Research

*Updated* PGEU lunchtime Parliamentary debate on Adherence to medicines in Europe

PGEU, the organisation representing European Community Pharmacists, organised a lunchtime debate hosted by MEP Mojca Drčar Murko to debate how can EU policy contribute to improving adherence to medicines in Europe. A number of MEPs, representatives of patients’ and health professionals’ organisations and of the Pharmaceutical industry, prominent researchers as well as some of Europe’s pharmacy leaders, participated to the event.
On the occasion of the lunch debate, PGEU launched its (...)

Drinkers risk bowel cancer

Cancer Research UK has published a study into the increase risk of developing bowel cancers due to drinking alcohol, on 30 July 2007.
The major study was undertaken as part of the European Prospective Investigation into Cancer and Nutrition (EPIC) by Cancer Research UK has found that regular drinkers face a more than 10% increased risk of developing bowel cancer, and the more people drink the higher the risk.
Published in the International Journal of Cancer the epidemiological study (...)

EPHA organises workshop on nutrition and health

EPHA is organising a training session on nutrition and health before the end of 2007.
The aim of the session is to identify ways to build links with research institutions and identify research groupd interested in working with civil society organisations on the field of nutrition and health.
The session will be an occassion for civil society organisations to deepen their understanding of nutrition and health and to strengthen their capacities to approach scientific questions.
Structure of (...)

Involving civil society organisations in research projects

EPHA is a partners of the STACS Project funded by the European Commission, DG Research. The purpose of the project is to support the active participation of civil society organisations in research projects.
The STACS (Science, Technology and Civil Society) project brings together a consortium of six organisations coordinated by the Fondation Sciences Citoyennes (FSC).
The overarching aim of the project is to improve civil society involvement in research policy issues. To achieve this, the (...)

*UDPATED* Prioritising respiratory diseases and allergies in the European research agenda

*UPDATED* Ahead of the 2nd reading on the 7th Research Framework Programme, several EPHA members were calling on the European Parliament to include respiratory disease within the scope of FP7. Their call has been heard by the European Parliament.
**Results of the advocacy campaign**: As a result, respiratory diseases including those inducesd by allergies were part of the priority list and food allergies are now covered in the food safety theme.
The European Federation of Allergies and (...)

SPHERE Project Partners meeting

The SPHERE project partners met in Montreux, in Switzerland on the 15th of November, prior to the EUPHA 14th Conference on Public Health.
A partner meeting of the project SPHERE (Strengthening Public Health Research in the EU) was held on the 15th November in Montreux, a day before the EUPHA (European Public Health Association) conference.
The broad objective of SPHERE is to assist in creating an “European Public Health Research Area” by describing public health research at (...)

Engaging the health community in environmental health issues - workshop in Paris

The Health and Environment Alliance (HEAL) and the United States collaborative of Health and Environment (CHE) are to hold a workshop in Paris entitled networking & engaging health communities in environmental health issues on November 10th 2006.
The aim of the workshop is to bring together key people from the health and environment sectors to exchange views, ideas and look at ways that HEAL, CHE and key constituencies can collaborate and complement each other’s work in 2007. The workshop (...)

Stress and Cardiovascular Disease - New Paper by the European Heart Network

The European Heart Network (EHN) has recently published a 40-page paper entitled "Stress and cardiovascular disease". This paper surveys the major studies covering several aspects of stress and cardiovascular disease (CVD).
The paper seeks to examine the importance of stress as an independent factor in the incidence and the course of CVD.
It argues that because stress is more difficult for health care practitioners to define and assess than widely accepted coronary risk factors (such as (...)

Patients want and need results of clinical trials

The European Breast cancer Coalition, Europa Donna advocates for the right of patients to have access to full information on clinical trials.
The issue of information to patients is currently being discussed at European level notably within the framework of the EU Pharmaceutical Forum and there is much debate over what information should be provided and who should provide that information.
One of Europa Donna’s 10 goals is to ensure that all women fully understand the treatment (...)

ENSP to host Tobacco Control Seminar

On Monday 20th November, the European Network for Smoking Prevention - ENSP an EPHA member will host a Tobacco Control Strategy Research seminar in Sofia, Bulgaria.
The seminar which will be made up of NGO representatives, European Commission experts, Government researchers and ENSP representatives is designed to assess EU capacity and coordination, possible funding and to develop a coordinated EU tobacco research strategy.
The day will commence with a look at state-of-the-art tobacco (...)

