Clinical trial Recruiting at 7 sites Interventional Ages 18 and up Women only

MELIORA: a digital coach to help prevent breast cancer

Official title: Multimodal Engagement and Sustainable Lifestyle Interventions Optimizing Breast Cancer Risk Reduction Supported by Artificial Intelligence

Run by Harokopio University · NCT07200427 · Data updated 2026-11-12

A digital AI coach tests whether plus standard lifestyle advice can help women reduce breast cancer risk by improving activity, diet, and alcohol habits.

Quick facts

Study typeInterventional
Ages18 Years and up
SexWomen only
Enrollment2080 (estimated)
SponsorHarokopio University
Academic / other
Drugs / interventionschemotherapy, immunotherapy
Locations7 sites (Athens and 6 other locations)
StatusRecruiting
StartedMarch 1, 2026
Main results expectedSeptember 2027
Study endsSeptember 2027
Registry record updatedJune 15, 2026
Trial IDNCT07200427 on ClinicalTrials.gov

Is this trial a fit for you?

Likely a good fit

Women aged 18 or older residing in Greece, Lithuania, or Spain who own a smartphone and are willing to use the MELIORA app for 12 months, with at least one breast cancer risk factor or related health behavior concern.

Probably not a fit

Participants who do not engage with the app or do not adopt healthier behaviors may see little to no added benefit beyond standard advice.

A plain-English reading of the study's rules. Only the study team can confirm whether you qualify.

What this trial studies

MELIORA tests an AI-driven Virtual Coach designed to promote sustainable lifestyle changes related to physical activity, diet, and alcohol use in women at risk for breast cancer, patients undergoing treatment, and survivors. The program runs 12 months with outcomes measured at baseline, 6, and 12 months, comparing standard lifestyle advice alone versus advice plus the Virtual Coach. Three parallel randomized studies are conducted across multiple European sites to assess changes in physical activity and related behaviors. The approach aims to identify whether the AI coach enhances engagement and adherence to healthier behaviors beyond standard guidance.

Why it matters

Potential benefit: If successful, the Virtual Coach could lead to more effective, scalable lifestyle changes that may lower breast cancer risk or improve outcomes for women across different stages of care.

How similar studies have gone: Previous digital coaching and AI-driven behavior change tools have shown mixed but promising results in promoting healthier lifestyles in cancer-related prevention contexts.

Who can join: the full rules

Show full inclusion / exclusion criteria
Inclusion Criteria:

MELIORA-HEALTHY study participants must meet all of the following criteria in order to be deemed eligible for study participation:

* Reside in Greece, Lithuania, or Spain.
* Be female and at least 18 years of age.
* Have access to and be able to use a smartphone (iOS or Android) compatible with the MELIORA app.
* Be willing and able to use the MELIORA app for the entire study duration.
* Willing to provide informed consent to participate in the study.
* Have at least one of the following behavioural or metabolic risk factors for BC, assessed in a random order (each site may determine the order that is most convenient for them) until eligibility is confirmed. If a risk factor is identified, the subsequent assessments can be skipped:
* Increased alcohol consumption: More than 1 drink per day.
* Increased body mass index (BMI): BMI ≥ 25 kg/m² or waist circumference ≥80 cm for normal weight individuals.
* Physical inactivity: Not meeting World Health Organization (WHO) guidelines of at least 150 minutes of moderate-intensity or 75 minutes of high-intensity aerobic exercise per week during the last month.
* Suboptimal diet: Low diet quality based on the rapid Prime Diet Quality Score Screener (rPDQS).

MELIORA-PATIENTS study participants must meet all of the following criteria in order to be deemed eligible for study participation:

* Reside in Spain or Lithuania.
* Be female and at least 18 years old.
* Have access to and be able to use a smartphone (iOS or Android) compatible with the MELIORA app.
* Be willing and able to use the MELIORA app for the entire study duration.
* Willing to provide informed consent to participate in the study.
* Have been diagnosed with breast cancer (BC) within the last 6 months and/or currently undergoing treatment (chemotherapy, radiotherapy, immunotherapy, hormone therapy) and/or in active follow-up.
* Have at least one of the following behavioural or metabolic risk factors for BC, assessed in a random order (each site may determine the order that is most convenient for them) until eligibility is confirmed. If a risk factor is identified, the subsequent assessments can be skipped:
* Increased alcohol consumption: More than 1 drink per day.
* Increased body mass index (BMI): BMI ≥ 25 kg/m² or waist circumference ≥80 cm for normal weight individuals.
* Physical inactivity: Not meeting World Health Organization (WHO) guidelines of at least 150 minutes of moderate-intensity or 75 minutes of high-intensity aerobic exercise per week during the last month.
* Suboptimal diet: Low diet quality based on the rapid Prime Diet Quality Score Screener (rPDQS).

MELIORA-SURVIVORS study participants must meet all of the following criteria in order to be deemed eligible for study participation:

* Reside in Spain, Lithuania, or Sweden.
* Be female and at least 18 years old.
* Have access to and be able to use a smartphone (iOS or Android) compatible with the MELIORA app.
* Be willing and able to use the MELIORA app for the entire study duration.
* Willing to provide informed consent to participate in the study.
* Have completed primary treatment for breast cancer (surgery, chemotherapy, radiotherapy, immunotherapy, targeted therapy, etc.) and currently be in remission.
* Be considered "cancer-free" according to their treating physician and may enter the study immediately following this diagnosis.
* Ongoing adjuvant hormone therapy is permitted.
* Have at least one of the following behavioural or metabolic risk factors for BC, assessed in a random order (each site may determine the order that is most convenient for them) until eligibility is confirmed. If a risk factor is identified, the subsequent assessments can be skipped:
* Increased alcohol consumption: More than 1 drink per day.
* Increased body mass index (BMI): BMI ≥ 25 kg/m² or waist circumference ≥80 cm for normal weight individuals.
* Physical inactivity: Not meeting World Health Organization (WHO) guidelines of at least 150 minutes of moderate-intensity or 75 minutes of high-intensity aerobic exercise per week during the past month.
* Suboptimal diet: Low diet quality based on the rapid Prime Diet Quality Score Screener (rPDQS).

