Health Research Committee
Description
The Committee focuses on advocating for stronger funding for health research in the EU as well as working together towards a harmonised regulatory system which supports research and better health in Europe. The Committee represents the full translational value chain from basic research to clinical treatment and has been active in various health research policy activities such as Co-leading the Research & Innovation Working group in the EU Health Coalition, and providing input on the research elements of the European Health Data Space (EHDS) and on the involvement of animals in scientific research.
Chair
The Committee is chaired by Professor Wilfried Ellmeier.
Activities
2023 Report Highlights the importance of Life Science Investments in Europe
- Details
The report, "Attracting Life Science Investments in Europe," has been published in 2023 as an initiative by BioMed Alliance, EuropaBio, and Johnson & Johnson. The report consists of an analysis of the life science sector within Europe, providing a set of indicators on the importance of life science investments.
The report identifies existing gaps within the European life science ecosystem compared to the US and China and provides strategic recommendations to address these disparities. Key recommendations include:
- Stronger policy efforts from the EU to establish a long-term vision and enhance Europe’s position in life sciences.
- Increased and more focused public funding for research and education, both at the EU level and within individual member states, to avoid the inefficiencies caused by fragmented resources
Read the full report here.
Concerns about cuts in EU4Health and Horizon Europe budgets
- Details
In early February, BioMed Alliance expressed its strong disappointment with political decisions to cut the EU4Health budget by 1 billion and the Horizon Europe budget by 2.1 billion Euros. With the COVID-19 pandemic still fresh in our minds, and the number of people suffering from chronic diseases steadily increasing, we need more investment in health and research. With the EU elections coming up in June this year we hope that health and research will continue to be a priority in the elections, and for the new Parliament and Commission.
BioMed Alliance leads drafting of HERA Civil Society Forum Discussion Paper
- Details
On November 17, the Civil Society Forum of the European Commission’s Health Emergency Preparedness and Response Authority (HERA) adopted its first discussion paper on the strategy and future role of HERA. The drafting of the paper was coordinated by the BioMed Alliance and it recommends increased investment into health emergency preparedness and response in addition to closer integration of strategies on the EU level. It focuses on a range of issues including strong and separate funding streams, enhanced coordination and the need to have a broader scope beyond merely medical countermeasures to immediate health emergencies. The paper will inform the upcoming mid-term review of HERA’s mandate in 2024
Statement shares the concerns of the scientific community on a recent Citizens Initiative proposing to phase-out animal testing
- Details
The medical & scientific community represented within the BioMed Alliance has published a new statement expressing its strong concerns about the consequences of the European Citizens Initiative ‘Save cruelty free cosmetics - Commit to a Europe without animal testing’ for biomedical research. While the first two parts of the Citizens’ Initiative refer to protecting the animal testing ban for cosmetics and to transforming the chemicals regulation (the BioMed Alliance has no official position on this), the third part on modernising science could affect the European health research sector. Read the statement here.
BioMed Alliance selected as stakeholder in the HERA Civil Society Forum
- Details
The BioMed Alliance was appointed as a member of the European Commission’s HERA Civil Society Forum. The Forum, as a sub-group of the HERA Advisory Forum, will help to ensure that HERA receives regular input on the views and expertise of the civil society stakeholders. The BioMed Alliance will serve as a liaison between HERA and our members.
The European Health Emergency Preparedness and Response Authority (HERA) is a key pillar of the European Health Union and will fill a gap in the EU's health emergency response and preparedness. It was launched as a European Commission Directorate-General in 2021. The instrument anticipates threats and potential health crises, through intelligence gathering and building the necessary response capacities.
BioMed Alliance & EU Health Coalition react to proposed budget cuts for research
- Details
The BioMed Alliance and EU health Coalition expressed their concerns about the proposed budget cuts for European research funding.
The European Council met 17-21 July and proposed to reduce the financial envelope for the implementation of the Horizon Europe programme for the period 2021-2027 to €80.9 billion. EU leaders also decided to cut the budget of the new Health Programme, EU4Health, by almost €8 billion to €1.6 billion.
The BioMed Alliance and its partners outlined how the proposed cuts may hinder health research in two EU health coalition statements; one right before the summit asking for an appropriate budget and one after expressing concern about the proposed budget cuts.
The European Parliament still has to approve the agreement before it is finalised.
Report: Workshop European initiatives for health research and development
- Details
The "European initiatives for health research and development” workshop was held at the World Health Summit in Berlin on Sunday 29th October 2019. The workshop was hosted by the BioMed Alliance, Charité – Universitätsmedizin Berlin and the M8 Alliance. The report summarises the speakers’ perspectives and views on the future design of European health research and global partnerships.