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The Joint Research Centre: EU Science Hub
Health

Blueprints for a strong European Health Union

Contributes to European Commission priorities

Portfolio overview

In the EU, noncommunicable diseases (NCDs) are the primary cause of death and incur significant healthcare costs. Differences in NCDs prevention and care across Member States lead to inequalities in incidence and mortality. NCDs have common preventable risk factors, such as tobacco and alcohol use, unhealthy diets and physical inactivity.  

To help mitigate the growing burden of NCDs, the portfolio aims to support the Europe's Beating Cancer Plan and the EU Mission on Cancer by developing evidence-based guidelines, providing harmonised data, supporting research on diagnosis and treatment, and offering scientific support for EU policies focusing on cancer, cardiovascular diseases and mental health.  

 

Objectives

  • Support public health and wellbeing policies 

    Support policymakers in public health, and promote health and wellbeing by addressing NCDs, including cancer, cardiovascular diseases and mental health issues. 

  • Support the implementation of the Europe’s Beating Cancer Plan 

    Support the Plan and the EU Mission on Cancer with EU cancer guidelines, data tools and knowledge hubs.   

  • Improve disease prevention and care through guidelines 

    Provide evidence-based cancer screening and diagnosis guidelines and quality assurance scheme for the entire cancer care pathway, to help tackle inequalities in accessing care across Europe.   

  • Provide harmonised data and information on cancer burden and inequalities 

    Operate the EU Cancer Information System and EU Cancer Inequalities Registry, and collaborate with the European National Cancer Registries.   

  • Inform current health policy agenda and strengthen knowledge on NCDs

    Focus on mental health, tobacco, preventing NCDs and societal burden, and preparedness of health systems to adopt new therapies through the Health Promotion and the Disease Prevention Knowledge Gateway.  

  • Help to improve disease diagnosis  

    Provide certified reference materials to standardise examination results obtained with various in-vitro diagnostic assays.   

  • Support research on innovative cancer treatments  

    Conduct research to help implement the Strategic Agenda for Medical Ionising Radiation Applications (SAMIRA), as part of the Cancer Plan.  

Scientific tools