For Professionals

Driving Innovation in Cancer Survivorship

TRANSCEND-XR is a Horizon Europe cancer research project aimed at transforming testicular cancer survivorship through evidence-based, digital tools. Through a multi-disciplinary, cross-border collaboration, the project is co-designing an extended reality intervention that aims to enhance survivorship education, psychosocial support, and patient engagement.

This intervention is being ethically developed and validated in real-world settings, with direct input from survivors, caregivers, and clinical stakeholders.

Target Population and Clinical Context

Testicular cancer is the most common malignancy among males aged 15–39. While survival rates are high, many AYA survivors experience late effects following treatment, including:

Endocrine and fertility issues
Fatigue and cognitive impairment
Anxiety, depression, and social reintegration challenges
Gaps in long-term follow-up and care continuity

Despite these challenges, current survivorship pathways often fail to address the specific and evolving needs of this age group.

TRANSCEND-XR responds to this gap by introducing an immersive tool to support education, empowerment, and long-term care.

Scientific and Technological Approach

TRANSCEND-XR leverages extended reality (XR), including virtual reality (VR) and augmented reality (AR),to develop an interactive, user-centred support platform.

The XR intervention is informed by:

Health behaviour change theories
Digital health literacy frameworks
Trauma-informed care principles
Evidence from psycho-oncology and survivorship research

The solution will be accessible via widely available hardware, ensuring usability beyond specialist clinical settings. Key features include scenario-based learning, emotional regulation exercises, and tailored information delivery.

This makes TRANSCEND-XR a leading example of how extended reality in cancer care can be personalised, accessible, and grounded in real-world evidence.

Co-Creation and Methodology

The project follows a structured, participatory methodology involving survivors, caregivers, clinicians, and researchers in each phase. The research design includes:

Needs Assessment

Qualitative interviews and surveys to explore unmet needs and preferences

Intervention Co-Design

Collaborative development of XR modules through workshops and iterative testing

Pilot Testing in Real-World Settings

Implementation across clinical sites and community contexts in multiple EU countries

Evaluation and Scale-Up

Mixed-methods evaluation of impact, feasibility, and acceptability
Ethical approval, data protection (GDPR compliance), and equitable representation are embedded throughout.

Consortium and Collaborators

TRANSCEND-XR is led by University College Cork (Ireland) and brings together 15 partner organisations across 12 European countries, including:

University Medical Centre Groningen (NL)
The Royal Marsden NHS Foundation Trust (UK)
Gustave Roussy Institute (FR)
KHORA (DK) – XR development specialists
FundToInnovate (IE) – stakeholder engagement and impact

The consortium spans academic, clinical, technological, and advocacy expertise, ensuring a holistic approach to survivorship innovation.

Research Outputs and Impact

TRANSCEND-XR aims to produce:

An in-depth understanding of the key issues testicular survivors face in Europe.
A validated XR-based intervention for AYA testicular cancer survivors
Peer-reviewed publications and conference presentations
Policy recommendations for digital health in cancer care
Open-access resources for healthcare professionals and educators

The project contributes to the EU’s Mission on Cancer by advancing personalised survivorship care and promoting scalable, digital health innovations across borders.