Policy issues

In recognition of the potential of small and medium-sized enterprises in the European research landscape, tailor-made measures have been put in place to facilitate their participation in the projects. Moreover, as global health challenges require actions at the level of the global research community, the scope for international cooperation has also been extended. With the help of leading international experts, all activities are shaped by an explicit commitment to ethics and to excellence, which is reflected in the strict evaluation processes applied in order to select only the best research projects.

*Moving towards Horizon 2020

As FP7 draws to a close, preparation for Horizon 2020, the new framework programme for research and innovation is well underway.

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*Support to EU policy

Responding to eu policy needs

The Health research priority also contributes to the support and follow-up of other Community policies.
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Small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) are the backbone of the economic future of the EU, and main drivers of innovation in medicine. Dynamic, flexible and keen to identify promising niches, SMEs are usually among the first to respond to emerging challenges and seize new market opportunities. Many engage in cutting-edge research.
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*International Cooperation

All countries, everywhere in the world, are confronted with health challenges. And all countries potentially stand to benefit when major breakthroughs are made.
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*Ethics in EU Research

Public attitudes towards science and technology are overwhelmingly positive. The confidence generated by messages such as 'scientifically tested' or 'scientifically proven' is testament to society's support of scientific endeavour. It also highlights the social responsibility that accompanies research.
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*Clinical Trials

Clinical research brings new treatments to patients. New treatments can be new drugs developed by the pharmaceutical and biotechnology industries, new cell therapies and other forms of advanced therapies, new surgical procedures or new approaches to managing a patient suffering from a chronic medical condition, as well as others.
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*Child Health

Since most medicines used to treat the children of Europe have not been tested and are not authorised for use in children: the health and therefore quality of life of the children of Europe may suffer from a lack of testing and authorisation of medicines for their use.
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*Personalised Medicine

Personalised medicine aims at providing right treatment to the right patient at the right dose at the right time. Rather than having a unique treatment for each individual, patients can be sub-divided into groups based on their individual biological characteristics (genetic and genomic). By this stratification of patients, medical interventions can be tailored to be more effective and have fewer undesirable side effects for this particular group, then the 'one size fits all' medical approach.
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