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The Health theme Framework Programme for

ResearchFP7

Kevin McCarthyHead of Sector Public Health

Directorate HealthDG Research – European Commission

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Outline today…

The 7th Framework programme (FP7)

Rationale and approach Basic principles Structure Pillar 3 Outcome of first calls Present call for proposals Some projects

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EU Research Policy -Competitiveness, Quality of

Lifeand Support to EU policies

The key objective of EU Research research policy (Art. 163 & 178 of the Treaty): “the strengthening of the scientific and technological bases of Community industry“ and “promoting all research activities deemed necessary for other policies”.

The core objectives for Health research in FP7 are “improving the health of the European citizens and increasing the competitiveness of the European health related industries and businesses…” with emphasis on “translational research”.

N.B.:The European Commission currently manages about 5% of total public spending in R&D in the European Union.The EU currently invests about 1.9% of GDP in research

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FP7 budget (2007-2013): €55 billion

= ~6% of public R&D investment in Europe

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Cooperation programme:thematic areas (€32.4 billion)

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Collaborative research in FP7:The Cooperation programme

Thematic Priorities1. Health 6.1 2. Food, agriculture, fisheries and biotechnology 1.9

3. Information and communication technologies 9.1 4. Nanosciences, nanotechnologies, materials

and new production technologies 3.5 5. Energy 2.3 6. Environment (including climate change) 1.97. Transport (including aeronautics) 4.28. Socio-economic sciences and the humanities 0.69. Security & 10. Space 2.8

Total for collaborative research €32.4 billion

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Collaborative researchin the Health theme

Main policy drivers: Improving health of European citizens

Increasing competitiveness of European health-related industries and businesses

Addressing global health issues, including emerging epidemics

Budget: €6.1 billion over 7 years (2007-2013)

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Collaborative research

across borders and other barriers• between countries:

– multinational consortia, with at least 3 partners from 27 EU Member States (MS) + Associated Countries (AC) eg: Albania, Croatia, FYROM, Iceland, Israel, Liechtenstein, Montenegro, Norway, Serbia, Switzerland, Turkey.

– researchers from any country in the world can participate, from industrialised countries and from developing countries. eg: Argentina, Australia, Brazil, Canada, China, India, Japan, Korea, New-Zealand, Russia, South-Africa, USA, … … …

• between different types of organizationsPublic & private sector: universities, research centres, large companies, Small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), etc.

• between disciplines: multidisciplinary, translational research

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Scientific excellence at European level

From policy to funding the best research projects:

• The policy for Health research is described in the FP7 specific programme (available on CORDIS)

• Each year, a work programme is prepared by the EC, with the Advisory Group and in consultation with the Programme Committee

• Through calls for proposals the EC invites researchers from all Europe and beyond to submit their proposals

• The very best projects are selected on the basis of evaluation by independent experts (peer review)

• After negotiation of a grant agreement, a project is funded for 2-5 y.

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Submission & evaluation

Basic principles: annual calls – single-stage or two-stage

eligibility check (partners, limits, scope, deadline)

evaluation by panels of independent experts overseen by Independent Observers

3 criteria: Thresholds: Science & Technology excellence 3/5 Implementation & Management 3/5 overall Potential Impact 3/5 10/15

feedback: Evaluation Summary Reports (ESRs)

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Proposalsubmission

Eligibility check

Commission: final ranking list and decision

If abovethreshold

noteligible:

exclusion

eligible

If belowthreshold

Evaluation Summary Report

Priority list

Consensus Report

Commissiondecision

Evaluation procedure

1. Individual evaluation

2. Consensus Group meeting

CR +ESR

Ethical review(if necessary)

3. Panel Evaluation

Reserve listRejection Negotiation

IER/IAR

Report

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Funding schemes in the Health theme (3rd call)

Funding schemes upper limits min. partners

Large-scale integrating project (CP-IP)* €12m ≥3

Network of Excellence (NoE) €12m ≥3

Small- or medium-scale focussed research project (CP-FP) €3m or €6m ≥3

Coordination action (CA)** €1.5m ≥3

Support action (SA)** €0.5m ≥1

* for CP-IPs there is also a lower limit to the requested EC grant: €6m.** for CAs and SAs there are some exceptions to the upper limit.

