Summary of Ursula von der Leyen’s opening speech
In her opening remarks, Ursula von der Leyen reaffirmed the European Commission’s commitment to beating cancer and highlighted the human stories behind cancer statistics. She referred to the burden of brain tumours in Europe and stressed the importance of research, medical professionals and continued progress in cancer care. Her speech also underlined several priorities relevant to the European cancer research community, including faster and more efficient development of treatments, improved clinical trial processes, better data sharing through the European Health Data Space, the responsible use of health data in the age of AI, reducing inequalities in early detection and treatment, and strengthening support for cancer survivors.
The full video of the speech is available here. Pictures of the session are published on the EU’s audiovisual portal.
GLIOMATCH was represented by project coordinator Prof. Frederik De Smet and Prof. Dr. Steven De Vleeschouwer from the KU Leuven and UZ Leuven team. Their participation reflects the project’s broader commitment to contributing research insights to policy dialogue and ensuring that policy-relevant findings reach policymakers and legislators. In line with this objective, GLIOMATCH makes its policy briefs publicly available on the project’s results page.
World Brain Tumour Day is an important reminder of the severe burden faced by patients, relatives and carers. For glioblastoma in particular, treatment options remain limited and prognosis is still poor. By connecting scientific research, clinical expertise, patient perspectives and policy action, GLIOMATCH contributes to the shared European effort to accelerate innovation and improve outcomes for people affected by brain tumours.
