Dr. Joana Namorado Horizontal Aspects Coordination- Ethics, Gender Issues Directorate Health- DG RTD – European Commission April 2009 Sarajevo, 23rd April 2009 FP7 Health theme: Opportunities for Collaborative Research

Main points The 7 th Framework programme (FP7)  Rationale and approach  Basic principles, including prioritisation  Structure and content  Next calls for proposals in Health  Outcome of first calls in Health  Factors for success

FP7 budget ( ): €55 billion = ~6% of public R&D spending in Europe

Cooperation programme: thematic areas (€32.4 billion)

Collaborative research in FP7: The Cooperation programme Thematic Priorities 1.Health6.1 2.Food, agriculture, fisheries and biotechnology1.9 3.Information and communication technologies9.1 4.Nanosciences, nanotechnologies, materials and new production technologies3.5 5.Energy2.3 6.Environment (including climate change)1.9 7.Transport (including aeronautics)4.2 8.Socio-economic sciences and the humanities0.6 9.Security & 10. Space2.8 Total for collaborative research €32.4 billion

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, Bosnia, 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 organizations Public & private sector: universities, research centres, large companies, Small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), etc. between disciplines : multidisciplinary, translational research

the Health theme pillar 1: Biotechnology, 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

the Health theme 1: Biotechnology, generic tools and technologies  High-throughput research enhancing data generation, standardisation, acquisition & analysis  Detection, diagnosis and monitoring with emphasis on non-invasive or minimally invasive approaches  Predicting suitability, safety and efficacy of therapies develop and validate parameters, tools, methods and standards and alternatives to animal testing (mainly through IMI)  Innovative therapeutic approaches and interventions gene and cell therapy, regenerative medicine, immunotherapy and vaccines.

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 to confront major threats to public health antimicrobial drug resistance, HIV/AIDS, malaria and TB, emerging epidemics, neglected infectious diseases  Translational research in other major diseases: cancer, cardiovascular disease, diabetes and obesity, rare diseases, and other chronic diseases

Cooperation programme Health theme 3: Optimising the delivery of healthcare  Translating clinical research into clinical practice  Quality, efficiency and solidarity of healthcare systems  Enhanced health promotion and disease prevention

Collaborative research on the Health theme 4. Actions across the Theme  Coordination & Support Actions across the theme  Responding to EU policy needs  Specific International Cooperation Actions (SICAs)

Scope of research in the Health Theme In the Health theme, the Framework programme can support both basic and applied research This includes discovery activities, translational research and early clinical trials (normally only phase I and II).

Renewed emphasis and new measures for:  SMEs  Participation encouraged in all areas  Special topics for SMEs  Support actions  more favourable conditions (75% of costs covered)  International Cooperation  Participation possible in all areas  Special International Cooperation Actions (SICA)  Coordination or Support actions  new mechanisms: coordinated programmes and topics Trends: SME participation International Cooperation

1. All activities open for International Cooperation  International Cooperation Partner Countries (ICPCs) can participate in projects and receive EC funding as in FP6  Industrialised countries may be funded if their participation is seen as essential for the project  Minimum number of participants: 3 from MS/AS International participation in FP7 - Health research 3 different avenues: 2. Specific International Cooperation Actions  Address specific issues that partner countries face or have a global character, on the basis of mutual interest and benefit  Minimum n° of participants: 2+2 (2 from MS/AS + 2 from ICPCs) 3. Bilateral agreements for targeted co-funding  Individual agreements with specific countries (CN, RU…)

Attractive conditions for research intensive SMEs Medium/long term vision: 7-year programme Significant commitment for SMEs (15%) (>€900m for Health) Improved conditions in FP7 Strong support: up to 75% of total R&D costs for research and up to 100% for management and training Better protection: IPR rules more attentive to SMEs needs Administrative simplification: reduced need for financial checks and bank guarantees

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, based on consultation of scientific community and consideration of funded actions. Discussed with the Advisory Group and with the Programme Committee representing the MS and AC. 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 a panel of independent experts (peer review) After negotiation of a grant agreement, a project is funded for 2-5 y

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

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)

Funding schemes in the Health theme (3 rd call) F unding 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 !