Warning: the limits for minimum and maximum requested EC grant and for the minimum number of partners are eligibility criteria !

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• Designed to generate knowledge to improve European competitiveness and to meet the needs of society or Community policies

• To support research, development & demonstration activities of a more limited scope than required by large scale CPs• well defined, focused research and technological development• demonstration, where applicable• project management

Collaborative Project (CP) – small or medium scale

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• Designed to promote & support the networking & coordination of research & innovation activities at national, regional & European level over a fixed period

• Establishing in a coherent way coordinated actions – Programme of work:

- Coordination activities- Project management activities

CA do not conduct S&T research!

Coordination Action

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• Designed to support the implementation of the programme:

To complement the other FP6 instruments To help to prepare future EU policy activitiesTo stimulate, encourage & facilitate the participation of e.g.

SMEs or organisations from the ACS• May combine two types of activities:

- Support activities- Consortium management activities

SA do not conduct S&T research!

Support Action

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The Health themeStructure

pillar 1:Biotechnolog

y, generic tools

& technologies for health

pillar 2:Translating research for

human health

pillar 3:Optimising the delivery

of health care

cross-cutting issues: child health, the health of ageing population gender-related health issues

Activity (pillar) 4: Other actions across the theme

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Collaborative researchin the Health theme

1: Biotechnology, generic tools and technologies

High-throughput research

Detection, diagnosis and monitoring

Predicting suitability, safety and efficacy of therapies

Innovative therapeutic approaches and interventions

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Collaborative researchin the Health theme

2: Translating research for human health

Integrating biological data and processes: large-scale data gathering, systems biology

Research on the brain and related diseases, human development and ageing

Translational research in major infectious diseases

Translational research in other major diseases

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Collaborative researchin the Health Theme

Pillar 3: Optimising the delivery of health care to citizens

Translating clinical research into clinical practice

Quality, efficiency and solidarity of health care systems

Enhanced health promotion and disease prevention

including international cooperation in public health & health systems

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i) Translating clinical research into clinical practice: Better use of medicines, behavioural and organisational interventions, health technologies; focus on patient safety:

– to identify the best clinical practice

– to understand decision making in clinical settings in primary and specialised care

– to foster evidence-based medicine and patient empowerment

Collaborative research

in the Health Theme

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ii) Quality, solidarity and sustainability of health systemsBasis for countries to adapt their health systems taking into account national contexts and population characteristics

– Organizational, financial and regulatory aspects

– Implementation – best practice

– Outcomes - effectiveness, efficiency and equity

– Special attention on investment issues and human resources

Collaborative research

in the Health Theme

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iii) Enhanced Health Promotion & Disease Prevention: Evidence for best public health measures in terms of life style interventions; focus on the wider determinants of health and how they interact at the individual and community level

− Diet, stress, tobacco, physical activity, nutrition, inequalities

− Mental health to be addressed in life-course perspective

Collaborative research

in the Health Theme

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The Third Pillar:

a completely new activity – health policy driven

aims at developing new research methods

• to generate a sound scientific basis

• to underpin informed policy decisions on health systems

• to achieve more effective and efficient evidence-based strategies of health promotion, disease prevention, diagnosis and therapy

in a context set by the overarching values of universality, access to good health care, equity and solidarity aiming to make provision that is patient-centred and responsive to individual need

Users: EC, MS, WHO, OECD, clinicians, patients, other stakeholders

Collaborative research

in the Health Theme

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Identifying priority areas for research is influenced by a range of factors including …

EU Health Strategy & 2nd Programme of Community Action in the field of Health (2008-13)

