Members
The ECIBC is supported by groups of experts composed of healthcare professionals, researchers and patients and/or caregivers. All group members join the initiative on a voluntary basis after selection through a transparent process following public calls launched in 2014 and 2024.
Professional and patient and/or caregiver experts act in their personal capacity, independently and in the public interest. They do not represent any private, commercial or national interests. To ensure this, in addition to their official declarations of confidentiality and commitment, all experts submit an annual declaration of interests relevant to the initiative.
The ECIBC is supported by the following groups:
- a working group – the decision-making body that finalises recommendations and requirements from topic-specific groups,
- topic-specific groups – temporary groups that develop evidence-based proposals for recommendations regarding specific healthcare questions and for quality requirements, supported by independent experts who conduct systematic reviews. The proposals are reviewed by the working group, after which the topic-specific groups are dissolved.
Former Members
Topic-specific groups
Ongoing
Artificial intelligence in breast cancer screening
| Duration | Members |
|---|---|
| December 2025 - present | Nancy Santesso (Co-Lead) Mireille Broeders (Co-Lead) Valentin Comte Deirdre Duke Paolo Giorgi Rossi Axel Graewingholt Solveig Hofvind Fatjona Kraja João Santinha Didier Verhoeven Sophia Zackrisson Marzia Zambon |
Closed
European QA updating methodology
| Duration | Members |
|---|---|
| Closed | Lorraine Turner (co-lead) Wojtek Wiercoch (co-lead) Jane Beaumont Ellen Griesshammer Carola Orrego Elena Parmelli Andrea Juliana Sanabria |
Meetings
Both the working group (the decision-making body) and the topic-specific groups established for a limited period (typically composed by selected working group and expert pool members) meet regularly, predominantly online, at least once or twice every month, as needed, to discuss and decide on recommendations or requirements. In addition, the working group convenes in-person at least once a year to discuss and decide on recommendations and requirements.
The following three key areas highlight the progress made between November 2025 and August 2026:
- Training session on methodologies and communication tools of the European Commission initiatives on cancer screening and care for guideline and quality assurance scheme developments.
- Fifth update of the European Breast Cancer Guidelines: prioritisation of topics for potential updates of existing guideline recommendations and the identification of new healthcare questions, addressing also risk-based screening approaches. The Working Group, in collaboration with the Topic-Specific Group, discussed furthermore the use of Artificial Intelligence (AI) in breast cancer screening and developed systematic review protocols that covered three specific healthcare questions on the role of AI in reading mammograms.
- First update of the European Quality Assurance (QA) scheme for Breast Cancer Services: preparatory steps for the first update of the European QA scheme, including a scoping review of existing quality indicators for breast cancer screening and care (search protocol and list of included/excluded studies), the update of the breast cancer screening and care pathways, and an introduction to the EC Initiatives QA updating methodology, being under development.