Exclusion Criteria:

MELIORA-HEALTHY study participants will be excluded from study participation if they meet any of the following criteria:

* Inability to provide fully informed consent.
* Inability to understand or communicate in the local language i.e. Greek in Greece, Lithuanian in Lithuania, Spanish in Spain.
* Current or past diagnosis of cancer or other uncontrolled chronic diseases (e.g., cardiovascular disease, diabetes) that affect lifestyle, dietary habits, or communication skills.
* Mental illness or disorders that affect lifestyle, dietary habits, or communication skills.
* Use of medication that affects lifestyle, dietary habits, or communication skills.
* Recreational drug use.
* Pregnancy, lactation, or intention to become pregnant shortly before, during, or after the intervention.
* Participation in another clinical trial or program aimed at promoting behavioural changes or weight loss at the time of recruitment. If subjects already use health-related apps that affect their weight and lifestyle, including dietary habits and physical activity, the research team will ask them to pause their use until the end of the 12-month study period. However, the use of these applications by the participants cannot be controlled.

MELIORA PATIENTS and MELIORA SURVIVORS study participants will be excluded from study participation if they meet any of the following criteria:

* Inability to provide fully informed consent.
* Inability to understand or communicate in the local language (i.e., Lithuanian in Lithuania, Spanish in Spain, Swedish in Sweden), unless appropriate translation support is available to ensure full understanding of study procedures and informed consent.
* Current or past diagnosis of cancer (other than breast cancer, except skin cancer treated with surgery only) or other uncontrolled chronic diseases (e.g., cardiovascular diseases, diabetes) that affect lifestyle, dietary habits, or communication skills.
* Mental illness or disorders that affect lifestyle, dietary habits, and communication skills.
* Use of medication that affects lifestyle, dietary habits, or communication skills.
* Recreational drug use.
* Pregnancy, lactation, or intention to become pregnant shortly before, during, or after the intervention.
* Participation in another clinical trial or program to promote behavioural changes or weight loss during recruitment. Suppose participants are already using health-related apps affecting their weight and lifestyle, including dietary habits and physical activity. In that case, they will be asked to suspend their use until the end of the 12-month study period. However, the research team cannot control the use of these applications by the participants.
* Severe adherence issues with previous treatments that may interfere with compliance with study tasks (subject to the investigator's assessment).

Where it's running

  • Harokopio University
    Athens, Greece
    Recruiting
  • Lietuvos Sveikatos Mokslų Universitetas (Lsmu)
    Kaunas, Lithuania
    Recruiting
  • Pagalbos Onkologiniams Ligoniams Asociacija (Pola L T)
    Kaunas, Lithuania
    Recruiting
  • Fundación Para El Fomento de La Investigación Sanitaria Y Biomédica de La Comunitat Valenciana (Fisabio)
    Valencia, Spain
    Recruiting
  • INCLIVA - Instituto de Investigación Sanitaria
    Valencia, Spain
    Recruiting
  • Bröstcancerföreningen Amazona I Stockholms Län (Amazona)
    Stockholm, Sweden
    Recruiting
Show 1 more location
  • Karolinska Institutet
    Stockholm, Sweden
    Recruiting

Study contacts

  • Principal investigator: Yannis Manios, Professor — Department of Nutrition and Dietetics, School of Health Science & Education, Harokopio University, Athens, Greece
  • Study coordinator: Yannis Manios, Professor
  • Email: manios@hua.gr
  • Phone: +30 2109549156

Similar studies

Other studies for the same condition or treatment. Recruiting studies are listed first.

  • Active Mammography and Counseling to Increase Breast Cancer Screening

    This program will test whether community education, patient navigation, and provider engagement can help women aged 40–74 in selected Puerto Rican municipalities who are overdue for mammograms get screened.

    Recruiting University of Puerto Rico Comprehensive Cancer Center · San Juan · NCT07238088

  • MELIORA data collection to develop a breast cancer prevention app

    This two-week pilot will test a preliminary MELIORA smartphone app with women at increased breast cancer risk, women undergoing treatment, and survivors in Spain, Greece, Lithuania, and Sweden.

    Recruiting at 7 sites Harokopio University · Athens and 6 other locations · NCT07190066

  • Understanding how genes affect breast cancer risk

    This study is trying to see how genes affect the risk of breast cancer by collecting health surveys and saliva samples from people aged 18 and older in the US.

    Recruiting Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey · Piscataway, New Jersey · NCT06773897

How to take part

  1. Review the eligibility criteria above with your treating physician.
  2. Check the official listing on ClinicalTrials.gov for the latest contact details and recruitment status.
  3. Contact the study coordinator or principal investigator to ask for pre-screening. Pre-screening is free and never obligates you to enroll.
Last reviewed 2026-11-14 by the Find a Trial editorial team. Information on this page is for educational purposes and is not medical advice. Always consult qualified healthcare professionals about clinical trial participation.