Annual calls for proposals in the Health theme  1 st call (2007 budget): € 641 million  2 nd call (2008 budget): € 577 million  3 rd call (2009 budget): ~€ 620 million  calls closed  4 th call (2010 budget): ~€ 650 million (tbc)  to be published end-July 2009

4 th call for proposals for the Health theme Publication expected 30 July 2008  drawing on the budget for 2010: ~€650 million  there will be two main calls:  ‘FP7-HEALTH-2010-single-stage’ for some areas and topics of the work programme expected deadline: Nov (tbc)  ‘FP7-HEALTH-2010-two-stage’ for some areas and topics of the work programme. expected deadline for 1 st stage: Oct (tbc)  plus a coordinated call with the Food and Environment themes:  ‘FP7-AFRICA-2010 for six topics of the work programme. expected deadline: Jan (tbc)

Conditions for two-stage submission/evaluation  First stage:  proposal size limited to 6 pages (5 pages max. on proposed research and expected impact + 1 page max. to describe consortium & financial resources)  only the coordinator needs to complete the ‘A forms’  Evaluation of 2 criteria only (S/T quality and Impact)  Higher thresholds  Second stage:  only coordinators of proposals passing Stage 1 will be invited to submit full proposals for Stage 2  evaluation on all 3 criteria, independently from Stage 1.

Key figures outcome of first calls call budgetproposals projects success evaluated funded rate* 1 st (2007) € 641m % 2 nd (2008) € 577m % 3 rd (2009) 1S ~€ 493m % 2S ~€ 115m** 26 (145) ~40% TOTAL: ~€ 1,826m 432 * success rate: funded/eligible proposals ** two-stage call, 2 nd stage evaluation results still pending

Health theme in FP7 1 st call, €641m, 153 projects pillar 1: Biotechnology, 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 projects: €143m 110 projects: €476m* closed 20 projects: €20m * plus €2m for ERA-Net on Cancer

Health theme in FP7 2 nd call, €577m: 172 projets pillar 1: Biotechnology, 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 projects: €109m 71 projects: €280m 38 projects: €88m 37 projects: €100m, incl. €44m& €25m

Health theme in FP7- 3 rd call (single-stage), €493m: 95 projects pillar 1: Biotechnology, 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 18 projects: €131m 33 projets: €222m 22 projets: €64m 22 projects: €75m, incl. €30m& €16m

Evaluation process for 3 rd call ‘single-stage’ 517 proposals evaluated (provisional) –About 684 evaluators –Remote evaluation using RIVET began on 12 December –Consensus meetings in Brussels (19/1 – 27/2) –Ethics screening (2-13/3) –Independent Observers

Key factors for success in FP7 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 criteria  Convince the evaluators (don’t rely on reputation)  and, of course, respect the basic rules.

Eligibility & quality issues Requirements for eligibility:  meet the deadline with complete proposal  have the minimum number of partners  respect ceilings for max. EU contribution per project Quality is a prerequisite for success:  page number limitations for proposals (new in FP7)  added requirements for information on Ethics issues

Causes for ineligibility in first calls Ineligibility cases in 1 st call: 21/914  ceilings not respected: 11  minimum n° partners: 5  withdrawn, test or incomplete: 5 Ineligibility cases in the 2 nd call: 37/902  ceilings not respected: 23  minimum n° partners: 11  withdrawn: 1  out of scope: 3

Applicants are first expected to identify key ethical issues raised by their proposals and explain how they address them. They are: Informed Consent Research on Human Embryos/Foetuses Data Protection and Privacy Research on Animals Research involving Developing Countries Dual Use (research that could have a military application) Ethics: Panorama for FP7 Ethical Review Process Evolving

The Proposal includes a section dedicated to ETHICS. The applicant fills out a table of ethics issues in the proposal Scientific evaluators are asked to signal any ethical issues that arise in a proposal including those which have not been highlighted by the applicant. Ethics: Panorama for FP7 The Proposal

Contacts & Information Consult the web page for Health: including NCPs, Ethics, registration as an Expert International Cooperation: Dr. Indridi Benediktsson Tel – SME participation: Dr. Ludovica Serafini Tel – Ethical issues: Dr. Joana Namorado Tel –

Contacts in the Health Directorate Director – Dr. Ruxandra Draghia-Akli : Medical and Public Health Research unit – Dr. Manuel Hallen Cancer – Dr. Maria Vidal Public Health sector – Dr. Kevin McCarthy Infectious Diseases unit – Dr. Bernard Mulligan Emerging Infectious diseases sector – Dr. Anna Lönnroth Genomics and Systems Biology unit – Patrik Kolar Health Biotechnology unit – Dr. Arnd Hoeveler Coordination unit – Stéphane Hogan

Thank You Dr. Joana Namorado Directorate Health DG RTD – European Commission FP7 –Health theme