On 16–17 June 2026, partners of the ECO-POP project gathered in Oslo, Norway, for the second Annual General Assembly to review progress, align on upcoming milestones, and discuss the future direction of this ambitious European research initiative.

ECO-POP is a Horizon Europe-funded project that seeks to redefine colorectal cancer treatment by evaluating innovative, less invasive strategies. The project encompasses three clinical trials simultaneously: ETHOS, SCAR, and T-REX, each addressing different aspects of colorectal cancer treatment and patient care.

Together, these studies aim to generate high-quality evidence that could support more personalised treatment pathways, reduce treatment burden, minimise unnecessary interventions, and ultimately improve both patient outcomes and quality of life.

During the two-day meeting, consortium partners reviewed progress across the clinical trials and supporting work packages, communication and dissemination activities, data management, ethics, regulatory requirements, project reporting, and implementation timelines.

As the project continues to advance, collaboration between clinicians, researchers, and patient representatives remains central to ECO-POP’s vision. By combining scientific excellence with meaningful patient involvement, the consortium aims to ensure that future advances in colorectal cancer care are not only clinically effective but also aligned with patients’ needs and experiences.

DiCE is proud to contribute the patient perspective to this important initiative and looks forward to supporting the next stages of the project as ECO-POP continues to generate evidence that may help shape the future of colorectal cancer treatment across Europe.