Psychosocial cancer survivorship research, intervention development

Riga Stradiņš University is looking for research partners, universities, healthcare organisations, cancer centres, civil society organisations and innovation stakeholders to jointly develop projects that advance the implementation of Europe's Beating Cancer Plan and strengthen cancer control at national level.

Our priority is the development and testing of psychosocial interventions with integrated digital and AI-based components for people living with and after cancer. The primary target group is working-age breast cancer patients who have completed active treatment and plan to return to work. The aim is to help health systems integrate interventions that address not only the physical, but also the social, emotional and existential/spiritual needs that arise in the cancer context, in line with European best practice in survivorship care. We are also open to adapting such interventions for other chronic disease populations.

What we can offer to a consortium:

• Clinical study site and patient recruitment in Latvia. RSU-affiliated network of clinics, university hospitals and rehabilitation centres. We can host recruitment, deliver interventions and collect data on site.

• Psychosocial intervention development and co-design. Structured, manualised group programmes that build self-management skills for emotional health, wellbeing and quality of life in cancer and chronic disease.

• Qualitative research, analysis and publications. Interviews and open-ended surveys, reflexive thematic analysis, and preparation of publishable papers. Specialism: existential and spiritual coping in cancer, including spiritual bypassing, and self-help strategies.

• Expertise on return to work after cancer. Research expertise on how working-age cancer survivors return to work and everyday functioning after treatment.

Particular areas of interest:

• Survivorship and quality of life after cancer, including the transition back to work.

• Digital and AI-supported delivery of psychosocial care, with a focus on access and equity.

• Implementation research on integrating psychosocial and spiritual care into routine oncology pathways.

• Capacity building for multidisciplinary cancer care teams in psychosocial support.

• Cross-border collaboration and knowledge exchange within the EU cancer policy framework.

We welcome collaboration opportunities under Horizon Europe, EU4Health and other European funding mechanisms as a consortium partner or work package contributor, with the shared objective of improving cancer outcomes and ensuring equitable access to high-quality, person-centred cancer care across Europe.