The Management Committee and Work Package 4 meetings of the COST Action CUPID (CA21123) have been hosted by Prof. Jean Calleja Agius from the Department of Anatomy, Faculty of Medicine and Surgery at the University of Malta. The chairperson of this Action is Prof Suzanne Denieffe from South Eastern Technological University (SETU), Ireland.
CUPID stands for Cancer: Understanding Prevention in Intellectual Disabilities. This COST Action brings together academics, clinicians and other healthcare professionals, psychologists, researchers and patient organizations from over 35 countries in order to connect a pan-European multidisciplinary network of experts involved in overcoming the unique challenges of access to cancer screening programmes by persons with intellectual disability.
CUPID stands for Cancer: Understanding Prevention in Intellectual Disabilities. This COST Action brings together academics, clinicians and other healthcare professionals, psychologists, researchers and patient organizations from over 35 countries in order to connect a pan-European multidisciplinary network of experts involved in overcoming the unique challenges of access to cancer screening programmes by persons with intellectual disability.
These 2 meetings were held at the Valletta Campus in Malta on 27-28 March 2025. Her Excellency President Emeritus Dr Marie Louise Coleiro Preca delivered the keynote address, where she that “the highest attainable standard of health is a fundamental right of every human being” (WHO, 2022). And yet, for persons with intellectual disabilities, this right is often compromised, not due to medical limitations, but due to systemic barriers that prevent access to life-saving screenings, and early detection. Cancer does not discriminate, but access to prevention and treatment does. Her Excellency expressed her full support to create awareness and amplify the voices of these vulnerable individuals with the hope of changing the status quo.
CUPID aims to establish a research agenda and knowledge base to improve the understanding of cancer prevention among people with intellectual disabilities in the European Union and beyond. This COST Action is developing collaborative links with the European research and service communities to reach consensus on addressing the many challenges around cancer prevention in persons with intellectual disabilities.
During the meetings recently held in Malta, all the work that has been carried out so far by all the members and participants of the COST Action CUPID was highlighted, followed by plans for the way forward for future collaboration in order to achieve the remaining deliverables during this COST Action. This includes dissemination and exchange of information on cancer prevention in an easy-read format.
During the meetings recently held in Malta, all the work that has been carried out so far by all the members and participants of the COST Action CUPID was highlighted, followed by plans for the way forward for future collaboration in order to achieve the remaining deliverables during this COST Action. This includes dissemination and exchange of information on cancer prevention in an easy-read format.
For further information please contact Prof. Jean Calleja-Agius or visit the website.
