The University of Latvia (UL), within the framework of the EUCAIM (European Federation for Cancer Images) project, has signed a cooperation agreement with Riga East Clinical University Hospital to launch the prospective collection and aggregation of mammography images and related clinical data in Latvia.
This collaboration is part of an ambitious European initiative aimed at creating a federated cancer imaging data system for the development of artificial intelligence (AI) tools for early cancer diagnosis. EUCAIM will establish the most extensive data repository to date, providing secure access to cancer imaging data across Europe. This will enable the use of medical images for research and AI training without the need to transfer data outside the institutions entrusted with them by citizens.
“UL’s participation in EUCAIM is a clear example of how the academic environment can develop sustainable solutions to improve public health. In cooperation with the Eastern Hospital, we are advancing research in areas essential for public health while laying the groundwork for AI tools that will enhance cancer diagnostics in Latvia and across Europe,” explains Kristaps Jaudzems, Dean of the UL Faculty of Medicine and Life Sciences.
“Latvia’s involvement means that our data and expertise will help develop practices that improve early detection and treatment decisions for various cancer types across Europe. Moreover, the new AI solutions developed will be adapted to Latvia’s specific context,” says Inese Poļaka, lead researcher at the UL Institute of Clinical and Preventive Medicine (UL ICPM), which is the EUCAIM project partner in Latvia.
Cooperation model and data security
Under the agreement, Eastern Hospital will provide the necessary facilities and technical support for data acquisition, while UL researchers will prepare mammography images and related clinical data. In total, data from at least 200 mammography examinations are expected to be collected from Latvian patients, and these images will contribute to the European breast cancer imaging database.
Special attention is paid to data security – all collected data will be fully anonymized, strictly complying with personal data protection requirements.
European-level impact
The collected data will become part of a broader European initiative uniting EU member states to create the largest and highest-quality cancer imaging dataset for research purposes. Such a large-scale database will enable the development and validation of new AI tools that could revolutionize early cancer diagnosis.
“Collaboration with the Eastern Hospital not only promotes interdisciplinary teamwork but also strengthens Latvia’s contribution to one of Europe’s most significant digital health projects, positioning our country as an active participant in the innovation-driven future of medicine,” emphasizes Professor Mārcis Leja, gastroenterologist and Director of the UL ICPM.
About the EUCAIM project
EUCAIM (European Federation for Cancer Images) is an ambitious Horizon Europe initiative focused on improving access to cancer imaging data for research and AI development. The project aims to establish a federated data infrastructure that enables the secure use of data while safeguarding patient privacy and data protection standards.
In the context of EUCAIM, a federated system means the ability to search and access cancer imaging data distributed among various institutions and data repositories across Europe, without centralizing all data in one location. For example, if a researcher searches for “breast cancer MRI scans with specific features,” the system will query all partner data centers across the EU and return aggregated results, while the data themselves remain securely stored at their original institutions.
More information: The EUCAIM project is co-funded by the European Union’s Digital Europe Programme under grant agreement No. 1011100633.
