On 5 February 2026, the FUTURE-AI publication marks its first anniversary, celebrating an important milestone in advancing trustworthy artificial intelligence in healthcare. A special FUTURE-AI webinar will take place on 12 February, organised by Karim Lekadir and featuring Prof. Curtis P. Langlotz (Stanford University), one of the world’s leading experts in AI for medical imaging.

Webinar title: The Future of AI and the Radiology Workforce
Speaker: Curtis P. Langlotz, MD, PhD – Professor of Radiology, Medicine, and Biomedical Data Science at Stanford University

In this webinar, Prof. Langlotz will:

• Explore how AI is transforming the practice of medical imaging, with concrete examples from the research lab to clinical care

• Discuss the limitations and current shortcomings of AI that may constrain its use in practice

• Reflect on the future of the radiology workforce and how roles, skills, and responsibilities may evolve in an AI-enabled ecosystem

The event is hosted by the Universitat de Barcelona and builds on the vision of FUTURE-AI, a framework for trustworthy AI in healthcare. This work also supports the implementation of the COMPASS-AI initiative, which aims to scale safe and effective AI deployment across Europe.

Date: 12 February 2026
Time: 16:00–17:00 CET
Format: Online webinar
Registration: Free – Sign up here

Acknowledgements
This work is made possible through the contributions of several EIBIR-supported projects, including CHAMELEON, EUCAIM, and Radioval.

On December 11, the European Commission formally adopted the Horizon Europe work programme for 2026-2027, providing €14 billion to meet the EU’s policy priorities. Pillars of the work programme include the Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions; research infrastructure; health; digital, industry and space; European innovation ecosystems; and EU missions such as cancer and climate neutrality. Overall, these measures signify that research and innovation, science and technology will remain the engine of the European economy while boosting global competitiveness and cementing Europe’s leadership in the clean and digital transitions. The largest European programme for research and innovation, the programme is open to all EU Member States and 22 associated countries.

This work programme is also intended to simplify processes while enhancing transparency and inclusiveness. Researchers should note topic descriptions are less prescriptive to allow more flexibility, 50% of funding will be handled through lump sums particularly for grants <€10 million, added measures to attract SMEs and startups, increased use of 2-stage calls and a simplified proposal template. Horizontal calls are also introduced, aiming to improve multidisciplinary collaboration and better align the work programme with EU policy objectives. Therefore, the initial horizontal calls will support the Clean Industrial Deal, AI in Science and Choose Europe for Science initiatives.

The Health cluster aims to focus on healthcare resilience, biotechnology and AI toward key public health needs such as disease prevention, climate-related health response, enhanced interventional techniques, broader accessibility, and the development of new digital tools and critical medicines. The mental health of children and young adults in an increasingly digitalised world is also a strong component. More than €1.3 million is expected to be allocated to improve health outcomes and make the EU the most attractive place for life sciences by 2030.

Six calls, totalling more than €115 million, supporting the four objectives of the EU Cancer Mission and in alignment with Europe’s Beating Cancer Plan are expected to be announced in 2027. The funding addresses understanding of cancer and processes, preventative measures, diagnosis and treatment optimisation and supporting quality of life of cancer patients.

👉Click here to read an introduction to the programme or full description of each of the pillars, and check EIBIR’s Open Funding Calls page to check for great opportunities to fund your research interests!

The Cancer Image Europe invites patients, caregivers, healthcare professionals, and the general public to join a public webinar on 26 November 2025. This initiative aims to improve cancer care across Europe by integrating advanced imaging and artificial intelligence (AI) technologies, while ensuring the secure and ethical use of patient data.

Date: 26 November 2025
Time: 11:00 – 12:00 CET

Registration here

During this 1-hour session, participants will gain insight into EUCAIM’s objectives and activities, including:

• Why EUCAIM matters for patients and how it supports earlier detection and more precise treatment
• Patient perspectives and the importance of trust and engagement in AI-supported healthcare
• How EUCAIM works: secure data sharing, contributions from hospitals and researchers, and data privacy safeguards
• Clinical applications and future benefits for cancer care across Europe

This webinar is an opportunity to understand how innovation in imaging and AI can enhance patient outcomes while upholding EU standards for data protection and ethical healthcare.

Learn More

Together with the European Society of Radiology (ESR), EIBIR is pleased to announce the three winning projects of the 2025 ESR Research Seed Grant Global.

Launched to promote global radiology research with a particular focus on Eastern European, Central Asian, and African countries, the Seed Grant Global supports innovative pilot studies that address pressing challenges in radiology. The 2025 call focused on three priority areas: Green Radiology Departments, Cost-Effective Radiology, and Workforce Sustainability.