Open Forum on Key Issues in Tuberculosis Drug Development

The Second Open Forum on Key Issues in Tuberculosis (TB) Drug Development will take place in London on December 12 - 13, 2006.
This two day meeting will focus on regulatory issues in TB drug development and will include topics such as:
Update of the Global TB Drug Development Portfolio
Key Issues in the Critical Path to TB Drug Registration
Biomarkers for TB Drug Development
Design and Challenges for Pivotal Trials
Developing Regimens Containing (...)

Conference on Natural medicines in Europe

The Association of Natural Medicines in Europe - ANME organises a conference on the situation of natural medicines in the European Union context. It takes place in Frankfurt (Germany) on the 11 November 2006.
While discussions on health care costs and reimbursement structures are going on, while regulations on pharmaceuticals are being released, some of them threatening the test certificate of natural drugs, CAM is neglected in the debate on health policy.
But if health systems are to (...)

The SPHERE Project - Strengthening Public Health Research in Europe

This EU supported project aims to examine the ways and means by which research priorities in the field of public health at the European level can be identified.
The SPHERE project started in January 2005, under the leadership of the Faculty of Public Health of the Royal College of Physicians of the United Kingdom. EPHA is one of the partners together with the following organisations:
European Public Health Association (EUPHA)
National School of Public Health (Lisbon, Portugal)
National (...)

The European Respiratory Society

The recruitment is closed.
The European Respiratory Society is seeking to appoint a Brussels-based EU Scientific Officer.
Working closely with ERS’ scientific department in Switzerland, your tasks will include identifying EU research funding opportunities, drafting funding applications and developing respiratory research policy materials.
Qualifications required
University degree in a scientific discipline;
Work experience within the EU institutions and/or in health/research/scientific (...)

EATG position paper on HIV/AIDS clinical trials and drug users

The European AIDS Treatment Group (EATG), an EPHA member organisation, issued their position paper on clinical research and drug users in order to urge key stakeholders to include drug users in the clinical trials.
Despite the high prevalence of HIV/AIDS within the injecting drug user population, EATG points out that drug users are excluded from clinical trials which raise concerns regarding the relevance of future treatments for this high-risk population.
EATG notes that health care (...)

Fighting for Breath - a report on living with severe asthma

EPHA Member, the European Federation of Allergy and Airways Diseases Patients’ Association (EFA) launched the results of the survey "Fighting for Breath: a European patient perspective on severe asthma" at the European Respiratory Society (ERS) Congress in September 2005.
Up until now, no pan-European survey by patients for patients has reported the real life experiences of what people living with severe asthma undergo every day. According to the report, "millions of people across (...)

Launch of an allergy and asthma European network

The GA²LEN (Global Allergy and Asthma European Network) will be launched on 12 February in Brussels.
The network (funded by the European Commission’s 6th Framework Programme for Research) will create a permanent and durable structure to coordinate research capacity in Europe on Allergy and Asthma issues.
The network has 27 Partners, including the European Academy of Allergology and Clinical Immunology (EAACI) and the European Federation of Allergy and Asthma Patients Associations (EFA), (...)

New report about the health risks of heavy metals from long-range transboundary air pollution

The World Health Organisation Regional Office for Europe has published a new report entitled “Health Risks of heavy metals from long-range transboundary air pollution” on the sources, chemical proprieties and spatial distribution of cadmium, lead and mercury pollution that evaluates the potential health risks in Europe.
The Convention on Long-range Transboundary Air Pollution (CLRTAP) was signed in 1979. Its recently activities persistent organic pollutants (Protocol on (...)

EU scientists find no link between parabens and breast cancer

Parabens are a group of chemicals widely used as preservatives in food products, medicines and cosmetics such as lipsticks and deodorants.
The Cosmetic Directive of 1976 sets the maximum concentration for their use in cosmetic products.
Since then, a number of scientific publications have suggested a link between breast cancer and the use of paraben-containing deodorants and antiperspirants.
DG SANCO requested an opinion from the Scientific Committee on Consumer Products (SCCP) . The (...)

Commission consultation on nanotechnology

The Commission is launching a wide consultation on its Communication Towards a European Strategy for Nanotechnology in which it proposed an integrated and responsible approach for developing nanosciences and nanotechnologies in Europe.
Nanotechnology is a new approach to research and development for controlling the fundamental structure and behaviour of matter at the level of atoms and molecules. Applications are emerging in many different areas such as health care, information (...)

