), an important step towards the comprehensive development and collaborative management of cancer control in Estonia.

The Estonian Cancer Network brings together medical, research and educational institutions in the field of cancer, as well as patient organisations, and facilitates participation in international projects to improve the prevention, early detection and treatment of cancer in Estonia. The network was founded by ten organisations, including universities, hospitals, the Ministry of Social Affairs, the Health Insurance Fund, the Estonian Cancer Society and other partners. “The cancer network enables Estonia’s cancer prevention and treatment to function as a single, coherent system rather than as a set of fragmented parts,” said the Head of the network, Kadi-Liis Veiman.

Vice Rector for Research and chair of the evaluation committee Mari Moora emphasised that the award is given to recognise the Estonian Cancer Network’s impact on society, its collaboration with Estonian and international partners, its role in strengthening Estonia’s cancer research and healthcare systems, and its contribution to raising people’s health awareness.

Secure use of cancer data

The evaluation committee underlines the network’s significant role in international research and development. The network leads the “Decentralized Collaborative Network for Advancing Cancer Research and Innovation” (UNCAN-Connect), a project with a budget of 30 million euros, which focuses on developing international, decentralised sharing and use of cancer data to integrate different data systems and enhance effective cooperation.

Veiman noted that the use of cancer data for research must meet strict ethical and legal requirements and that secure data sharing is therefore often a complex task. “UNCAN-Connect and the digital platform UNCAN.eu help meet these requirements more efficiently, simplify access to cancer data, promote open science, and make cancer research and treatment more precise and effective.”

Cooperation with key partners

Since its founding, the Estonian Cancer Network has quickly begun operating and, over the past year, has brought together stakeholders across Estonia: doctors, researchers, policymakers, funders, and patient representatives. The network has contributed to implementing the Estonian National Cancer Control Plan. Together with partners, it aims to achieve the three priorities set out in the plan for 2021–2030: fewer people have cancer, people live longer and healthier lives after a cancer diagnosis, and people with cancer have a better quality of life. The network has also launched several national and international initiatives.

“We have increased Estonia’s involvement in the EU Cancer Mission, an initiative aiming to improve the lives of more than three million people by 2030 through better prevention, treatment and quality of life. We have also started implementing Europe’s Beating Cancer Plan, initiated the development of Estonia’s cancer data management dashboard, helped promote smarter cancer screening programmes, and started developing a comprehensive cancer centre,” Veiman explained.

The University of Tartu contribution to society award goes to the Head of the Estonian Cancer Network Kadi-Liis Veiman, Clinical Lead Rille Pihlak, Head of Personalised Medicine in Oncology Anni Lepland, Head of Community Relations Mari-Leen Pärn, Head of AI and Data Strategy Jayden Khakurel, Head of Data and Digital Technologies Anne-Mari Anton Willmore, Head of Communication Evelin Kostabi, Head of Finance Kerli Meister, and Project Manager Julia Uusna.

The contribution to society award is given to recognise a university member or working group who has had a significant impact on the development of society in the previous year. This year’s recipient of the contribution to society award was selected from among 16 nominees.