Strengthening biomedical research for the benefit of European citizens

A position paper

FEAM and the Alliance for Biomedical Research in Europe have joined forces to highlight the need to provide a more robust environment for academic clinical and health research in Europe in view of the forthcoming EU Framework Programme for Research and Innovation (FP9). Europe is facing a growing number of health challenges, particularly due to an ageing population and the prevalence of chronic diseases, with detrimental consequences on the health and wealth of European citizens. To respond to these challenges, addressing current gaps and fragmentation in the support of biomedical research is essential and FEAM and BioMed Alliance call the European institutions to focus forthcoming FP9-related discussions on:

• More support for collaborative multidisciplinary translational biomedical research
• Continuity in funding for successful networks established in previous Framework programmes
• Recognising the importance of precision medicine-based, patient-centred solutions in designing clinical trials
• Special training programmes for the next generation of research-oriented clinicians and clinically-oriented researchers
• The creation of a European Council for Health Research that will support biomedical and clinical research in Europe

About FEAM- the Federation of European Academies of Medicine (www.feam.eu)
FEAM’s mission is to promote cooperation between national Academies of Medicine and Medical Sections of Academies of Sciences in Europe; to provide them with a platform to formulate their collective voice on matters concerning human and animal medicine, biomedical research, education, and health with a European dimension; and to extend to the European authorities the advisory role that they exercise in their own countries on these matters.

About BioMed Alliance – the Alliance for Biomedical Research in Europe (www.biomedeurope.org)
The Alliance for Biomedical Research in Europe (BioMed Alliance) is a non-profit organization representing 26 leading European research and medical societies uniting more than 400,000 researchers and health professionals. The BioMed Alliance is committed to promoting excellence in European biomedical research and innovation with the goal of improving the health and well-being of all European citizens.