Effects of mercury contamination of seafood in children’s health

Scientists at the Harvard School of Public Health announced on 3 February that methyl mercury contamination of seafood can cause heart and brain damage in children.
The study, published in the February 2004 issue of the Journal of Pediatrics, found that brain signals controlling heart rates were significantly slower in children whose mothers had the most mercury in their systems during their (...)

Renewal of Scientific Committees 2009

The European Commission adopts new Scientific Risk Assessment Advisory Structure of Scientific Committees.
The new Scientific Risk Advisory Structure of Scientific Committees was approved by the Commission on 5 September 2008. The Advisory Structure will provide the Commission with high quality and independent scientific advice on matters related to consumer safety, public health, and the environment.
A call for experts is expected to be announced within the next few weeks, and interested (...)

Funding for research, development and innovation – How to see things more clearly?

The European Commission is preparing a practical guide on the full range of European funding available for research, development and innovation.
The purpose of this guide is to help project sponsors identify the funds best suited to their particular circumstances. The guide will review the various existing Internet sites and information points and explain to what extent several European funds may be combined.
The Commission has launched a public consultation on the draft guide, running (...)

The European Commission announces the names of the European Research Area Board (ERAB) representatives

Despite claims by Janez Potocnik, Commissioner for Science and Research, that civil society is crucial for the European Research Area, DG Research has nominated no civil society representative to its high level Advisory Group on research and science.
The European Commission has established the European Research Area Board (ERAB) as the new consultative body responsible for advising the EU on the realisation of the European Research Area (ERA).
22 people will make up ERAB, coming from the (...)

MEPs call for EU cancer task force

Parliament’s health committee has called on the Commission to set up an EU Cancer Task Force to provide leadership for improved prevention, screening and treatment of the disease in Europe.
http://www.europarl.europa.eu/compa...
Background
Cancer remains one of the biggest causes of death in Europe. Although enormous efforts are being made in the area of research and significant advances have been made in the fight against this scourge - medicine is currently able to cure one cancer in two (...)

European Agency for Health and Safety at Work: review of progress made in 2006

The European Agency for Safety and Health at Work (OSHA) has published its annual report for 2006. The report outlines three main areas of progress: reinforcement of the agency’s tripartite governance structure; communication on occupational safety and health; and scientific research on emerging risks.
In 2006, the European Agency for Safety and Health at Work (OSHA) strengthened its tripartite governance structure and network by involving workers, employers and governments more closely (...)

New plans to improve European Research

New proposals for more effective and focused research have been presented by the European Commission in a Green Paper entitled "The European Research Area: New Perspectives"
These proposals aim to achieve the economic, social and environmental targets outlined by the Lisbon Strategy for Growth and Jobs Drawing upon the Strategy, the European Commission has decided to direct research towards the political objectives contained in it. Freedom for people, infrastructures, organisations, (...)

Improving access to European-funded research results

The European Commission has issued a communication on how to make the results from European Community-funded research available to all.
Although the document is not legally binding, it aims to end the current situation where European-funded research results (ie paid with public funds) are not necessarily made publicly available and may be accessible by subscribing to scientific publications.
In addition, open access to scientific evidence can accelerate innovation and avoid duplication of (...)

**Updated** Current EU research policy

The European Commission’s Directorate General on Research publicly launched the 7th European Research Programme (FP7) at a conference held by the German Presidency in Bonn on January 15-16, 2007. The 7th Research Framework Programme will run from 2007-2013. The first calls for proposals under FP7 were issued on 22 December 2006.
Information days for potential applicants were held across the EU during February 2007 (including one in Brussels on the 7-8 February attended by Silvia Marcos (...)

EU calls for Sun Bed Regulation

The use of ultraviolet-radiation devices, tanning lamps and sunbeds, to achieve and maintain cosmetic tanning, is likely to increase the risk of malignant melanoma (a serious type of skin cancer), according to an opinion of the Scientific Committee on Consumer Products (SCCP) to the European Commission.
The SCCP adopted their report entitled "Biological effects ofultraviolet radiation relevant to health with particular reference to sunbeds for cosmetic purposes" in June 2006.
The 43 page (...)

Roundtable on Health in the 7th EU Framework Programme for Research

A Roundtable on Health in the 7th EU Framework Programme for Research and Development (FP7) was held on the 28 March 2006 at the Madariaga Foundation in Brussels.
The Roundtable had the aim of gathering opinions from stakeholders on the third "pillar" of the FP7-programme: optimizing health care delivery.
The background to this event was the current Commission proposal on the future 7th Framework Programme on Research which addresses health as one of its themes.
Lara Garrido Herrero gave a (...)

