The TeamUp4Cancer project, developed by Porto.CCC, has won the Public Choice Award at the 2026 REGIOSTARS. Selected from 274 applications across Europe, the Portuguese project stood out in the «A Competitive and Smart Europe» category, being the only national and health-sector representative to compete.
With an investment of approximately 17.6 million euros, of which 15 million euros were funded by European funds (ERDF) through the Norte 2020 program, TeamUp4Cancer established Portugal's first Precision Oncology Program. This funding enabled the acquisition of advanced equipment, the hiring of highly specialized professionals, and the creation of dedicated clinical research infrastructure.
Over 1,500 patients gained access to advanced diagnostics, and hundreds participated in clinical trials, including early-phase studies, eliminating the need to seek treatment abroad.
“"This award reflects the merit and quality of the work we do. Thousands of people, from healthcare professionals and researchers to patients, families, and citizens from across the country and beyond, chose Porto.CCC among the 25 best European projects funded by Cohesion Policy. To all of them, our sincere thanks. It is a vote of confidence that honors and holds us accountable."
Júlio Oliveira emphasized that the recognition also testifies to the work of the teams at IPO Porto and i3S, highlighting the synergy between clinical practice and research. "It is a concrete example of what European funds can achieve when well applied: transforming a convergence region into a European benchmark," he stated, expressing a desire to share this model and ensure its continuity.
Cláudio Sunkel, director of i3S, underscored the importance of collaboration between scientific research and clinical practice. "This award is a source of great pride and acknowledges the value of a long-term collaboration between scientific research and clinical practice," he declared. He noted that TeamUp4Cancer demonstrates how knowledge and technology developed at i3S can reach patients more quickly through solid partnerships, and that research challenges often arise from the daily experience of IPO Porto professionals.
The Porto Comprehensive Cancer Centre Raquel Seruca (Porto.CCC) is a consortium between IPO Porto and i3S – Universidade do Porto, integrating clinical practice and oncology research from the laboratory to the patient. It is accredited by the OECI – Organisation of European Cancer Institutes as a Comprehensive Cancer Centre, the only one in Portugal with this recognition.
The REGIOSTARS awards, organized since 2008 by the European Commission's Directorate-General for Regional and Urban Policy (DG REGIO), celebrate EU-funded projects that stand out for their innovation and impact.
