ALCOVE

The INTERREG ALCOVE project, coordinated by Lille University Hospital (CHU de Lille), aims to improve lung cancer screening in the cross-border area of France – Wallonia – Flanders, through a coordinated, multidisciplinary and innovative approach.

 Project Objectives

The long-term goal of the ALCOVE project is to offer a new, non-invasive and fast tool to redefine the lung cancer screening pathway by:

• Testing the use of an electronic nose by healthcare professionals as a new tool for medical dialogue
• Evaluating the electronic nose’s ability to detect the potential risk of lung cancer

• Facilitating communication between at-risk populations and the healthcare system
• Involving patients, healthcare professionals and institutions in a co-construction process

The ambition is to enable earlier diagnosis, better patient care, and optimized use of available resources.

Why is ALCOVE essential? 

A major public health issue

Lung cancer is one of the deadliest cancers in Europe. Diagnosis often comes too late, significantly lowering 5-year survival rates. ALCOVE promotes early detection through targeted screening of at-risk individuals.

A concrete impact on the territory

ALCOVE addresses three key challenges for the future of screening:

• Tackling low participation rates in screening programs
• Testing a miniaturized electronic nose in real hospital settings
• Proposing a reproducible and transferable model beyond the cross-border region

 A coordinated cross-border approach 

The project brings together hospitals, research centers, universities, and involves patient associations and institutions from France, Wallonia, and Flanders. It is structured into six work packages addressing technological, clinical, and organizational aspects. 

What ALCOVE will deliver? 

1. A simple, clinically validated screening tool for primary care professionals
2. Shared data and indicators to guide public health policies for organized lung cancer screening
3. A transferable screening model for use in other regions
4. Stronger engagement from professionals, institutions, and patients

Start date : October 1st, 2024 

Duration : 4 years

Budget : €6.6 million