A new EU Directory on Science and society

The European Commission Directorate General on Research has set up a directory to collect data on ’who’s who’ in the area of science and society in Europe.
The aim is to produce an online database where potential project partners would be registered, in order to further improve the link between science and society.
Although the "who’s who" is not online yet, stakeholders that have an interest in research can contact DG Research to be added to the Directory.
This Directory (...)

**UPDATED** Science and society: Meeting of Minds

*This article has been updated with information about the outcome of the project.*
The King Baudouin Foundation successfully led an EU-funded project called "Meeting of Minds" which aimed to foster greater involvement of citizens in defining priorities for brain research.
Run by 12 different organisations, the 2-year pilot project "Meeting of Minds" gave the opportunity to ordinary citizens from 9 EU Member States to discuss the impact of brain science on their daily life and express (...)

What role for civil society in research?

Following the publication by the European Commission of its proposal for the Seventh Research Framework Programme (FP7) (2007-2013) and the recent two FP6 calls for proposal targeting civil society, the role of civil society organisations must be significantly strenghtened in research.
Although there are a lot of concerns about the funding distribution in FP7, especially with regard to health, the other face of the debate focuses on the "war of evidence". How is defined sound and (...)

Research: New Calls for proposal for civil society

Recently, the European Commission published two calls for proposals in the area of Science and Society under the Sixth Framework Programme.
Science Shops
The objective of the call is to contribute to universities’ mission of sharing knowledge outside the academic sphere. It mainly targets local civil society, universities and organisations involved in the training of students.
The call requires the use of specific support actions (SSA) and coordination actions (CA). Participants should (...)

Commission report on the challenges of biometrics

The Commission has published the report ’Biometrics at the Frontiers: Assessing the Impact on Society’. The study assesses how biometric technologies, like fingerprinting and iris and face recognition, will impact on our daily lives.
The report is published in the context of the new EU requirement for biometric passports, visas and residence permits from 2006. Biometrics are often thought of only in terms of security and border controls, but the report makes the claim that (...)

New tool for scientific input into policy-making

The Commission has launched a new e-Network designed to make scientific advice more available to policy-makers at the EU and national level called SINAPSE (Scientific Information for Policy Support in Europe).
The new web-platform is to promote and encourage exchange of information between policy-makers and the scientific community. It will aim to be:
A library of scientific opinion and advice
A tool for the Commission to consult the scientific community
An early-warning system
A forum (...)

Third Ministerial Conference on eHealth

eHealth is the use of information technologies, especially the Internet, to enhance the quality and accessibility of health services. Applications range from simple administrative tools such as managing patient databases to complex clinical applications which can support the clinician in diagnosis and treatment. As part of an overall approach to increasing the uptake of new technologies, the European Commission has managed an eHealth programme for several years.
The third Ministerial (...)

New Call for Proposals for EU funding on Emerging Science and Technology

The European Commission’ s DG Research has launched a call for proposals under the budgetline New and Emerging Science and Technology (NEST). The deadline for application is April 13 2005.
INSIGHT projects
INSIGHT projects must demonstrate an anticipatory function.
They are scientific investigations designed to provide identification and clarification of discoveries and phenomena that could lead to potential risks for the society.
They should aim at developing scientific understanding (...)

ECDC Director committed to improve public health in Europe

Mrs Zsuzsanna Jakab begun working as the first Director of the European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control (ECDC), in March 2005.
Objectives of the ECDC
Speaking at the European Parliament’s Environment, Public Health and Food Safety (ENVI) Committee hearing on Monday 10 January 2005, she asserted very clearly 4 broad functions for the future ECDC :
Organising and coordinating the collaboration between EU institutions, Member States and other partners such as the World Health (...)

Consultation on the 7th Research Framework

The European Commission is undertaking a consultation to identify ’thematic domains’ for future European support under the 7th Framework Programme.
The European Commission is using the following three criteria in order to identify which thematic domains will be included in the proposal for the 7th Framework Programme.
Contribution to EU policy objectives
The research topic must generate new knowledge to meet societal needs and catalyse the delivery of a European policy objective(s), (...)

EU funds research project on drug resistance

The EU announced on the 28th June 2004 a contribution of €9 million to the “Vigilance against Viral Resistance” (VIRGIL) project.
This project intends to start by studying viral hepatitis and influenza, and then broadening to other viruses.
The network will be based on research and technological platforms to monitor existing, and anticipate future, drug resistance.
The VIRGIL project is coordinated by Lyon’s INSERM research centre and gathers 55 key European field experts from (...)

