In 2015 and 2016, the EU experienced an unparalleled influx refugees and migrants. This situation poses multiple challenges for social- and health services and labour markets in host communities as well as for the lives of the refugees. In response to this situation, the vision of FOCUS is to increase understanding of, and provide effective and evidence-based solutions for, the challenges of forced migration within host communities and thereby contribute to increased tolerance, peaceful coexistence, and reduced radicalization across Europe and in the Middle East. Based on a comprehensive mapping and trans-disciplinary, multi-site field research conducted in Jordan, Croatia, Germany and Sweden, FOCUS explores the socio-psychological dimensions of refugee- and host-community relations and analyses the socio-economic integration of refugees and the consequences of this in host societies. The research sites have been selected to ensure that insights and lessons are derived from medium- and long-term experiences with forced displacement and local integration. This knowledge is used to transform and strengthen existing promising solutions for social- and labour market integration. The integration solutions will be pilot tested in at least five European countries by governmental and non-governmental end-users. The solutions are finally brought together in the Refugee and Host Community Toolbox, which will support policy makers, municipal actors, civil society organisations and other stakeholders in responding to the needs of both refugees and host communities and thereby act as agents of change in this field. In addition, FOCUS undertakes an ambitious programme of engagement with policy makers, end-users, host communities, refugees and other stakeholders. This will ensure that FOCUS research and solutions are acceptable and useful for policy makers, while meeting the needs of end-user organisations and ultimately refugees and host communities.

Colorectal cancer (CRC) is the second most common cause of cancer death in Europe, yet survival rates rise dramatically when caught early. A contributing factor is that current colonoscopy, i.e., white light video or optical narrow band imaging, is inadequate for in-vivo detection and characterisation of the various types of (pre-)cancerous lesions found in the colon. Point-of-care, real-time polyp diagnosis and image guided intervention has the potential to save huge healthcare costs by enabling early onset of treatment; thus reduced recurrence rate, by improving interval screening, and by reducing pathology costs incurred during colonoscopy. A complete, reliable optical diagnosis is sensitive to morphological and biochemical changes. Unfortunately, no single optical method provides both. PROSCOPE provides unique combination of label-free, non-ionizing, proven optical imaging modalities that provides higher sensitivity and specificity compared to current colonoscopy thus enabling a step-change in point-of-care management of CRC. PROSCOPE develops and integrates recent advances in optical imaging and optical probe technology into one platform. The concept is validated in clinical settings using existing endoscopes providing minimally invasive optical imaging that fits into current clinical procedures. A leading medical device manufacturer and clinicians are involved at every stage of the development and validation. PROSCOPE is driven by unmet clinical needs in the field of gastroenterological diagnosis with a clear business case: Combination of optical imaging techniques offers the potential to vastly improve early diagnosis of CRC achieving specificity and sensitivity above 90%, reducing the number of excisional biopsies by 50%, and improving interval screening planning, thereby reducing healthcare costs drastically and benefitting patients. The consortium includes five leading academics, including hospital clinics, and four SMEs covering the entire value chain.