Revolutionizing Cancer Care: BRECISE Project Pioneers Precision Oncology
The fight against cancer is entering a transformative new phase with the launch of the BRECISE project, a cutting-edge five-year research initiative co-funded by the Innovative Health Initiative (IHI) and private industry under the Horizon Europe program. BRECISE aims to accelerate the clinical validation and implementation of Next-Generation Sequencing (NGS)-based, multi-modality Artificial Intelligence (AI) biomarkers.
Launched in January 2025, BRECISE is designed to revolutionize the diagnosis, treatment selection, and disease monitoring of prostate and bladder cancer by addressing key regulatory and technical challenges. The project takes a systematic, integrated approach to biomarker development to improve patient outcomes and healthcare efficiency.
A New Era in Precision Oncology
Prostate and bladder cancers affect millions globally, yet validated biomarkers that reliably predict treatment response, disease progression, and therapy resistance remain scarce in clinical practice. BRECISE is tackling this unmet need by integrating technologies such as Next-Generation Sequencing (NGS), Artificial Intelligence (AI), and ex vivo drug testing to refine and personalize cancer care.
“BRECISE represents a paradigm shift in precision oncology and cancer care,” said Dr. Ralf Hoffmann, Principal at Philips Research in Eindhoven and industry project leader. “By using advanced NGS technologies to validate biomarker models, we can enable personalised treatment for prostate and bladder cancer patients. This project will integrate clinical data and biomarker insights into a comprehensive platform for revolutionising cancer treatments.”
“The BRECISE project strengthens Europe’s position as a leader in innovative cancer research,” added Gary McManus, Research Project Manager at South East Technological University and BRECISE coordinator. “By advancing biomarker-driven precision medicine, we are benefiting patients, healthcare systems, and society as a whole.”
Dr. Maria Eugenia (Xenia) Beltran, Senior Project Manager at Bridg-OU and deputy coordinator, noted: “By bringing together key partners from the private and public sector, we can accelerate the development of advanced cancer biomarkers by leveraging the latest innovations, cutting-edge technologies, and industry best practices.”
Industry Expertise: BioClavis Joins as an Industry Partner
Among the industry collaborators is BioClavis Ltd, a precision diagnostics company based in the UK. As part of the BRECISE consortium, BioClavis contributes the TempO-Seq® targeted-sequencing platform — a high-throughput transcriptomic and genomic analysis technology designed to support scalable biomarker discovery and validation. BioClavis will play a key role in providing molecular analysis services to help identify and stratify cancer biomarkers with clinical relevance, further supporting the project’s goals of enabling precision oncology.
The Role of Policy and Collaboration
The success of BRECISE will depend not only on technological innovation but also on the alignment of policy and healthcare systems to integrate these advancements into routine care. Denis Horgan, Executive Director of the European Alliance for Personalised Medicine, emphasized:
"For projects like BRECISE to succeed, it is crucial that policymakers, healthcare providers, and industry leaders work together. The European Union has a unique opportunity to lead the way in precision oncology, but this requires a coordinated effort to ensure that these innovations are accessible to all patients, regardless of where they live."
Key Objectives and Impact
BRECISE is structured around four core objectives:
1. Clinical Validation of Biomarkers: Multi-center clinical studies validating biomarkers for risk stratification and treatment response.
2. Integration of NGS and AI: AI-driven biomarker models to enhance diagnostic accuracy.
3. Ex Vivo Tumour Testing: Micro-tumour and organoid models for real-time drug response prediction.
4. Regulatory and Market Adoption: Compliance with European frameworks (EHDS, AI Act, MDR) to enable healthcare integration.
A Collaborative Effort
Led by Philips and the South East Technological University, BRECISE brings together a consortium of 12 private, 15 public, and 3 associate partners — linking academic institutions, research centers, healthcare providers, patient organizations, and industry leaders such as BioClavis Ltd. This diverse partnership ensures a holistic, multi-stakeholder approach to biomarker development and implementation.
Looking Ahead
By establishing biomarker-driven solutions for oncology, BRECISE aims to support the adoption of precision medicine in routine cancer care and set new benchmarks for personalised treatment in prostate and bladder cancers. For more information, please visit https://brecise.eu.
About BRECISE:
BRECISE is a multidisciplinary research initiative co-funded by the Innovative Health
Initiative (IHI) under the Horizon Europe program. The project aims to accelerate the clinical
validation and implementation of NGS-based, multi-modality AI biomarkers to improve
diagnosis, treatment selection, and disease monitoring in prostate and bladder cancer.
About the Innovative Health Initiative (IHI):
The IHI is a public-private partnership that supports collaborative research and innovation in
health. It receives funding from the European Union's Horizon Europe research and
innovation program, as well as contributions from industry partners.
About Horizon Europe:
Horizon Europe is the European Union's key funding program for research and innovation,
with a budget of €95.5 billion for the period 2021-2027. It aims to drive scientific excellence,
tackle global challenges and foster industrial competitiveness.