Prison health & Cancer prevention

PACE (Path to Equity: Expanding Access to Cancer-Preventing Vaccination for Adults and Juveniles in European Carceral Settings) is a three-year project (01/11/2025 – 31/10/2028), implemented under the EU4Health Programme (EU4H-PJG).

1. Project Overview

Coordinated by the University of Pisa, PACE aims to implement effective, evidence-based interventions to reduce the burden of cancers related to Human Papilloma Virus (HPV) and viral hepatitis (HBV, HCV) in adults and juveniles in European carceral settings.

2. Approach & Methodology

Using a participatory and intersectional methodology, PACE integrates evidence-based practices with scalable, locally adapted interventions to improve:

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• Vaccination
  
• Screening
  
• Linkage to care
  

This approach supports sustainable health outcomes for underserved populations.

3. Pathfinder Interventions

PACE will identify, adapt, and implement best practices through pathfinder interventions that address local needs and provide scalable models for prison systems.

4. Monitoring, Evaluation & Sustainability

PACE will strengthen monitoring and evaluation through a multi-country network of prison sentinels, enabling high-quality data collection and standardised assessment using a minimum data set and monitoring tools.

In parallel, PACE will invest in capacity building for prison staff and healthcare workers to ensure interventions remain sustainable beyond the project’s duration.

5. Policy Impact

Policy dialogue and recommendations will support the integration of PACE findings into national and EU health strategies, in line with the WHO Hepatitis Elimination Goals and the EU Beating Cancer Plan.

6. Consortium

The consortium comprises 10 organizations from 7 countries: Cyprus, France, Greece, Italy, Moldova, Portugal, and Romania.

Coordinator: University of Pisa (UNIPI), Italy

7. Participating Organizations

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• Administratia Nationala A Penitenciarelor, Moldova
  
• Administratia Nationala A Penitenciarelor, Romania
  
• Azienda Socio-Sanitaria Territoriale (ASST) Santi Paolo e Carlo, Italy
  
• Centre Hospitalier Universitaire Montpellier, France
  
• Cyprus National Addictions Authority, Cyprus
  
• Ministry of Justice and Public Order, Cyprus
  
• Faculdade de Farmácia da Universidade de Lisboa, Portugal
  
• Prolepsis Institute, Greece
  
• Società Italiana Medicina delle Migrazioni, Italy