EU Directive on Clinical Trials causes concern

The European Union Directive on clinical trials, will enter into force on 1 May 2004, however scientists from the public sector and medical charities have raised concerns about the future of publicly funded clinical trials in Europe.
The EU Directive 2001/20/EC, adopted on 4 April 2001, concerns "the approximation of the laws, regulations and administrative provisions of the Member States relating to the implementation of Good Clinical Practice in the conduct of clinical trials on (...)

ERCEG recommends the creation of a European Research Council

An interim report of the European Research Council Expert Group concludes that there are compelling reasons for the establishment of a European Research Council.
The European Research Council Expert Group (ERCEG) was created in December 2002 by the Danish government to explore options for establishing a European Research Council (ERC).
The Group now released an interim report, arguing that there were compelling reasons for setting up an ERC, whose main purpose should be to manage a (...)

British Retail Consortium Debate - Retailer Action or just Distraction?

EPHA participated in a debate with the food industry on healthy eating issues, organised by the British Retail Consortium.
EPHA took the opportunity to raise the issue of independent development of nutritional profiling by food manufacturers and retailers.
The British Retail Consortium (BRC) held a lunchtime debate in the European Parliament on 4 October 2006, chaired by MEP Linda McAvan. Representatives from retailers such as Asda, Tesco, Marks & Spencers, Waitrose and Sainsbury’s were (...)

Consumers need a more complete and accessible nutritional information

The European Consumers’ Organisation (BEUC) conducted a survey on European consumers’ perception of foodstuffs labelling, revealing the effectiveness of nutritional claims in attracting consumers’ attention and influencing their purchase.
BEUC’s study attempts to evaluate the different factors that influence a consumer when buying foodstuff. The interest in nutrition, the sources of information, the nutritional knowledge, understanding and perception and eventually, the impact (...)

The European Foundation Centre launches European Forum on Philanthropy and Research Funding

The European Forum on Philanthropy and Research Funding will help support philanthropic funding for research by exchanging experiences and best practice, developing cooperation on research funding, and promoting a favourable environment for foundation and private philanthropic activities. The Forum is supported by the European Commission and individual funders.
The European Foundation Centre (EFC)
The European Foundation Centre (EFC) is an international association of foundations and (...)

Comprehensive report on the link between cancer prevention and nutrition

The World Cancer Research Fund together with the American Institute for Cancer Research launched its second expert report entitled, ’Food, Nutrition, Physical Activity and the Prevention of Cancer: a Global Perspective.’ The goal of this report is to meticulously review all the current research and generate a set of recommendations to reduce the risk of cancer in all societies.
The publication is the most comprehensive report ever published on the link between the prevention of cancer and (...)

EU Eurobarometer opinion survey highlights health checks

A Eurobarometer opinion survey across the EU has found wide differences in health status as well as the use of health checkups across the EU.

EMCDDA Scientific Committee: call for expression of interest

The European Monitoring Centre for Drugs and Drug Addiction (EMCDDA) is seeking scientists interested to be part of the Centre’s Scientific Committee.
The EMCDDA Scientific Committee
The Scientific Committee was established in 1993 together with the institutionalisation of the EMCDDA.
The main role of the Scientific Committee is:
to provide assistance to the Director of the EMCDDA on the work programmes of the centre.
to issue scientific opinions (which will be published)
to (...)

FEANTSA conference and information day on homelessness and employment

The European Federation of National Organisations working with People who are Homeless (FEANTSA) is organising a European conference and an information day on 18 and 19 October in Zaragoza, Spain.
The conference is intended to present the main findings of the European Report on homelessness and employment. But it also stands as an opportunity to meet experts from across Europe, have access to the latest publications on this topic, and visit various employment projects for people who are (...)

WHO publishes World Health Data for 2007

The World Health Organisation has published the World Health Statistics for 2007 in an updated version of their Statistical Information System (WHOSIS).
This third edition of WHO’s report includes a section with 10 highlights of global health statistics for the past year as well as an expanded set of 50 health statistics.
WHOSIS database can be either used as an on-line tool or downloaded along with the data tables, and allows access to comparative data from across the world.
WHO makes (...)

Injuries and Violence in Europe - A Publication of WHO Europe

The World Health Organisation - Europe has published a book and a summary booklet entitled "Injuries and violence in Europe - Why they matter and what can be done".
Every day in the WHO European Region, injuries kill over 2000 people, put 60 000 in hospital and necessitate outpatient emergency treatment for 600 000. Injuries rank third amongst the Region’s major killers, after cardiovascular diseases and lung cancer.
The book provides detailed data on the harm to individuals and societies (...)

