Welcome to ON-COME

Transforming Psychosocial and Nutritional Care in Paediatric Oncology

ON-COME (Paediatric Oncology Network and Communication on the Mind–Body–Environment Relationship) is a European-funded project (Grant Agreement No. 101172788) under the EU4Health Programme, dedicated to improving the psychosocial, neuropsychological, and nutritional care of children, adolescents, and young adults (0–24 years) living with cancer across Europe. The project runs from October 2025 to September 2028.

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About ON-COME

Background & Rationale:Paediatric cancer affects more than 14 000 children and adolescents each year in Europe. While survival has improved, disparities persist in the availability of psychosocial, neuropsychological, and nutritional support services. Many hospitals lack trained professionals or structured pathways to address anxiety, depression, cognitive impairment, and malnutrition that often accompany treatment. ON-COME addresses these inequalities by establishing a standardised model of care that can be adopted across European healthcare systems.

Mission:To create a unified, evidence-based system that integrates psychological, cognitive, and nutritional support into standard paediatric oncology care, ensuring that every young patient in Europe receives holistic, person-centred treatment.

Objectives: 1. Mapping and standardisation of psychosocial and nutritional services.
2. Development of digital tools—AI-powered patient and professional platforms.
3. Training and capacity building for healthcare professionals.
4. Clinical piloting to test feasibility and impact.
5. Policy engagement and sustainability through the ON-COME Alliance.

Key Pillars

Mapping

Analysing existing supportive-care systems and identifying gaps.

Digital Tools

Designing AI-enabled apps and platforms for families and professionals.

Training

Building the capacity of healthcare professionals across Europe.

Pilots

Implementing and validating the unified model in real-world hospitals.

Policy Impact

Driving sustainable change and informing EU-level standards.

Timeline & Milestones

Year	Key Milestones
2025	Kick-off meeting, ethics approvals, mapping initiation (M1–M6).
2026	Unified service blueprint; data infrastructure and first training modules (M12–M18).
2027	App and platform deployment; pilot implementation (M18–M30).
2028	Evaluation, sustainability report, ON-COME Alliance launch (M35–M36).

Consortium

ON-COME unites 11 beneficiaries spanning healthcare, research, digital innovation, and patient advocacy. The consortium is coordinated by Università Cattolica del Sacro Cuore (UCSC, Italy) and follows a multi-tiered governance model including a General Assembly, Steering Committee, and Ethical Board.

Partner	Country	Role	Core Expertise
UCSC – Università Cattolica del Sacro Cuore	Italy	Coordinator	Clinical, Management
FPG – Fondazione Policlinico Universitario A. Gemelli IRCCS	Italy	WP2 Lead	Clinical Mapping
UoA – National and Kapodistrian University of Athens	Greece	Partner	Research, Neuropsychology
UMIL – University of Milan	Italy	Partner	Nutritional Sciences
Charité – Universitätsmedizin Berlin	Germany	WP5 Lead	Clinical Pilots
OPBG – Ospedale Pediatrico Bambino Gesù	Italy	Partner	Paediatric Oncology
HCL – Hospices Civils de Lyon	France	WP4 Lead	Training, Psychosocial Care
UPM – Universidad Politécnica de Madrid	Spain	WP3 Lead	Digital Innovation, AI
DW – DataWizard SRL	Italy	Partner	Software Development
EAPM – European Alliance for Personalised Medicine	Slovenia	WP6 Lead	Policy & Communication
FAVO – Federazione Italiana delle Associazioni di Volontariato in Oncologia	Italy	Partner	Patient Advocacy

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Work Packages

WP1 – Management & Coordination (UCSC)

Ensures administrative, financial, and ethical compliance. Oversees reporting, risk and quality management, and alignment with EU rules.

WP2 – Mapping & Standardisation (FPG)

Maps current psychosocial and nutritional services across Europe, identifies gaps, and produces a Unified Service Blueprint and tools for quality-of-life monitoring.

WP3 – Digital Tools & AI Development (UPM)

Develops GDPR-compliant data architecture, the Patient & Caregiver App, the HCP Platform, and AI models to personalise support.

WP4 – Training & Skills Enhancement (HCL)

Designs training programmes in neuropsychology, psychosocial support, nutrition, and digital literacy. Evaluates skill development and integration in clinical routines.

WP5 – Piloting & Clinical Implementation (Charité)

Implements pilots in hospitals, testing behavioural and service changes, long-term patient outcomes, and sustainability models.

WP6 – Dissemination & Policy Impact (EAPM)

Leads communications, stakeholder engagement, policy dialogues, and development of the ON-COME Alliance for sustainability.

Innovation & Tools

Digital Architecture (WP3)

ON-COME’s data system follows FAIR principles (Findable, Accessible, Interoperable, Reusable) and GDPR/AI Act compliance. A federated-learning environment allows data analysis without transferring sensitive information across hospitals.

Patient & Caregiver App (WP3)

A mobile companion that provides: Symptom and emotional-state tracking, Personalised nutrition advice, Interactive storybooks and serious games, Direct communication with care teams.

HCP Platform (WP3)

A digital workspace for professionals offering: Patient dashboards and longitudinal data views, Clinical decision support and teleconsultation, Integration with hospital information systems.

Edu-Gaming & Learning Hub (WP3)

An interactive platform hosting educational games and multimedia for patients, caregivers, and healthcare staff, fostering engagement and health literacy.

AI & Data Ethics (WP1 & WP3)

ON-COME embeds ethical-by-design principles: AI transparency and bias monitoring, Secure encryption and access control, Compliance with GDPR and EU AI Act standards.

Capacity Building

Training Strategy (WP4)

ON-COME builds healthcare workforce capacity through modular training on: Neuropsychological and vision function techniques, Psychosocial support, Nutritional care and counselling, Digital tools adoption.

Workshops & Webinars (WP4, WP6)

Interactive sessions across partner centres foster knowledge exchange and peer learning. The website will feature a training calendar and video archive.

Certification & Recognition

Participants completing ON-COME training receive a certificate of competence, contributing to professional accreditation and recognition within EU networks.

Impact & Policy

Policy & Sustainability
ON-COME contributes to EU cancer policy by generating evidence-based recommendations for: Integrating psychosocial and nutritional services into national cancer plans, Standardising patient-reported outcome measures (PROMs), Supporting the long-term adoption of digital health tools. The ON-COME Alliance (M36) will consolidate partnerships for future joint actions, policy advocacy, and funding continuity.

News & Events

Latest Updates

Latest News

Project updates, milestones, and outcomes published quarterly.

Events Calendar

Lists consortium meetings, workshops, training webinars, and policy roundtables.

Press Releases

Official announcements shared with EU media and stakeholder networks.

Newsletters

Subscription form for quarterly ON-COME updates.