The Cyprus Institute of Neurology and Genetics (CING) has launched two new research programmes to improve the classification of genetic variants linked to breast and ovarian cancer, a key step toward more accurate counselling and personalised treatment.

The projects – BcRAVE and OVATION – will run for two years with a combined funding of €329,000 under the EU-backed Cohesion Policy Programme Thaleia 2021–2027, coordinated through the Research and Innovation Foundation (RIF) .

BcRAVE (Breast Cancer Risk Assessment through Uncertain Variant Classification Empowerment) with €129,000 in funding, is part of the “Horizon Europe – 2nd Chance – MSCA” scheme and focuses on biostatistical tools for classifying genetic variants of uncertain clinical significance (VUS) in breast cancer genes.

By combining data from case-control studies with synthetic datasets, the project aims to increase statistical power and support decision-making in genetic counselling.

OVATION (Ovarian cancer case-control evidence in VUS classification) initiative with €200,000 in support, applies artificial intelligence and machine learning to VUS classification in ovarian cancer.

The research will draw on tumour characteristics and biological data, aiming to improve early diagnosis and enable more tailored approaches to treatment.

Both projects are part of a wider effort to integrate genetic data into clinical care and strengthen Cyprus’ contribution to international collaborations in medical genetics.