HL7 Europe in FLUTE – towards a European cancer data model

HL7 Europe plays a pivotal role in the FLUTE project, focusing on advancing healthcare data interoperability and ensuring compliance with international standards. As a partner in this initiative, HL7 Europe contributes its expertise in developing and aligning federated research data exchange methods with global health data frameworks. By integrating the HL7 FHIR standard and others, the FLUTE project ensures seamless, secure, and efficient cross-border collaboration for prostate cancer research, ultimately enhancing clinical decision-making and patient outcomes.

The Creation of PHOENIX in the Context of HL7 Europe's Role

Within the FLUTE project, HL7 Europe identified the need for a unified approach to cancer data interoperability across Europe. This realisation led to the conceptualisation of PHOENIX (Patient Health Oncological Expertise Network for International Exchange), an HL7 Europe initiative designed to standardise and streamline cancer data exchange. PHOENIX was conceived to support the development of the first Common Cancer Data Model, covering both primary care and research, while aligning with the European Health Data Space (EHDS) initiatives. This model is structured into three layers: a conceptual data model, which represents key business concepts and their relationships in a simple and comprehensible manner; a logical model, which precisely defines each concept; and finally, a HL7 FHIR model.

The PHOENIX initiative aims to drive the adoption of HL7 FHIR standards in oncology, ensuring that clinical, research, and administrative stakeholders can efficiently share and utilise cancer-related health data. It brings together healthcare providers, researchers, and policymakers to co-develop structured implementation guides and resources that enhance data usability, facilitate AI-driven insights, and expedite clinical research. Through structured engagement and collaboration, PHOENIX seeks to harmonize data models, addressing critical gaps in existing European cancer research frameworks.

Conclusion

The contributions of HL7 Europe and PHOENIX will significantly benefit the FLUTE project’s stakeholders by providing a standardized, interoperable data exchange framework. This will enhance data security, compliance, and usability across multiple jurisdictions. Beyond FLUTE, PHOENIX's work will serve as a cornerstone for all European cancer projects, fostering innovation in cancer research, improving patient care pathways, and supporting the development of GDPR-compliant cross-border health data solutions. Through continued collaboration, PHOENIX will enable a transformative shift in the European oncology landscape, ensuring sustainable and scalable advancements in digital health.

Luc Chatty, Giorgio Cangioli