DG SANCO policy initiatives – patient mobility, cross-border care, health services, health strategy, centres of reference, patient safety, mental health, organ transplantation, urban health, indicators …

European stakeholders – Health Forum, EHFG-Gastein, platforms, councils, …

Member States and the High Level Group on Health Services and Medical Care and various sub groups

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… influencing factors …

Other operational DGs concerned – DG COMP, DG EMPL, DG EAC, DG DEV, DG AIDCO, DG REGIO, DG ENV, DG TRADE, DG ENTR, EUROSTAT, …

International dimension - WHO (Regional Office & HQ) Wider context of economic reform and growth –

importance of health care as a driver of growth and employment locally

Not forgetting of course - FP7 mechanisms (Advisory Group, Programme

Committee, NCPs …) Project development, feedback as well as project results

scientific communities, conferences, workshops, consultations …

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Scientific excellence at European level

Topics selection:

• FP6 and FP7 actions are taken into consideration

• Workshops and conferences with scientific communitiy and others

• Early input from MS & AC (strategic priorities)

• Topics are drafted by the Commission services, to implement FP7.

• Not all topics / areas can be opened at any one time:some areas are closed in some call, emphasis placed on others

• Trying to have a structuring effect on European research

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Scientific excellence at European level

Indicative roadmap :•Strategic reflections (…- October)•Hearing with Cabinet (early November)•Meeting Advisory Group (24 November)•1st Draft sent to PC (Programme Committee) (early December)•Meeting with PC to discuss draft (12 January 2009)•Updated work programme sent to PC for final comments

(February)•Work programme finalised (March)• Internal consultations (April)• Interservice consultation (May) •PC consultation (June)•Written procedure (July)•Publication (end-July) or early September•Deadline December 2009

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Key figures outcome of 1st & 2nd calls

2007 2008

(call 2007-A, April 2007) (call 2007-B, Sept. 2007)

budget: € 635 million (2007) € 567 million (2008)

proposals received: 914 902 proposals evaluated: 893 (ineligible 21) 865 (37) proposals selected: 152 (+1*) 167 (+5*)

% of proposals evaluated: 17% 19% (20%)

av. grant per participant: €412,000 €334,000

* from reserve lists

2007-2008: 325 projects funded with > €1.2 billion

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Health theme in FP71st call: €641m, 153 proposals

pillar 1:Biotechnolog

y, generic tools

& technologies for health

pillar 2:Translating research for

human health

pillar 3:Optimising the delivery

of health care

Activity (pillar) 4: Other actions across the theme

23 proposals:€143m

110 proposals:€476m*

closed

20 proposals: €20m 13.7 € of which * plus €2m for ERA-Net on Cancer

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Health theme in FP72nd call: €577m: 172 proposals

pillar 1:Biotechnolog

y, generic tools

& technologies for health

pillar 2:Translating research for

human health

pillar 3:Optimising the delivery

of health care

Activity (pillar) 4: Other actions across the theme

26 proposals:€109m

71 proposals:€280m

38 proposals:

€88m

37 proposals: €100m, incl. €44m & €25m

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Comments across the activity:

• Large number of proposals (177) for the 28 topics of this activity

• Quality of proposals varied considerably• this new activity was open for the first time• new funding opportunity in a generally underfinanced technical area• few established Europe-wide research consortia

• Successful proposals:• responded specifically to the topic• had broad European coverage

• Unsuccessful proposals: • weak description of methodology• lacked the required multidisciplinarity• appeared as resubmissions from neighbouring programmes (PHP, ICT)

Optimizing the delivery of healthcare

to European citizens 2nd call

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3.1 Translating the results of clinical research into

practice2nd call

Topics in second call:

• Implementation of research into healthcare practice (FP)

• Self-medication and patient safety (FP)

• Patient Safety Research Network (CA)

• Improving clinical decision making (FP)

• Better use of medicines (FP)

• Continuity of clinical care (FP)

• Patient self-management of chronic disease (FP)

Outcome of evaluation• 80 proposals evaluated, 21 (26%) above threshold

• Two topics not covered.

