News

We’re excited to share that Nefeli Tzavara and Gabrielle Oestreicher represented the RELEVIUM Project the ESMO AI & Digital Oncology Congress 2025 in Berlin! This first edition served as an inspiring platform to explore cutting-edge oncology research, AI-driven healthcare innovations, and important ethical discussions. The event was a valuable opportunity to connect with experts and further our mission of empowering patients with pancreatic cancer through AI-guided, multimodal interventions.

We’re advancing towards the RELEVIUM RCT Study. Study Title: Randomized controlled innovative research study to assess improving quality of life of advanced pancreatic cancer patients through an AI-guided multimodal intervention, combining pain and cachexia management, nutrition, and physical activity. Primary Objective: This study aims to improve the quality of life (QoL) of advanced pancreatic cancer patients by reducing pain and cachexia through highly personalized nutrition, physical activity, and pain management strategies—enhancing standard chemotherapy treatment with AI-driven interventions. Key Updates: 1. Ethical approvals for the study are underway for UMC Mainz, NEMC and Rambam 2. UMC Mainz has begun a live-simulation test of the RELEVIUM system: a test-‘patient’ using the mApp and smartwatch and the test- monitoring by the clinician via the dashboard 3. JGU continues to work on framework for the analysis of results and observations from the implementation of the study 4. Study sites are being finalized among clinical partners

The RELEVIUM project’s 4th General Assembly took place on October 24–25 at Madrid's historic Palacio de Santoña, hosted by partner Futuro Perfecto Innovation. This assembly gathered project partners and stakeholders to review progress and discuss next steps, with highlights including technical updates on pain estimation models, sarcopenia algorithms, and US prototype developments, along with key clinical insights from the FDC study. A particularly impactful moment came when an anonymous patient shared firsthand feedback on the RELEVIUM app and technology, emphasizing the project’s direct impact on improving patient experiences. Attendees also participated in interactive workshops, gaining hands-on experience with the RCT system, smartwatches, and mobile apps, while working together on EU-level initiatives to support pancreatic cancer care. The assembly reinforced RELEVIUM’s commitment to enhancing the quality of life for advanced pancreatic cancer patients through technology, while raising awareness about the importance of a comprehensive approach to patient well-being.

For the first time in over a decade, the FDA has approved a new first-line treatment for metastatic pancreatic cancer patients. NALIRIFOX, a combination chemotherapy, has shown positive survival benefits in clinical trials and is now approved for patients who have not yet received treatment. This approval offers hope for improved outcomes and precious time with loved ones.

📣 Important progress update on the RELEVIUM project! We successfully conducted online focus groups, collaborating with UMC Mainz and ECPC. The questions and discussions yielded valuable feedback. Additionally, we are providing an online questionnaire to reach even more patients and clinicians. This milestone showcases the first achievements of RELEVIUM. Stay tuned for more updates! ✨

This week marked a pivotal moment for the RELEVIUM project as we successfully brought our consortium partners together for our Fifth General Assembly. Held virtually, this gathering was essential for meticulously reviewing our collective progress and strategically mapping out the next crucial phase of our journey. We extend our sincere gratitude to our partners at Futuro Perfecto for their exemplary hosting of this highly productive virtual event.The core of our sessions focused on addressing key challenges and accelerating the project's momentum. We engaged in robust discussions aimed at advancing our Randomized Controlled Trial (RCT), refining the innovative Relevium system based on valuable real-world feedback, and delineating the administrative steps necessary for our continued progress. These detailed conversations are fundamental to ensuring our work remains impactful and aligned with our objectives. These collaborative workshops are truly the bedrock of our success. They are instrumental in harmonizing our diverse expertise and guaranteeing that our combined efforts translate into tangible achievements. Concluding the assembly, we emerged with a clear set of action points and a renewed commitment to our overarching mission: to enhance patient outcomes through pioneering health technology. Our heartfelt thanks go out to all our consortium partners, including UMC Mainz, for their profound engagement and invaluable contributions. The dedication and enthusiasm evident this week are a testament to our shared vision, affirming that the RELEVIUM project's future is indeed bright, driven by this powerful collective endeavor.

On 11 November 2025, we had the opportunity to convene at the European Parliament for an in-depth discussion on how to strengthen supportive and palliative care for pancreatic cancer patients across Europe. The session, hosted by MEP Romana Jerković, brought together policymakers, clinicians, researchers, and patient advocates for a meaningful exchange on the future of patient-centred care. This gathering formed part of EU Malnutrition Awareness Week and Pancreatic Cancer Awareness Month, placing a spotlight on the significant impact that malnutrition continues to have on patients’ quality of life. Throughout the session, we explored emerging solutions that can help address these unmet needs, with a particular focus on nutritional care and AI-driven approaches. A central highlight of the event was the presentation of the RELEVIUM Project, showcasing advances in patient monitoring, multimodal interventions, and frameworks for integrating these innovations into health systems and policy. Speakers underscored how data-driven, personalised approaches can reshape the way supportive and palliative care is delivered, offering patients greater comfort, dignity, and improved outcomes. We also examined the systemic, regulatory, and practical challenges that still hinder the widespread adoption of patient-centred nutritional and palliative care across Europe. The discussion concluded with policy recommendations aimed at creating more scalable, sustainable pathways for innovation in this field. We extend our sincere thanks to all participants for their contributions, engagement, and commitment to advancing supportive care for pancreatic cancer patients

HUA, one of the RELEVIUM project partners, has published a paper in IEEE ACCESS. This paper explores the impact of data augmentations on self-supervised learning for phonocardiogram (PCG) classification, revealing that proper augmentation selection enhances model robustness and improves performance on out-of-distribution data. Authors: Ballas, Aristotelis; Papapanagiotou, Vasileios; Diou, Christos (2024).

CERTH, one of the RELEVIUM project partners, has published an article in the Cancers Journal. This article explores how digital health technologies can help manage the growing cancer burden, emphasizing the importance of understanding patients’ needs, with a review of 128 studies showing that cancer patients prioritize ease of use, effective care management, and enhanced communication with healthcare providers. Authors: Lazarou, I., Krooupa, A-M., Nikolopoulos, S., Apostolidis, L., Sarris, N., Papadopoulos, S., & Kompatsiaris, I. (2024).

Explore the significance of November 16, World Pancreatic Cancer Day. Learn why this day matters for patients, its impact, and the crucial awareness it aims to generate. Don't miss out on understanding the vital role it plays in the fight against pancreatic cancer.

Join the 2023 European Cancer Summit, organized by the European Cancer Organisation. Co-chaired by Winette van der Graaf and Kathy Oliver, this event will take place in Brussels and online on November 15 - 16. Submit your abstracts by September 15th to be featured at the summit and register now for a discounted rate. ​ Explore the present and future of cancer care in Europe at this comprehensive summit.