1st September 2026 – Athens, Greece
The Horizon Europe project DISARM has officially launched its Citizen Awareness Campaign, a long-term initiative designed to improve public understanding of ovarian cancer by promoting earlier recognition of symptoms and risk factors, as well as to encourage informed conversations with healthcare professionals.
Ovarian cancer is often diagnosed at a late stage when treatment options are more limited and the chances of successful treatment are lower, earning it the title of “silent killer”. Its early signs, such as persistent bloating or abdominal discomfort, can often be vague and easily mistaken for less serious conditions. To tackle this, the campaign was devised to provide clear, accessible, and evidence-based information on ovarian cancer symptoms, hereditary risk factors, and the importance of timely medical advice. It will also communicate the scientific and clinical advances being made through the DISARM project, translating complex research into practical knowledge that citizens can use to make informed decisions about their health.
A central feature of the campaign is its co-creation approach, which will involve citizens and relevant stakeholders in the development of campaign activities and resources. This approach is intended to improve both the accessibility and real-world impact of the campaign while supporting meaningful public engagement throughout the project.
Ahead of the campaign’s official launch, Tamara Hussong Milagre, President of EVITA – Hereditary Cancer Association, expressed her hopes and vision for its impact:
“Too many people are unaware of the symptoms of ovarian cancer or that genetic predisposition can play an important role in their personal risk. Through the DISARM Citizen Awareness Campaign, we want to make reliable, evidence-based information accessible to everyone and ensure that citizens are active partners in shaping how this information is communicated”, she commented.
“By bringing together patients, healthcare professionals and communities, we hope to encourage open conversations, raise awareness of genetic predisposition and empower people to make informed decisions about their health. Together, we can contribute to prevention and earlier diagnosis, more timely care, and better outcomes for those affected by ovarian cancer.”
The campaign also hopes to increase awareness of hereditary ovarian cancer risk and encourage earlier conversations between individuals and healthcare providers. In seeking to improve recognition of early symptoms of ovarian cancer, it will advocate for informed decision-making about surveillance, prevention, and early detection, with particular attention given to ensuring information is accessible to women and others who may be at risk of ovarian cancer, including some trans men, non-binary, and intersex people.
The Citizen Awareness Campaign forms part of DISARM’s broader mission to improve personalised risk assessment and advance earlier, more accurate detection of ovarian cancer. By combining scientific innovation with sustained public engagement, the campaign, and indeed the project as a whole, aims to contribute to earlier diagnosis and improved outcomes for one of the most challenging gynaecological cancers.
To learn more about ovarian cancer statistics, symptoms, and risk, visit: worldovariancancercoalition.org/ovarian-cancer/
This work received funding from the European Union’s Horizon Europe Research and Innovation Programme under Grant Agreement No 101214318 (DISARM). Views and opinions expressed are however those of the author(s) only and do not necessarily reflect those of the European Union or the Health and Digital Executive Agency (HaDEA). Neither the European Union nor HaDEA can be held responsible for them.
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