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3.1 Translating clinical research into practice 3rd call

Topics proposed topics for 3rd call :

• Patient Safety: Effective implementation of prevention strategies for healthcare associated infections Funding scheme: CP-FP, max. € 3m. (1 or more projects)

• Improve quality and safety of hospital careFunding scheme: CP-FP, max. € 3m. (1 or more projects)

• Complementary and alternative MedicineFunding scheme: Coordination Action, max. € 1.5m. (max. 1 project)

• Improved treatment of chronic diseases in developingcountries Funding scheme: CP-FP, max. € 3m. (1 or more projects)

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3.2 Healthcare systems

2nd callTopics in second call:• Evaluation of disease management programmes (FP)

• Health systems and long term care of the elderly (FP)

• Mobility of health professionals (FP)

• Health care human resource planning in nursing (FP)

• Clinician working time and patient safety (FP)

• Health outcome measures and population ageing (FP)

• Trends of population health (FP)

• European system of Diagnosis-related groups (FP)

Outcome of evaluation• 54 proposals evaluated, 24 (44%) above threshold

• Two topics not covered

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3.2 Healthcare systems3rd call

Topics proposed topics for 3rd call :

• Organisation of dementia care Funding scheme: CP-FP, max. € 3m. (1 or more projects)

• Health care outcomes and cost-benefits Funding scheme: CP-FP, max. € 3m. (1 or more projects)

• Primary care quality linkage to costs Funding scheme: CP-FP, max. € 3m. (1 or more projects)

• Impact of cross border collaboration on health services Funding scheme: CP-FP, max. € 6m. (1 or more projects)

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3.2 Healthcare systems

3rd call

Topics proposed for 3rd call :

• Research access to comparable health care data Funding scheme: Coordination Action, max. € 1.5m. (max. 1 project)

• Scoping study to address the methodological challenges ofquantifying the socio-economic burden of brain diseasescompared to other major diseases Funding scheme: Support Action, max. € 0.5m. (max. 1 project)

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3.3 - Health promotion and disease prevention 2nd call

Topics in second call:

• Promoting healthy behaviour in children and adolescents

• Interventions addressing the gradient of health inequalities

• Public health interventions addressing the abuse of alcohol

• Evaluation of suicide prevention strategies in European countries

• Improve vaccination coverage

Outcome of evaluation

• 40 proposals evaluated, 17 (42%) above threshold

• Two topics not covered

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3.3 - Health promotion and

disease prevention 2nd call

Remarks on the outcomes of 2nd call:• substantial interest and broad coverage of topic 3.3-1 “Promoting healthy behaviour in children and adolescents”

• two topics were not covered:

• none of the 2 proposals submitted to 3.3-5 “Improve vaccination coverage” were successful. Due to the importance of this research topic the evaluators suggested to republish this topic in a later work programme

• the only proposal submitted to 3.4-7 “Mental health research conference” was not successful

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3.3 – Health promotion and

disease prevention 3rd

call Topics proposed for 3rd call :

• Child and adolescent mental health Funding scheme: CP-FP, max. € 3m. (1 or more projects)

• Environmental prevention of substance abuse by adolescents Funding scheme: CP-FP, max. € 3m. (1 or more projects)

• Ageing cohorts Funding scheme: CP-IP, max. € 12m. (max. 1 project)

• Birth/Mother-Child Cohorts co-ordination Funding scheme: Coordination Action, max. € 1.5m. (max. 1 project)

• European child health research platform Funding scheme: Coordination Action, max. € 1.5m. (max. 1 project)

Planned IP on a Health Examination Survey postponed to WP2010

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Optimising the delivery of healthcare

to European citizens 2nd call

3.4 – Horizontal CA & SATopics in second call successful proposals:

• Disease networks of centres of reference Scoping study (SA)

• Effectiveness of health investments Scoping study (SA)

• Patient mobility and access to information. Scoping study (CA/SA)

