ERA-ENVHEALTH network

A unique network for Environment and Health research in Europe - joining forces and resources to increase the relevance and efficiency of environment and health research in Europe.

There is long-standing evidence of the environmental causes of certain human diseases. Although this relationship is considered to be clear in some cases, many environmental sources of "hazards" that are currently poorly understood remain to be characterised, and are the focus of many scientific studies. The EU Environment and Health Action Plan 2004-2010 identified the need to strengthen interactions between researchers, policymakers and other stakeholders in environmental health.

To this end, the European Commission co-funded the creation of the ERA-NET scheme with the aim of providing targeted support to the coordination and mutual opening of national and regional research programmes. The goal of the scheme was also to establish long-term cooperation between the national programmes in order to achieve joint transnational research programmes. Given this situation, a network of European research planning organisations in the field of environmental health was established by ANSES in 2008 with EU funding for 4 years.

Achievements of the FP7-funded ERA-ENVHEALTH project

During four years of EU-funded collaboration, the network partners pooled their resources and shared their knowledge to help improve the scope and effectiveness of environment and health research in Europe. A number of reports were published, including:

• the research landscape on environmental health in Europe;
• strategic and emerging themes and prioritisation;
• creating the link between science and public policy – Improving knowledge transfer: a guide for researchers.

Like all ERA-NETs, ERA-ENVHEALTH worked towards launching joint calls for transnational research projects and funded three projects covering different European countries for a total of about 4 million euro. Two calls for transnational projects were launched:

• the first in 2008 with 3 partners on "Climate change, the environment and human health”. - Total co-funding: € 2.8M. 2 projects funded;
• the second in 2012 with 5 partners on "Air pollution in urban areas - health impacts on vulnerable groups under changing conditions". Co-funding: € 1.35M.

The final conference of the project took place in Paris on 13-14 June 2012. Nearly 200 people from 16 countries participated to identify research priorities and outcomes expected from European research in environmental health, as well as the approaches that would enable better use of science in public policy.

ERA-ENVHEALTH brought dynamism to environmental and health research in Europe by promoting collaboration and innovative ideas, and increasing the visibility of environment and health as a key area for research. 

The ERA-ENVHEALTH network

The project funded under the 7th Framework Programme of the European Commission ended on 31/12/2012 and led to the launch of the ERA-ENVHEALTH network.

The ERA-ENVHEALTH consortium is an active transnational network including stakeholders in the Environment and Health field. It is also a forum to discuss challenges, visions and emerging issues in the environment and health domain.

Despite the discontinuation of European funding, the members have chosen to maintain the network and its activities continue focusing on information exchange, communication and implementation of joint activities such as seminars, workshops..., expanding to other organisations wishing to join the network. 

An annual open conference is organised and a newsletter is disseminated.