Meeting on 3 February 2026 with representatives from the four university hospitals (CHU) of the Auvergne–Rhône-Alpes region, the National Cancer Institute (INCa) and the French National Authority for Health (HAS), the governing board of the HOURAA GCS announced the official launch of its application for the European EU Comprehensive Cancer Centre (EU CCC) label.
This decision marks an important milestone for the group and for hospital–university cooperation across the region, in line with European ambitions in the fight against cancer.
An inter‑CHU dynamic at the heart of the project
Collectively supported by the four university hospitals that make up the HOURAA GCS — the University Hospital of Clermont-Ferrand, Grenoble Alpes University Hospital, Hospices Civils de Lyon, and Saint-Étienne University Hospital — this labelling project is founded on an integrated, coordinated, and region‑wide approach.
Its objective is to strengthen the complementarity of expertise, harmonise organisational models, and improve the clarity of patient pathways, building on the cancer‑care collaboration initiated within the HOURAA GCS in 2023.
A process supported by the European Joint Action Against Cancer
The EU CCC labelling process is part of the European Joint Action led by the European Commission, which aims to structure a network of integrated cancer centres across the European Union.
These centres are intended to cover the full cancer care pathway — prevention, diagnosis, treatment, research, innovation, education, and equitable access — while contributing to reducing territorial inequalities and accelerating the transfer of innovations to patients, within a framework of cross‑border cooperation.
A first year dedicated to targeted self‑assessment
For this first year, the HOURAA GCS is launching a structured self‑assessment phase, conducted in a coordinated manner among the four university hospitals. This constitutes a key step in the labelling process.
Five specialties have been selected to define the initial scope: gynaecology, pulmonology, dermatology, adult haematology, and paediatric haematology.
This selection is based on the high level of inter‑CHU integration already achieved within these five specialties, as well as their capacity to serve as a demonstrative foundation for the progressive expansion of the approach to other medical specialties.
A clear ambition: structure, harmonise, project forward
Through this labelling process, the HOURAA GCS affirms a strategic ambition shared by its four university hospitals:
- To sustainably structure cancer‑care organisations;
- To strengthen the integration of care, research and innovation;
- To harmonise practices across institutions;
- To position the region within a European framework of excellence.
The EU CCC initiative serves as a lever for collective transformation, supporting both patients and healthcare professionals, and represents a concrete commitment to implementing the European Beating Cancer Plan.
An announcement resonating with World Cancer Day
The launch of the labelling process on 4 February, World Cancer Day, reflects the commitment to making inter‑CHU cooperation and European alignment tangible operational levers for sustainably improving the care of patients with cancer.
About the HOURAA GCS
Created in 2012, the HOURAA Health Cooperation Group (GCS HOURAA) brings together the four university hospitals of the Auvergne–Rhône-Alpes region: the University Hospital of Clermont-Ferrand, Grenoble Alpes University Hospital, Hospices Civils de Lyon, and Saint‑Étienne University Hospital.
Together, these four institutions include 22 hospital sites, 11,150 beds and places, 52,649 professionals, and account for more than 5,626 scientific publications.
The mission of the HOURAA GCS is to develop cooperation among the four university hospitals, as well as with the faculties of medicine, pharmacy and dentistry across the region, in order to define and implement joint, targeted initiatives in the fields of research, education and care, in coordination with the Regional Health Agency.