• Brokering research into policy Scoping study (SA)

• A road-map for ageing research (CA/SA)

• Health Services Research conference (SA)

No succesful proposals:

• Mental health research conference (SA)

• Public Health intervention research conference (SA)

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Some successful FP7 proposals

• EIS – European implementation score for measuring implementation of healthcare practice using vascular disease as an example, will focus on stroke

• COURAGE – validated measures of health & health related outcomes for an ageing population

• TEMPEST – investigates how personal & environmental approaches may complement each other in order to develop more effective preventive interventions that will encourage young people to develop a health lifestyle

• GRADIENT – focusing on effective actions to reduce the gradient in health inequalities, particularly for families & children

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Not forgetting on-going

FP6 projects …• EUROVAQ – determining the monetary value of quality

life adjusted year (QALY) across a number of European States

• EPIC – European prospective investigation into cancer, chronic diseses, nutrition & lifestyle

• EUROCADET - Impact iof key determinants on the current & future burden of cancer in Europe

• EURO-PREVOB – Tackling the social & economic determinants of nutrition and physical activity for the preventio of obesity in Europe

• HOPE – Health promotion through obesity prevention across Europe

• MHADIE - Aims to demonstrate the utility and feasibility of ICF model in measuring different types and prevalence of impairments and limitations

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Key factors for success in applying for FP7 funding

Competition is tough - only the best projects get funded

the proposal must be in scope with the topic and the work programme (not wishful thinking)

the consortium of partners must be excellent and appropriate for the task (select the right partners)

the proposal must address all 3 criteria,

convince the evaluators (don’t rely on reputation),

and, of course, respect the basic rules. (deadlines, n° participants, ceilings, length, ethics, …)

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The Health Directorate

Director (acting) – Dr. Manuel Hallen:Medical and Public Health Research unit (F2)Head of unit: Dr. Manuel Hallen (manuel.hallen@ec.europa.eu)Deputy Head of Unit: Dr. Maria Vidal (maria-jose.vidal-ragout@ec.europa.eu)Head of sector Public Health: K. McCarthy (kevin.mccarthy@ec.europa.eu)

Infectious Diseases unit (F3) Head of unit: Dr. Alain Vanvossel (alain.van-vossel@ec.europa.eu)Deputy Head of unit: Dr. Anna Lönnroth (anna.lonnroth@ec.europa.eu) Head of IMI sector: Dr. Irene Norstedt (irene.norstedt@ec.europa.eu)

Genomics and Systems Biology unit (F4)Head of unit: Patrik Kolar (patrik.kolar@ec.europa.eu)Deputy Head of unit: Dr. B. Mulligan (bernard.mulligan@ec.europa.eu)

Health Biotechnology unit (F5) Head of unit: Dr. Arnd Hoeveler (arnd.hoeveler@ec.europa.eu)

Admin. & Finance unit (F6)Head of unit: Georgios Zisimatos(georgios.zisimatos@ec.europa.eu)

Coordination unit (F1) Head of unit: Stéphane Hogan (stephane.hogan@ec.europa.eu)

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Contacts & InformationFP7 Health web site: http://cordis.europa.eu/fp7/health

NCPs: http://cordis.europa.eu/fp7/health/support_en.html

Registration as an Expert: https://cordis.europa.eu/emmfp7/

Fact Sheets: http://ftp.cordis.europa.eu.pub/fp7/docs/healthfacts_en.pdf

FP6 projects database: www.lifecompetence.eu

SME participation: Dr. Ludovica Serafini Tel. +32 2 295 6759 – Email:ludovica.serafini@ec.europa.eu www.smesgohealth.org

International Cooperation: Dr. Indridi BenediktssonTel. +32 2 299 3137 – Email: indridi.benediktsson@ec.europa.eu

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Thank you !

EU – Member States (n = 27)

Candidate/Accession countries• Croatia• Turkey

Countries associated with the FP• Iceland• Israel• Norway• Switzerland