From 49 applications across 20 countries worldwide, three projects were selected for funding over a two-year period:

Green Radiology Departments

Project: WAFI-GREEN – Women’s Advanced Facility for Imaging – Green Radiology Pilot
Summary: This project integrates sustainability into women-centered imaging services, aiming to reduce energy consumption and contrast media waste by 10–15%. It will establish a replicable framework for green radiology and position the host facility as a pioneer in environmentally responsible imaging.

Lead Investigator: Hanan Gwefel, Women and Fetal Imaging (WAFI), Egypt

Workforce Sustainability

Project: AI-Supported Workflow Optimization and Burnout Reduction in Northeast Nigeria
Summary: This pilot will assess the feasibility of AI-driven workflow improvements in fragile, conflict-affected, and climate-vulnerable settings. It aims to reduce burnout, improve service delivery, and inform broader workforce resilience strategies across Africa.

Lead Investigator: Alyasaa Anas, University of Maiduguri Teaching Hospital, Nigeria

Cost-Effective Radiology

Project: Diagnostic Accuracy of Triple point-of-care-ultrasonography (POCUS)for Pulmonary Embolism Diagnosis in Ghana
Summary: This study will evaluate triple POCUS as a frontline diagnostic tool for pulmonary embolism in resource-limited settings. If successful, it could revolutionize emergency diagnostics across West Africa, reducing costs and environmental impact.

Lead Investigator: Papa Kojo Mbroh, Cape Coast Teaching Hospital, Ghana; Elizabeth Joekes, Worldwide Radiology, United Kingdom

The selected projects are expected to catalyze larger research initiatives and contribute to sustainable, equitable, and innovative radiology practices worldwide.

Read more about the projects and their expected impact here.

The COMPASS-AI consortium and the European Commission are excited to announce the official launch of the COMPASS-AI Project “Community Of Multidisciplinary Professionals Advancing Safe and Successful AI Implementation in Clinical Practice”, a flagship project under the EU’s Apply AI Strategy to accelerate the safe and effective deployment of AI systems in clinical settings to benefit Europe’s patients and citizens.

The 4-year project co-funded under the EU4Health programme focuses on practical implementation of best practices in AI deployment in healthcare by developing scalable, equitable solutions, with a focus on cancer care and remote regions. It will build, expand and sustain a multidisciplinary community of experts, including healthcare professionals, patient representatives, AI developers, IT specialists, hospital managers, regulators, ethicists, economists and policymakers, who will leverage their collective expertise to identify challenges, enablers, and actionable strategies for AI implementation.

COMPASS-AI will define evidence-based AI deployment guidelines for Europe and validate them through four pilot studies conducted across European countries, in diverse healthcare environments, covering radiology, pathology, surgery and both hospital and general practice settings. A sustainable, interactive digital platform will host best practices, foster collaboration and knowledge exchange, and offer educational programs tailored to stakeholder needs to improve AI literacy.

The project is coordinated by the Maastricht University Medical Center, sharing scientific coordination with the Netherlands Cancer Institute, with the European Institute for Biomedical Imaging Research (EIBIR) as lead partner for management and dissemination.

“We are honoured to lead this flagship project that will deliver the foundations for exchanging best practices and speed up safe, scalable and equitable AI deployment in healthcare across Europe”, Prof. Regina Beets-Tan and Dr. Laurens Topff, Scientific Coordinators of the project, stated at the kick-off meeting.

The project will build upon FUTURE-AI, an established framework for trustworthy AI in healthcare and align with the EU’s Apply AI strategy as well as related European digital health legislation, reinforcing its strategic relevance for advancing health innovation across Europe.

“The European Commission welcomes the launch of COMPASS-AI, one of the flagship projects underpinning the Apply AI Strategy published on 10 October 2025. COMPASS-AI will support the safe, efficient and effective integration of artificial intelligence into clinical practice, delivering tangible benefits for patients across Europe”, according to Yiannos Tolias, legal lead on AI and AI liability in Healthcare at the European Commission DG SANTE.

COMPASS-AI will further align with Cancer Image Europe as enabling infrastructure to aid AI implementation and deployment in clinics by leveraging its best practices in interoperability and data sharing.

COMPASS-AI Kick-off Meeting, Brussels/BE, 20 October 2025 with high-level representatives from the European Commission and HaDEA.

