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IHI seeks patients and caregivers to contribute to its activities

IHI is calling on patients and informal caregivers to apply to be part of a new IHI Patient Pool which will strengthen IHI’s ties with the patient community, and make it easier to identify patients who could contribute to key IHI activities.

27 April 2023
Multiple people's hands reaching together as viewed from above. Image by Rawpixel.com via Shutterstock
Image by Rawpixel.com via Shutterstock

Today, it’s widely recognised that patients (and informal caregivers) can and should be involved in all aspects of health research and innovation. This includes the activities of organisations like IHI that fund projects in this area.

That’s why we’re setting up the IHI Patient Pool – to create a pool of patients and informal caregivers who can support IHI activities by bringing their unique perspective, experience, and expertise to the table.

Members of the pool may be invited to participate in project meetings, scientific events, webinars, or trainings organised by IHI. Crucially, IHI will turn to the pool if patient / caregiver expertise is needed in core activities such as the evaluation of proposals, reviews of ongoing projects, and discussions on future funding opportunities.

Patients and caregivers who want to be part of the IHI Patient Pool should apply via the IHI website by 8 June. All applicants who meet certain basic requirements and apply before the deadline will be accepted into the pool.

‘The IHI Patient Pool will help us to integrate the patient voice into our activities, and ensure that the projects we support are truly aligned with patient needs,’ said IHI Executive Director ad interim Dr Hugh Laverty. ‘I strongly encourage patients and caregivers to get involved in this initiative, so that with their help, we can achieve our ambitious goal of translating health research and innovation into tangible benefits for patients.’

A similar patient pool existed under the Innovative Medicines Initiative (IMI), IHI’s predecessor organisation. Thanks to the IMI Patient Pool, the IMI Programme Office was able to invite a number of patients to contribute their expertise to core activities and events in diverse ways.

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Notes for editors

Press contact

  • Catherine Brett - External Relations Manager
  • Tel: +32 541 8214 | E-mail: catherine.brett[AT]ihi.europa.eu

About IHI

The Innovative Health Initiative (IHI) aims to translate health research and innovation into real benefits for patients and society, and ensure that Europe remains at the cutting edge of interdisciplinary, sustainable, patient-centric health research. Health research and care increasingly involve diverse sectors. By supporting projects that bring these sectors together, IHI will pave the way for a more integrated approach to health care, covering prevention, diagnosis, treatment, and disease management.

IHI is a partnership between the European Union and European industry associations representing the pharmaceutical, medical technology, biotechnology, digital health and vaccine industries, namely COCIR, EFPIA, EuropaBio, MedTech Europe and Vaccines Europe. IHI’s total budget is EUR 2.4 billion. Half of this comes from Horizon Europe, the EU’s research and innovation programme. The IHI industry partners have committed EUR 1 billion to IHI, and a further EUR 200 million can be committed by other organisations that decide to become Contributing Partners.

IHI builds on the successes of the Innovative Medicines Initiative (IMI), and the IHI Programme Office continues to manage the IMI project portfolio.