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IHI publishes preview of first call theme ideas

Cancer, heart disease and neurodegenerative diseases are among the themes that could be included in the first calls for proposals launched under the new Innovative Health Initiative (IHI).

10 January 2022
An MRI machine. Image by nimon via Shutterstock

IHI has published indicative information on themes that could be included in the first calls for proposals launched under the new programme. They include themes focused on disease areas, namely cancer, cardio-metabolic diseases and neurodegenerative diseases, as well as more technology-focused themes on health data and the development of health technologies.

The full list of themes is:

Single stage calls

  • Innovative patient-facing care pathways for patients with neurodegenerative diseases and comorbidities
  • Next generation imaging and image-guided diagnosis and therapy for cancer
  • Precision oncology: Innovative patient-centric, multi-modal therapies against cancer
  • Access and integration of heterogeneous health data for improved health care in diseases areas of high unmet public health need.

Two stage calls

  • New tools for prediction, prevention and monitoring of cardio-metabolic diseases including secondary manifestations to enable timely intervention
  • Strengthening EU clinical development excellence and innovation attractiveness: Harmonised methodology to promote the uptake of early feasibility studies (EFS)

‘These draft themes already show how a cross-sector, public-private partnership like IHI has the potential to make a difference in a range of areas where there is a high unmet need,’ said IHI Executive Director Dr Pierre Meulien. ‘Moreover, the inclusion of two themes on cancer highlights our contribution to the Horizon Europe Cancer Mission.’

‘These draft themes already show how a cross-sector, public-private partnership like IHI has the potential to make a difference in a range of areas where there is a high unmet need,’ said IHI Executive Director Dr Pierre Meulien. ‘Moreover, the inclusion of two themes on cancer highlights our contribution to the Horizon Europe Cancer Mission.’

The newly-published themes, which are still in the early stages of development, are aligned with the IHI Strategic Research and Innovation Agenda (SRIA). IHI will continue to develop the themes, co-creating them together with the Science and Innovation Panel, the States Representatives Group, and our partners. We plan to officially launch the first IHI call for proposals in a few months’ time, following approval by our Governing Board.