Contact information: office@eibir.org
More information on the project as well as its partners at https://www.eibir.org/projects/compass-ai/
COMPASS-AI LinkedIn account: https://www.linkedin.com/showcase/compassai-health/about/

COMPASS-AI is co-funded under the EU4Health Programme 2021–2027 under grant agreement no. 101233553. Funded by the European Union. Views and opinions expressed are however those of the author(s) only and do not necessarily reflect those of the European Union or European Health and Digital Executive Agency. Neither the European Union nor the granting authority can be held responsible for them.

Vienna, Austria – October 21, 2025 – The 4-year RHYTHM project (Radiation, Health, Safety and Quality for Youth: A Comprehensive Approach to Justification, Optimisation, and Education) officially launched with a kick-off meeting on 21–22 October 2025 in Vienna. Co-funded by the EU4Health Programme of the European Commission and coordinated by the European Institute for Biomedical Imaging Research (EIBIR), RHYTHM brings together leading experts in radiology, nuclear medicine, medical physics, healthcare management, and patient advocacy from across Europe.

RHYTHM aims to improve the quality, safety, and accessibility of medical imaging for children, adolescents, and young adults, groups particularly sensitive to ionising radiation. The project addresses key challenges in imaging justification, optimisation, and education across modalities such as computed tomography (CT), hybrid imaging (SPECT/CT and PET/CT), and CT for radiotherapy planning.

Through interdisciplinary collaboration, RHYTHM will:

• Develop evidence-based referral and clinical guidelines and enhance clinical decision support systems (CDSS) to promote appropriate and justified imaging.
• Establish a European repository for benchmarking CT doses and image quality, supporting standardised and optimised imaging practices across healthcare institutions.
• Deliver comprehensive education and training programmes for healthcare professionals to strengthen knowledge in radiation protection and effective patient communication.
• Implement awareness campaigns for parents, carers, and young patients to improve understanding of the benefits and potential risks of medical imaging.

RHYTHM will establish a European dose and image repository that will serve as a practical tool for benchmarking and optimisation. By enabling hospitals to compare scanner settings, dose levels, and image quality across institutions using similar equipment, the repository will help standardise imaging practices, reduce unnecessary radiation exposure, and improve diagnostic consistency throughout Europe.

In parallel, the project will focus on capacity building and sustainability through the development of multidisciplinary training materials, online modules, and CME-accredited webinars. These resources will be made widely accessible to radiologists, medical physicists, radiographers, and other healthcare professionals, ensuring that advances in radiation protection and imaging optimisation continue to benefit patients well beyond the project’s duration.

The project unites 20 partners, from 12 EU Member States, including hospitals, universities, research institutions, patients’ organisations, and professional societies, ensuring a strong, multi-sector approach to improving imaging safety and quality for Europe’s youngest patients.

Being one of the professional societies involved, the European Society of Radiology (ESR) will support the project through its flagship initiative in radiation protection, EuroSafe Imaging, under whose umbrella the ESR led several successful European Commission-funded projects aimed at improving radiological quality and safety.

“RHYTHM reflects our collective responsibility to protect young patients and to give them access to the best that modern medical imaging can offer,” said Scientific Coordinator Prof. John Damilakis (University of Crete, GR). “By connecting hospitals across Europe and enabling data-driven benchmarking, RHYTHM sets new standards for how we understand and optimise radiological practice.”

“As Clinical Coordinator of the RHYTHM project, I believe this initiative is crucial for advancing the quality and safety of paediatric radiology across Europe”, added Clinical Coordinator Dr. Claudio Granata (Paediatric Institute Burlo Garofolo, IT). “I’m excited to work alongside an international multidisciplinary team to develop evidence-based practices, educational resources, and tools that will support long-term improvements in radiation protection. I look forward to seeing RHYTHM’s impact on paediatric imaging, fostering consistency, safety, and confidence in care for children and their families.”

Prof. Damilakis and Prof. Granata are members of the EuroSafe Imaging Steering Committee, chairing dedicated working groups on Clinical DRLs and Paediatric Imaging, respectively.

By combining scientific expertise, technological innovation, and a patient-centred perspective, RHYTHM will strengthen Europe’s capacity to deliver safe, effective, and equitable imaging services for children and young adults. The project’s results will contribute to the European Commission’s SAMIRA Action Plan and advance the long-term goal of improving radiation protection and healthcare quality across the EU.

RHYTHM is coordinated by the EIBIR. As an initiative established by the ESR to advance biomedical imaging research across Europe, EIBIR plays a central role in RHYTHM by leading project management, communication, and dissemination activities. Its expertise in coordinating large-scale, multi-institutional research projects ensures the effective implementation and visibility of RHYTHM’s objectives.