- October 2025Kick-off meeting
Kick-off meeting for the renewed ECIBC WG incorporating the GDG and QASDG into one common Working Group, which is following the new methodological framework
- July 2024Guidelines development group (GDG)
Fourth update of the European breast cancer guidelines: discussion on the screening tests for women with high breast density and good practice statement
- May 2024GDG
Fourth update of the European breast cancer guidelines: discussion on the screening tests for women with high breast density and good practice statement
- December 2023GDG
Discussion on the ongoing update of the European breast cancer guidelines
- July 2023Quality assurance scheme development group (QASDG)
Discussion on the updates to the service requirements, the quality assurance scheme documents and the supporting materials
- July 2023GDG
Fourth update of the European breast cancer guidelines: decision on new recommendations on the use of artificial intelligence for reading mammograms
- May 2023GDG
Fourth update of the European breast cancer guidelines: decision on new recommendations on the use of tomosynthesis in screening for average-risk women and women with high breast density
- March 2023QASDG
Discussion on amendments to service requirements following testing in real settings
- March 2023QASDG CERTIFICATION SUBGROUP
Discussion on certification requirements
- December 2022GDG
- Discussion on risk stratification in breast cancer screening
- Discussion on the fourth update of the European breast cancer guidelines
- 3 October 2022QASDG
Discussion on the testing of the European quality assurance scheme
- 30 June 2022QASDG
Discussion on the testing of the European quality assurance scheme
- 9 March 2022QASDG CERTIFICATION SUBGROUP
Discussion on the testing of the European quality assurance scheme
- 17 February 2022GDG
Third update of the European breast cancer guidelines: decision on new recommendations on the use of artificial intelligence for reading mammograms
- 4 February 2022GDG
Third update of the European breast cancer guidelines: decision on new recommendations on the use of artificial intelligence for reading mammograms
- November 2021GDG
Third update of the European breast cancer guidelines: discussion on risk assessment models for breast cancer
- October 2021GDG
Third update of the European breast cancer guidelines: decision on recommendations on the use of contrast enhanced mammograms (CEMs) for planning surgical treatment
- September 2021GDG
Third update of the European breast cancer guidelines: decision on recommendations on screening women aged 45-49 and women with high breast density
- June 2021GDG
Third update of the European breast cancer guidelines: decision on recommendations on the use of tomosynthesis in screening and decision aids to inform women about benefits and harms
- September 2020QASDG CERTIFICATION SUBGROUP
Discussions on manual for quality assurance scheme owner
- July 2020QASDG
Decision on quality assurance requirements for screening, diagnosis, imaging, pathology and professionals’ training
- March 2020QASDG CERTIFICATION SUBGROUP
Discussion on the recognition of existing certification schemes, stepwise approach for obtaining certification and how networks of cancer services can operate under the quality assurance scheme
- January 2020GDG
Second update of the European breast cancer guidelines: decision on recommendations on the use of tomosynthesis in screening and tailored screening for women with high breast density
- May 2019QASDG, GDG
- Decision on recommendations on communication skills training for healthcare professionals and on the use of decision aids
- Decision on quality assurance requirements and indicators
- November 2018QASDG, GDG
- Decision on recommendations regarding the use of contrast-enhanced spectral mammography (CESM) for surgical treatment planning, multi-gene testing to guide the use of chemotherapy, and optimal number of readings by radiologists
- First update of the European breast cancer guidelines: decision on recommendations on the use of tomosynthesis in screening
- Discussion on dataset for computing indicators and requirements for training of auditors and auditees
- September 2018GDG
Decision on recommendations regarding the use of electronic means to invite women to organised screening programmes and on the use of positron emission tomography (PET) - computerised tomography (CT) for staging
- June 2018QASDG, GDG
- Decision on recommendations on communicating screening results to women and invitation strategies for subsequent rounds or further assessment
- Decision on quality assurance requirements and indicators
- April 2018QASDG
Decision on quality assurance requirements and indicators
- February 2018QASDG
Decision on quality assurance requirements, indicators on diagnosis, training and certification
- November 2017QASDG, GDG
- Decision on recommendations on organised screening programmes, use of double-reading, and use of clip-marking for planning surgical treatment
- Decision on quality assurance requirements and indicators
- September 2017QASDG, GDG
Working groups’ discussions on recommendations and quality assurance requirements
- May 2017GDG
Group 29501, Grouped object decision on recommendations on invitation strategies for the general and vulnerable populations, and training for healthcare professionals
- February 2017QASDG, GDG
- Decision on recommendations on screening frequencies, tailored screening for women with high breast density, invitation strategies, and type of biopsy to diagnose breast cancer
- Decision on quality assurance requirements and indicators
- November 2016QASDG, GDG
Decision on recommendations on screening ages and thematic meetings on testing and imaging
- September 2016QASDG, GDG
Working group meetings
- June 2016QASDG, GDG
Set-up of methodological frameworks
- March 2016QASDG, GDG
Approval of the scope
- December 2015QASDG, GDG
Organisation of thematic subgroups
- September 2015QASDG, GDG
Kick-off meeting