Report - "Employment in social care in Europe"

The European Foundation for the Improvement of Living and Working Conditions recently published a report entitled "Employment in social care in Europe".
The report is the fruit of the Foundation’s research project of the same name.
The research is particularly pertinent in the context of the ageing population and workforce. Faced with the challenge of an ageing population in the European Union, there is growing concern about the supply of suitably qualified care workers. Low pay, low (...)

"Towards High Performing Health Systems" report

The Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) has published a report titled "Towards high-performing health systems" which offers a synthesis of findings from recent OECD studies undertaken as part of the three-year Health Project.
It provides information and analysis on a wide variety of topics, such as new and emerging health-related technologies, long-term care, private health insurance, health-care cost control, equity of access across income groups, health workforce (...)

Report on the link between science and public health policy

The Wellcome Trust has published a report on the state of public health sciences in the UK and made recommendations on measures to enhance the impact upon the public health.
A working group was convened to address public health sciences and how they relate to public health practice in the inter-related areas of health services, health protection and health improvement.
The report notes that impressive achievements in the biomedical sciences and medical care can obscure the fact that the (...)

Health for all? A critical analysis of public health policies in eight European countries.

This study, carried out by Swedish scientists, compares the public health policies of eight European countries.
Background of the study In 2003, the Swedish Parliament adopted a comprehensive public health policy that covered all the important health determinants, ranging from societal conditions to lifestyles. In order to compare the mechanism established there, and to make up for the lack of research into public health matters, a group of Swedish scientists decided to ask their European (...)

Smoke-free policies are effective according to experts

The latest findings from an international group of experts convened at the International Agency for Research on Cancer in Lyon, show support for smoke-free policies.
The Special Report, with the findings from a series of reviews and evaluations, will be published exclusively online and in the July edition of the Lancet Oncology.
The expert group found sufficient evidence for the following:
implementation of smoke-free policies substantially decreases second-hand smoke exposure (...)

An international informal debate on ethics and science

Members of national forums and the European Group in Ethics (EGE) met last February during the 11th Forum of National Ethics Council (NEC) at Brdo, Slovenia. The Forum was organized by the European Commission and the Slovenian National Medical Ethics committee, and provided for an international informal debate in the field of ethics and science.
The leading theme of the NEC Forum-> was the Freedoms and Rights of the individuals in competition with the interests of the society. The meeting (...)

Smokeless tobacco products are addictive and carcinogenic to humans

The Scientific Committee on Emerging and Newly Identified Health Risks (SCENIR) has provided evidence on the addictiveness and hazardous impact to health of smokeless tobacco products (STP).
The Scientific Committee on Emerging and Newly Identified Health Risks (SCENIR) has been asked to evaluate effects of smokeless tobacco products (STP) including tobacco for oral use, chewing tobacco, dry snuff and nasal snuff.
The marketing of tobacco products for oral use is banned in all EU countries (...)

eHealth flagged as a priority sector for growth

The European Commission has called for quick action and strengthened national co-operation on lead market opportunities for eHealth in order to increase economic benefits and improve quality of health services.
http://ec.europa.eu/information_soc...
"The prospective return on investment of eHealth is relatively high when compared to the costs inherent in the health sector," argues a Commission report on accelerating the development of the eHealth market in Europe, published in late December (...)

Netherlands commits 30 million euros to combat Deadly Global TB Pandemic

Responding to a tuberculosis (TB) pandemic that is growing more threatening and deadly, the Dutch Ministry of Foreign affairs (DGIS) announced more than 30 million euros investment on 2 November 2006
The investment will be concentrated on three nonprofit Product Development Partnerships (PDPs) that are leading the global effort to develop new TB drugs, vaccines and diagnostics. This is the largest investment that any single country has made to research and development of new tools to (...)

Organisations join forces in the fight against TB in Europe

The International Federation of the Red Cross and Red Cresent Societies unite with the World Health Organisation (WHO) , The European Centre for disease prevention and control (ECDC) and several other organisations to launch Stop TB Europe
The organisations have taken the decision to come together in the Stop TB Europe partnership due to an alarming rise in the cases of multi drug-resistant TB and the more recent emergence of extreme drug-resistant TB which does not respond to any mode of (...)

What are the leading causes of death in the EU?

