22nd May 2026
On 29th of April 2026, the Behavioral Science in Health (BSiH) Lab of the Cyprus University of Technology took part in the high‑level event “Securing a Lasting Impact from the EU Cancer Plan and EU Cancer Mission”, hosted in Nicosia under the Cyprus Presidency of the Council of the European Union. The event was co-organised by the European Cancer Organisation and the Cyprus University of Technology. The meeting brought together policy‑makers, researchers, clinicians, patient organisations and European projects to reflect on how to sustain and strengthen the impact of Europe’s Beating Cancer Plan and the EU Cancer Mission.
In the afternoon programme “Empowered Voices, Stronger Impact: Driving Europe’s Cancer Plan Forward”, BSiH Lab had a central role in the session “Mental Health in Cancer Care: Challenges and Opportunities”. The session was introduced and moderated by Dr Angelos Kassianos, Assistant Professor at Cyprus University of Technology, Director of the BSiH Lab and member of the Cyprus Psychologists Association Board. The aim was to highlight how psychological support, behavioural science and system‑level change can be integrated into cancer care across Europe.
The session featured short presentations from three European projects working at the intersection of cancer and mental health: ALTHEA, DESIPOC and MELODIC. Representing the BSiH Lab and Cyprus University of Technology, Dr Maria Loizou, project representative for DESIPOC, presented work on digital and behavioural approaches to supporting the psychosocial needs of people affected by cancer. Her contribution showcased how evidence‑based interventions and co‑designed tools can improve communication, emotional support and self‑management across the cancer pathway.
The presentations were followed by a rich panel discussion that brought together representatives of the three projects and invited experts including Prof William Gallagher (University College Dublin, AICRI), and Dr Chara Demetriou, President of the Cyprus Psychologists Association. Moderated by Dr Kassianos, the discussion focused on how to embed mental health within cancer policies and services, the importance of cross‑country collaboration, and the need to translate research findings into scalable, person‑centred solutions.
Participation in this event aligns closely with the BSiH Lab’s mission to apply behavioural science to real‑world health challenges and to advance integrated, person‑centred cancer care. It also strengthens collaborations with European partners working on cancer, psychosocial support and digital innovation, and opens up new opportunities for joint projects and knowledge exchange. The lab was represented by Dr Angelos Kassianos, Dr Maria Loizou and Dr Veronica Hadjipanagi together with collaborators on the DESIPOC project from the Center for Social Innovation.