Within RHYTHM, the ESR will play a leading role in promoting safer imaging across Europe. It will contribute to the development and update of referral and clinical guidelines and disseminate educational materials to equip healthcare professionals with the latest knowledge on dose optimisation and justification. In addition, the ESR will lead and support communication and outreach campaigns aimed at both medical professionals and the public to raise awareness about radiation safety and appropriate imaging for young patients. Through its extensive European network, the ESR will ensure RHYTHM’s results are widely adopted and have a lasting impact beyond the project’s duration.

Contact information

office@eibir.org

More information on the project:

https://www.eibir.org/projects/rhythm/

Follow us on LinkedIn:

https://www.linkedin.com/showcase/rhythm-eu-project/about/

RHYTHM is co-funded under the EU4Health Programme 2021–2027 under grant agreement no. 101232948. Funded by the European Union. Views and opinions expressed are however those of the author(s) only and do not necessarily reflect those of the European Union or European Health and Digital Executive Agency. Neither the European Union nor the granting authority can be held responsible for them.

The AI-POD Project webinar, originally held on 7 October 2025, is now available to watch on YouTube. The session explored how artificial intelligence is transforming the prediction and prevention of obesity-related vascular diseases.

The webinar featured expert presentations on AI-powered risk prediction models, clinical decision support systems (CDSS), and citizen-facing health apps, highlighting practical applications of trustworthy, human-centred AI in preventive healthcare. Clinicians, researchers, digital health developers, and policy stakeholders gained insights into integrating these tools into clinical workflows to advance proactive cardiovascular care.

Speakers included experts from leading institutions across Europe, covering topics such as the AI-POD risk prediction algorithm, clinical decision support system, citizen health app, and human-centred AI design. The session concluded with a panel discussion on opportunities and challenges for integrating AI-POD into real-world clinical practice.

This event is particularly relevant for anyone interested in the intersection of AI, digital health, and preventive medicine.

Great news! The ECR 2026 abstract submission deadline has been extended. You now have until 5 October 2025, 23:59 CEST to submit your research for the ECR 2026 Poster Sessions, hosted by The European Institute for Biomedical Imaging Research (EIBIR).

Take this opportunity to present your work at the European Society of Radiology Congress (4–8 March 2026, Vienna). Selected posters may even be chosen for oral presentations, giving you the chance to showcase your research to a global audience of experts and peers.

Key topics include:

• AI in oncology
• Hybrid imaging
• Emerging technologies
• Integrated diagnostics
• Multidisciplinary research

📅 New Deadline: 5 October 2025, 23:59 CEST
🔗 Submit Your Abstract: Submit Now

Don’t miss your chance to be part of ECR2026 and share your research with the international radiology community!

EIBIR is pleased to highlight the joint EUCAIM & BreastSCan workshop at EUSOBI 2025, taking place tomorrow. The workshop focuses on integrating imaging data into the Cancer Image Europe platform.

The session will feature an in-depth technical demonstration of the platform and showcase the upcoming integration of breast cancer screening data from the BreastSCan project. The goal is to accelerate the development and validation of AI tools for breast cancer imaging, supporting earlier and more accurate diagnoses.

Event Details:

• Date: Thursday, 25 September 2025

• Time: 16:00 – 17:30

• Location: Meeting Room 6, P&J Live, Aberdeen

Speakers:

• Dr. Francesca Pia Caputo, University of Pisa

• Prof. Francesco Sardanelli, LILT

No pre-registration is required, but places are limited and will be allocated on a first-come, first-served basis.

For more information, visit: Workshop Details

The European Commission is preparing the EU4Health Work Programme 2026 – the EU’s largest health funding instrument, supporting innovation, disease prevention, crisis preparedness, and the digital transformation of healthcare across Europe.

This public consultation is a key opportunity for the medical imaging, healthcare, and research communities to influence future EU health investments. The survey will help shape priorities in areas such as cancer prevention, AI in healthcare, digital health infrastructure, workforce development, and improved patient access.

As a leading stakeholder in EU health research, EIBIR strongly encourages all partners, researchers, clinicians, patient advocates, and industry collaborators to take part. Your input will help ensure that medical imaging, digital health, and patient-centred innovation remain central to Europe’s health strategy for the years ahead.

Deadline: 30 September 2025
Complete the survey here: https://ec.europa.eu/eusurvey/runner/EU4HealthSurveyFor2026
More information and background: Official Consultation Page

Together, we can help shape a healthier, more innovative Europe.