A report by the EU’s statistical office, Eurostat, illustrates mortality data by cause for the Member States of the European Union. It also indicates that the leading cause of death differs greatly between the 25 Member States at national and regional levels.
According to statistics:
two thirds of deaths in the EU are caused by circulatory diseases and cancer.
Heart attacks, strokes and other circulatory diseases account for 41% of all deaths.
Cancer is responsible for 25% of all (...)

Evaluating healthcare expenditures : first results of the AHEAD Project

The first results of a three-year project aimed to evaluate the links between reported healthcare expenditures and the use of medical services were presented by the European Network of Economic Policy Research Institutes (ENEPRI) and the Center for European Policy Studies (CEPS).
Entitled AHEAD (Ageing, Health Status and Determinants of Health Expenditure), the project’s main objectives are:
to assess factors that trigger health spending in the EU, with a particular focus on ageing, (...)

**UPDATED**European Parliament backs directive to increase R&D on pediatric medicines

This article has been updated with the Council’s position and the second reading from the European Parliament.
The European Parliament voted on 7 September in favour of a European Commission Directive to guarantee that medicines administered to children are actually suitable for them. An overwhelming majority of MEPs supported this way the stimulation of research into development of paediatric medicines in Europe.
The Parliament’s decision will now go to the Council, where the governments (...)

Positive emotions benefit health

There is increasing scientific interest in the possibility that positive emotional states are beneficial to health.
Researchers from the University of Maryland School of Medicine in Baltimore have recently shown for the first time that laughter is linked to healthy function of blood vessels.
Volunteers were shown funny and stressful movies to test the effect of emotions on blood vessels. Stress caused blood flow to slow by around 35%, but laughter increased it by around 22%.
The current (...)

Exploring the future of ’Science Shops’

The European Commission hosted a conference to review the successes of a network of Science Shops and explored opportunities to enlarge the network of partners.
The EPHA Secretariat attended the meeting organised by the DG Research together with representatives from NGO’s, Universities and existing Science Shops from throughout Europe.
Science shops are organisations created as mediators between citizen groups (trade unions, pressure groups, non-profit organisations, social groups, (...)

Tobacco or Health in the European Union - Past, Present and Future

EU Health Commissioner David Byrne is bowing out on a high note, unveiling a new report on tobacco control and launching a set of 42 images which are to appear on cigarette packages as tough warnings against the dangers of smoking.
At a press conference in Brussels on 22 October, Commissioner Byrne launched the ASPECT report on EU tobacco control, the first comprehensive overview of the tobacco epidemic in the enlarged EU.
This report was produced by a consortium of experts which featured (...)

EMBO launches new life sciences mobility portal

The European Molecular Biology Organisation (EMBO) has launched a new online life sciences mobility consultancy (LSMC), with help from the European Commission’s research Framework Programme.
The website includes searchable information on grants, fellowships, awards, workshops and practical courses in the life sciences, as well as listings of scientific vacancies throughout (...)

German region re-orients healthcare towards prevention - December 2003

German Region of Bavaria consults citizens on how to prioritise health promotion and prevention.
The Bavarian Regional Minister for Health, Mr Eberhard Sinner has launched a new Citizens Report. It addresses the issue of health policy by asking the key question of how the health system can be directed to prevention and health promotion.
The methodology used to develop the citizens report has already been used to assess opinions on consumer protection. 400 citizens have been randomly (...)

EU and international health database

European & international health interviews and health examination surveys database
EPHA members might find the following database available online of interest.
This website currently represents an inventory of nationally and internationaly administered health surveys in EU Member States, EFTA countries and some countries of other regions (USA, Canada and Australia).
The National Public Health Institute (KTL), Finland and the Central Bureau of Statistics (CBS), the Netherlands have (...)

Commission increases funding in cancer research

On 9 October, the European Commission announced that it will fund 19 new projects, worth 100 million euro, in the field of cancer research.
The funding will be allocated within one of the priorities of the Sixth Framework Programme (FP6) ’Genomics and biotechnology for health’.
The projects range from investigating links between genomics and cancer, and developing imaging and radiotherapy technologies, to establishing clinical trials for breast cancer and leukaemia, and helping to create (...)

European Medicines Agency Update - New Budget and Transparency Measures

EMEA Budget News for 2007
The European Community contribution to the European Medicines Agency (EMEA) budget has been cut in 2007 EU budget discussions but not to the degree first feared.
Although the Agency had originally requested 46.32 million EUR, initial indications suggested that the Agency would receive only a small increase over the 2006 level of 34 million EUR.
However, the EMEA management board petitioned the European Parliament, expressing the concerns expressed by a great (...)

