COMFORT Consortium Meets in Umeå for the 3rd Progress Meeting and General Assembly
The COMFORT consortium gathered in Umeå, Sweden, on 16th–17th June for its third Progress Meeting and General Assembly, bringing together project partners for two days of interactive discussions, knowledge exchange and strategic planning.
The meeting provided an important opportunity for consortium members to review progress across the project, align activities and strengthen collaboration as COMFORT continues to develop trustworthy artificial intelligence solutions for cancer care.
Reviewing Progress and Planning Ahead
The first day focused on work package updates and project governance. Partners presented recent achievements, discussed ongoing activities and reviewed upcoming milestones, ensuring alignment across the consortium and identifying opportunities for closer collaboration.
Discussions were highly interactive, reflecting the consortium's commitment to collective problem-solving and the continuous exchange of technical, clinical and societal perspectives.
In addition to the project-wide discussions, the End-User Working Group and the Internal Ethics Board held dedicated meetings to review ongoing activities and contribute their expertise to the project's development.
Patients Help Shape the Future of AI for Cancer Care
A key highlight of the second day was the patient workshop organised with representatives from the International Kidney Cancer Coalition (IKCC) and the Hellenic Cancer Federation (ELLOK). The session provided valuable insights into patient expectations regarding the use of AI in cancer care and reinforced the importance of involving end users throughout the development process.
Participants expressed a generally positive attitude towards AI-supported healthcare, while emphasising that clinicians should remain responsible for making final treatment decisions. Patient representatives also identified several areas where AI tools could become more accessible and trustworthy, including clearer visualisations, more tailored communication of AI-generated outputs, and greater transparency regarding who can access and use patient data.
The workshop generated important feedback that will help guide future development activities and ensure that COMFORT's solutions remain aligned with patient needs and expectations.
Strengthening Collaboration Across the Consortium
The first day also featured end-user feedback sessions and a host science talk, creating further opportunities for exchange between researchers, healthcare professionals and stakeholders.
By bringing together expertise from healthcare, research, technology and ethics, the Umeå meeting strengthened collaboration across the consortium and reinforced COMFORT's shared commitment to developing trustworthy, transparent and patient-centred AI solutions for cancer care. The consortium would like to thank Lili Jiang and Virginia Dignum for hosting the meeting and facilitating two productive days of discussion and collaboration.
As COMFORT moves forward into the final year of the project, the insights gathered in Umeå will help shape the next phase of research and innovation activities, ensuring that both technological excellence and patient perspectives remain at the centre of the project's work.
Impressions from the meeting:
