Driving AI-powered early detection, risk prediction, and integrated care pathways to improve cardiovascular outcomes for cancer patients and survivors across Europe.
The newly launched COMPASS consortium represents one of the most ambitious and strategically important public-private collaborations under the European Union’s Innovative Health Initiative (IHI). Designed as a five-year program, COMPASS brings together more than 60 partners from across academia, clinical practice, industry, and patient advocacy groups, with a total budget of €50.5 million. At its core, the initiative aims to address one of the most pressing and increasingly recognized challenges in modern healthcare: the intersection of cancer treatment and cardiovascular disease, commonly referred to as cardio-oncology.
GE HealthCare has announced that it will play a leading role in this large-scale consortium, leveraging its expertise in advanced imaging, artificial intelligence (AI), and digital healthcare solutions. The initiative reflects a growing recognition that while advances in oncology have significantly improved cancer survival rates, they have also introduced new long-term health risks—particularly cardiovascular complications associated with cancer therapies.
Addressing a Growing Healthcare Challenge
Cardiovascular disease among cancer patients and survivors has emerged as a critical global health concern. As cancer therapies become more effective and widely used, patients are living longer—but often with increased exposure to treatments such as chemotherapy, radiotherapy, and targeted therapies that can adversely affect the heart and vascular system. These treatments, while lifesaving, may lead to cardiotoxicity, a condition that can significantly impact quality of life and long-term survival.
Recent global studies indicate that cardiac complications are now the second leading cause of death among cancer survivors, accounting for up to 10% of all deaths in this population—second only to cancer recurrence itself. This trend is further exacerbated by the rising prevalence of pre-existing cardiovascular conditions at the time of cancer diagnosis, particularly in aging populations across Europe.
Despite growing awareness, the clinical management of cardiotoxicity remains limited by several factors. These include an incomplete understanding of the biological mechanisms driving cardiovascular damage, a lack of reliable and standardized biomarkers for early detection, and insufficient preventive strategies. As a result, healthcare systems are increasingly strained by the need to manage complex, long-term complications in cancer survivors.
The Vision and Objectives of COMPASS
The COMPASS consortium has been established to tackle these challenges through a comprehensive, patient-centered approach that integrates cutting-edge science, technology, and clinical practice. The initiative aims to improve cardiovascular outcomes for cancer patients and survivors by enabling earlier detection, more accurate risk prediction, and more personalized care pathways.
A key objective of COMPASS is to develop an end-to-end clinical framework that supports patients throughout their cancer journey—from diagnosis and treatment to long-term follow-up. This includes facilitating early intervention strategies that allow patients to continue cancer treatments safely while minimizing cardiovascular risks.
The consortium also emphasizes the importance of multidisciplinary collaboration, bringing together experts in cardiology, oncology, molecular biology, imaging sciences, and data analytics. By fostering cooperation across these fields, COMPASS aims to create integrated care models that can be adopted widely across European healthcare systems.
Role of Academic and Clinical Leadership
Academic institutions play a central role in the scientific coordination of the COMPASS initiative. King’s College London is one of the key contributors, providing leadership in molecular imaging and biomedical engineering. According to Steve Archibald, the consortium will leverage expertise across multiple disciplines—including big data and AI—to better understand and address cardiotoxicity.
The goal is not only to generate new scientific insights but also to translate these findings into practical, scalable healthcare solutions. By promoting integrated care models and encouraging their adoption across healthcare systems, COMPASS seeks to bridge the gap between research and real-world clinical practice.
Key Focus Areas of the Initiative
To achieve its ambitious goals, the COMPASS program is structured around several core focus areas:
1. Identification of Novel Biomarkers
One of the primary objectives is to improve the early detection of cardiotoxicity through the discovery and validation of new biomarkers. This involves the use of advanced molecular imaging techniques and cutting-edge cardiac imaging technologies, combined with multi-omic approaches that integrate genetic, molecular, and metabolic data.
By identifying reliable biomarkers, clinicians will be better equipped to stratify patient risk, detect early signs of cardiovascular damage, and make informed decisions about treatment strategies. This could significantly enhance the precision and effectiveness of cardio-oncology care.
2. AI-Powered Predictive Tools
Artificial intelligence is a cornerstone of the COMPASS initiative. The consortium aims to develop AI-driven predictive models and clinical decision support tools that integrate diverse data sources, including real-world clinical data, imaging and non-imaging information, biomarker profiles, and data from wearable devices.
These tools are expected to enable personalized care by providing clinicians with actionable insights tailored to individual patients. For example, AI models could predict a patient’s risk of developing cardiotoxicity based on their treatment plan and health profile, allowing for proactive interventions.
3. Integrated and Patient-Centered Care Pathways
Another critical focus area is improving the delivery of care through integrated clinical pathways that align oncology and cardiology practices. This includes enhancing coordination between specialists, ensuring continuity of care, and promoting patient engagement.
The initiative also emphasizes patient education and empowerment, recognizing that informed and engaged patients are better equipped to manage their health and adhere to treatment plans. By strengthening patient involvement, COMPASS aims to achieve more equitable access to care and better long-term outcomes.
Industry Leadership and Collaboration
As a leading industry partner, GE HealthCare brings significant technological and clinical expertise to the consortium. According to Eigil Samset, who leads the COMPASS program within the company, the initiative represents a unique opportunity to advance patient-centered oncology care.
By developing integrated, AI-powered care pathways, the consortium aims to unite oncologists and cardiologists in clinical practice—an approach that has the potential to significantly improve survival rates and reduce cardiovascular morbidity among cancer patients.
Funding and Strategic Importance
The COMPASS project is co-funded under the European Union’s Horizon Europe program, specifically through the Innovative Health Initiative (IHI). This public-private partnership brings together the EU and leading life sciences organizations, including COCIR, EFPIA, EuropaBio, MedTech Europe, and Vaccines Europe.
The grant agreement, signed on March 25, 2026, underscores the strategic importance of the initiative in advancing healthcare innovation across Europe. Over the next five years, COMPASS is expected to generate significant scientific, clinical, and technological advancements that will shape the future of cardio-oncology.
Transforming the Future of Cardio-Oncology
Ultimately, the COMPASS consortium represents a transformative step forward in addressing the complex interplay between cancer and cardiovascular disease. By combining scientific innovation, technological advancement, and collaborative expertise, the initiative aims to redefine how cardiotoxicity is predicted, detected, and managed.
Through its comprehensive and patient-centered approach, COMPASS has the potential to not only improve outcomes for cancer patients and survivors but also to set new standards for integrated care across healthcare systems. As the burden of cancer and cardiovascular disease continues to grow, initiatives like COMPASS will play a crucial role in ensuring that medical progress translates into longer, healthier lives for patients across Europe and beyond.
About GE HealthCare Technologies Inc.
GE HealthCare is a leading global provider of healthcare solutions. The company offers advanced medical technologies, pharmaceutical diagnostics, and artificial intelligence, cloud, and software solutions that help clinicians combat the world’s most complex diseases. Serving patients and healthcare professionals for 130 years, GE HealthCare delivers bold innovations designed for the next generation of medicine across its Imaging, Advanced Visualization Solutions, Patient Care Solutions, and Pharmaceutical Diagnostics segments, helping clinicians deliver more personalized and accurate care. With $20.6 billion in revenue, our company has approximately 54,000 employees working to create a world where healthcare knows no bounds.