**UPDATED** Research and Development in global health

UPDATED with the results of the World Health Assembly. In May 2006, the World Health Assembly adopted a resolution on "Global Framework on Essential Health Research and Development", which aims to address the priority health needs of people living with HIV/AIDS and other diseases, especially those in poor countries, and to develop improved safe and affordable health products such as HIV vaccines.
NGO campaigning activities
In order to support the upcoming 2006 World Health Assembly (...)

UPDATED - Call for support: WHO draft resolution on health Research & Development

**Updated: the resolution will be discussed at the World Health Assembly in May 2006** On November 16 2005, the Republic of Kenya asked the World Health Organisation (WHO) to discuss a proposed resolution on a "Global Framework on Essential Health Research and Development" at the 23-28 January meeting of the WHO’s Executive Board.
The resolution is a really strategic and important opportunity to get support for a new global framework for health Research & Development which addresses the (...)

Biotechnology in Europe - no definitive answer on patentability

A new European Commission report on biotechnology inventions refuses to take a clear position on the patenting of human stem cells.
This highly controversial issue covers the protection of biotechnology inventions and a potentially lucrative and large market, but also the ethical aspects of patenting.
These ethical concerns have been at the heart of a 10 year stand-off between EU governments and MEPs that was ended by the adoption of a Directive and a European Court of Justice ruling (...)

MEPs raise concerns about sale of human eggs for fertility treatment

A group of MEPs, including Mrs Hiltrud Breyer MEP (Greens/EFA - DE), Mr Peter Liese MEP (EPP/ED - DE), Mr Adamos Adamou MEP (GUE/NGL - CY) and Ms Maria Martens MEP (EPP/ED - NL), have raised concerns about media reports of a trade of human egg cells from Romania to clinics in the UK.
In many European countries there are shortages of donated eggs and long waiting lists for fertility treatment. The news report that young Romanian women are being paid to donate their eggs led the UK (...)

Bioethics at stake in the new FP7

The European Commission encounters a sound opposition from the European Parliament to introducing European funding for research on human embryo and embryonic stem cells in the next 7th Research Framework Programme (FP7).
On the 20 September 2005, a group of 73 MEPs have signed a letter to the European Commission President, Manuel Barroso, calling the Commission to respect the principle of subsidiarity in the matter: Member States should decide if they want to fund research on the human (...)

Health Action International on European medicines’ policy

Health Action International-Europe (HAI), an EPHA member, has recently published three new position papers on key issues affecting European medicines’ policy.
"Running on empty: Medicines’ production and the absence of innovation" lays out HAI’s view that the pharmaceutical industry does not and will not produce medicines geared to public need - i.e. geared to priority conditions, at affordable prices and of genuine therapeutic advance. It concludes by urging policy-makers to look for, and (...)

Petition to WHO on research and development of medicines

On 24 February 2005, 162 non-governmental organisations, academics and politicians issued an open letter urging the World Health Organisation to evaluate the draft Medical Research and Development Treaty that has been drawn up over the past two years by a group of economists, scientists and public health experts
Existing trade agreements designed to bolster medical R&D investments focus nearly exclusively on stronger intellectual property rights and higher drug prices. This approach (...)

Malaria vaccine developments

An new vaccine in development has shown positive results in paediatric trials against the malaria that is found in the developing world (RTS,S/ASO2A).
The study, published in the "The Lancet", shows the results of a vaccine, developed by GlaxoSmithkline (GSK) Biologics and tested amongst children between one and four years old for a period of six months in Mozambique.
This vaccine was first tested in adults in Belgium, Kenya, The Gambia, and the US. It has since been tested in children in (...)

EU industry ministers call for less red tape and regulation

On 17 May 2004, the EU Competitiveness Council approved a timetable to identify priority areas for lighter European regulation on industry and business "with a view to agreement before the end of 2004".
The Council has also asked the European Commission to develop a method to assess administrative burdens on industry and report to the Ministers in November.
The trade and industry Ministers called for reduced regulation, new policies to stimulate private investment in scientific research, (...)

DG Research prepares legislation on human tissue engineering

Recognising the need for an EU-wide regulatory framework on human tissue engineering, the Commission started drafting a proposal for common measures in this area (January 2004).
The initiative is designed to guarantee patient safety and to ensure that tissue engineered products can be marketed without obstacles throughout the European Union to those who need the innovative therapies.
It also aims to encourage medical research in an area that can develop new ways of treating diseases by (...)