CaregIVR: How virtual reality is transforming caregiver health

CaregIVR addresses the critical challenge posed to informal caregivers who support individuals with chronic illnesses, particularly cardiovascular conditions. This role can place a heavy emotional and physical burden on caregivers, often negatively impacting their own well-being.

The project explores how Immersive Virtual Reality (IVR) can be utilized as an innovative digital tool to support cardiovascular health promotion among these informal caregivers. CaregIVR’s mission is to develop immersive VR content that provides educational and relaxing experiences aimed at helping to reduce stress, promote healthy habits, and raise awareness about self-care.

This EU-funded Action Grant launched on 1 November 2023, and is scheduled to conclude on 31 October 2026.

CaregIVR employs a human-centred approach to digital health. By focusing specifically on the mental and physical health of caregivers, the project contributes not only to individual well-being but also to the development of more sustainable and inclusive healthcare systems.

Substantial challenges the project must navigate include adapting content to different caregiver profiles, ensuring accessibility and usability of the technology, and measuring the real impact of VR on emotional and physical health indicators.

Since its launch, CaregIVR has completed several foundational milestones:

• Comparative Analysis and State of Art Report: A report was produced in April 2024 detailing cardiovascular diseases, relevant country regulations, and systematic analyses of the condition of informal caregivers.
• Focus Group and Design Work: A Focus Group discussing the app and IVR design was held in June 2024.

Training: Training sessions for caregivers using IVR equipment and software are taking place between September 2025 and April 2026.

The core strategic impact of CaregIVR is achieved through experiential learning facilitated by IVR technology. The IVR is developed to simulate the sensory and emotional realities of living with limitations after a stroke. Through this technology, caregivers can gain experiential insight, moving beyond clinical descriptions to achieve a more embodied understanding of symptoms and behaviours. The content is expected to reduce stress, promote healthy habits, and raise awareness about self-care among caregivers.

Professor Helena José, Coordinator of the Action Grant CaregIVR and President of ESSATLA, notes that caregivers often express deep commitment to their loved ones but “struggle to truly grasp what the person is experiencing”. The project was developed to address this gap by using immersive virtual reality.

A Polish participant in an Informal Caregivers’ Focus Group shared the difficulty of providing support when unable to fully understand the patient’s reality: “The hardest thing for me was understanding what my husband felt… some of the symptoms are difficult for me as a healthy person to imagine”. This participant reflected, “Today I realized that I am constantly trying to pull him back into my reality. Or maybe it should be the other way around – should I try to enter his world?”. The IVR simulation aims to assist in stepping into the patient’s world, helping caregivers better understand their perspective.

Whether you are a healthcare professional, caregiver, researcher, or simply interested in new approaches to informal care, you are invited to join the growing community. The final goal is to share, connect, and help co-create technological solutions with real human impact.

JACARDI’s synergies with Action Grants: reducing the cardiovascular burden together

The five Action Grants – CaregIVR, PERFECTO, Preventia, PROVIDE, RESIL-Card – and JACARDI are all anchored in the urgent mission of tackling the burden of cardiovascular diseases (CVD), Europe’s leading cause of death, which is especially timely as the European Commission develops the European Cardiovascular Health Plan (CVH Plan). This partnership is built upon the understanding that up to 80% of premature CVD deaths are preventable, and aims to strengthen cohesive EU-level action. 

The overarching goal uniting JACARDI and these projects is the comprehensive reduction of the immense public health burden caused by Non-Communicable Diseases (NCDs), particularly Cardiovascular Diseases (CVD) and diabetes. This is pursued through a shared commitment to developing and promoting the implementation of validated best practices throughout the entire patient journey.

Within the implementation domain, projects focused on early detection, such as PERFECTO and PROVIDE, are collaborating with JACARDI WP8 to develop standardized screening protocols. Addressing health system continuity, RESIL-Card partners with JACARDI WP9 to specifically build resilience in cardiovascular care pathways, ensuring high-quality care continuity during crises.

Key expected outcomes include strengthening patient-centered approaches, utilizing novel digital tools like predictive algorithms by PROVIDE and immersive technology by CaregIVR, and developing tools such as the resilience assessment toolkit by RESIL-Card. 

