Advocacy

We advocate for more European Funding in Digestive Health

We have prepared position papers to contribute to the consultation on the Horizon Europe Strategic Plan, the new EU Research programme following Horizon 2020 and to the Mission on Cancer. The first position paper focuses on our key priorities for Horizon European Strategic Plan on Cluster 1 and its health-related challenges. The second position paper focuses on the key needs in Digestive Cancer´s research.

Priorities for the Health Cluster
European Mission on Cancer

Priorities for the Health Cluster

UEG calls for, among others:

Foster means and measures for prevention is essential to decrease the burden of digestive diseases. Due to the projected rise in “unhealthy behaviour” and the ageing population, the health-related and economical impact of this burden will rise simultaneously.
Prioritise research into underlying mechanisms and focus resources and training on novel, targeted prevention strategies of paediatric liver disease, emerging as one of the most worrisome complications of childhood obesity.
Research on the causes of inflammatory bowel disease, coeliac disease, chronic pancreatitis and functional gastrointestinal disorders, which are still not fully known.
Focus on screening programmes to improve sustainable health care systems. Participation rates to colorectal screening programmes vary widely across Europe and further research into robust biomarkers should be prioritised.
Further concerted research on the microbiome to open new strategies for prevention and treatment.
Increase funding in the field of disruptive technologies in gastroenterology. There is still a need for improvement in endoscopic techniques and concerns over the precision and provision of endoscopic ultrasounds for pancreatic cancer detection.

European Mission on Cancer

Digestive cancers are the leading cause of cancer-related death (28%). UEG welcomes the European Mission on Cancer and makes the following recommendations:

Research to understanding the causes of the alarming increase of colorectal cancer incidence in young adults.
Identify the correct tools to achieve earlier diagnosis of pancreatic cancer, the deadliest cancer, and implement innovative treatment methods.
Focus on other digestive cancers, like gastric and oesophageal cancers, characterized by a particularly bad prognosis, and potentially preventable (adapted screening, early detection).

White Book - Survey of digestive health across Europe

UEG has published a pan-European survey of digestive health in Europe in 2014, defining and describing the burden of digestive diseases in Europe and making an assessment of breadth and quality of current service provision. The results have revealed changing trends in many GI and liver diseases and inequalities in the provision of healthcare services across Europe, leading to calls for greater awareness of the burden of GI disorders and for more research funding.

Access the White Book

Browse the White Brochure - a summary of key findings

Healthcare scenarios in Europe in 2040

Faced with inevitable change in our healthcare environments, and recognising the need to better anticipate and prepare for the future, UEG has been collaborating with specialist scenario planners.

The outcome is a set of three plausible, relevant and challenging scenarios that may impact the delivery of gastroenterology and hepatology healthcare in the future.

Future Scenarios Brochure

Contact

Research Policy Management

Mathilde Ollivier