Synergies around equity are strengthened by sharing JACARDI’s “4Cs” Framework, which helps projects like CaregIVR and Preventia ensure targeted outreach to vulnerable populations. Both Preventia and PROVIDE showcase the central role of innovative digital tools in prevention efforts. 

By coordinating our approach across technical work packages among these projects, we maximize collective impact and ensure that project outcomes translate effectively into actionable policy, creating roadmaps that support the scaling up of experiences at the national and regional levels.Ultimately, this unified collaboration contributes to promoting prevention, early detection, education, and sustained behavioral change for a healthier future.

More than cancer: The silent epidemic in Europe 

“I almost didn’t see my daughter graduate.” Alice, a 45-year-old mother of two, was the picture of health, or so she thought. Until one day, a sudden heart attack left her in the ICU, fighting for her life. Like many others, Alice was unaware of her cardiovascular risk factors. Her story is a stark reminder of the silent epidemic plaguing Europe: cardiovascular disease (CVD). Historically, CVD has been the leading cause of death in the European Union, claiming over 1.8 million lives annually and affecting more than 60 million people. [1],[2] Recent improvements in cardiovascular care in some countries highlight progress, but the burden of CVD remains unparalleled.

Despite its massive toll, CVD lacks the policy attention it deserves. Rising obesity and diabetes rates, particularly among younger populations, are fueling this crisis, while the decline in mortality rates has slowed alarmingly. Marleen Kestens, Manager of CVD Prevention Policies at the European Heart Network (EHN), underscores this urgency:

“CVD remains the leading cause of death in the EU, surpassing cancer and diabetes, yet it has long lacked the policy attention it urgently requires. The progress achieved through Europe’s Beating Cancer Plan presents a clear opportunity: its lessons, good practices, and even its unimplemented measures on prevention and nutrition can help shape an effective Cardiovascular Health (CVH) Plan. With up to 80% of premature CVD deaths being preventable through public health measures and/or preventative treatment, the time to act is now to make the healthy choice the default choice.” 

A blueprint for action

The success of Europe’s Beating Cancer Plan, reflected in the fact that over 90% of its actions are completed or well underway. Council Recommendations on cancer screening, on vaccine-preventable cancers, and on smoke- and aerosol-free environments provide recommendations to Member States and are extending access to important tools such as cancer screening, Human Papillomavirus and Hepatitis B vaccination, and strengthening protection from cancer risk factors such as tobacco. [3] 

These principles are equally vital for tackling CVD. JACARDI is committed to building on this momentum. By collaborating with organizations like EHN and supporting the European Alliance for Cardiovascular Health (EACH)’s roadmap, JACARDI aims to promote preventative care and education, advocate for evidence-based policy changes, and foster partnerships to enhance cardiovascular health across Europe.

For the Coordination Team of JACARDI, “the current policy momentum presents a pivotal opportunity to advance the development and implementation of a dedicated EU Cardiovascular Health Plan. Building on the achievements and lessons of Europe’s Beating Cancer Plan, such a framework must be tailored to the distinct complexities of cardiovascular disease prevention, early detection, and integrated care. We strongly endorse this strategic direction. We are firmly committed to contributing to and advocating for a comprehensive, equity-driven EU response.”

Central to JACARDI’s mission is the promotion of equity and diversity inclusion, grounded in gender-responsive and context-specific approaches. “We believe that only by embedding these principles at every level of policy and practice can we truly reduce the burden of cardiovascular diseases and diabetes, and ensure that no one is left behind,” explain the members of JACARDI’s Coordination Team.

Aligned with JACARDI’s vision, EACH envisions a future where, by 2030, premature and preventable deaths from CVD are reduced by one-third [4]. This ambitious goal aligns with Sustainable Development Goal Target 3.4 and prioritizes access to high-quality risk assessments, personalized care pathways, and reduction of health inequalities across Europe.

Turning vision into reality

Alice’s story, though fictional, represents the reality faced by millions. CVD is a silent epidemic, but it doesn’t have to remain that way. By learning from the successes of Europe’s Beating Cancer Plan and implementing a robust Cardiovascular Health Plan, fewer lives will be lost to preventable cardiovascular conditions. Together, we can make cardiovascular health a priority across Europe and create a future where the healthy choice becomes the default choice.

About the CVH Plan

The European Commission is currently developing the European Cardiovascular Health Plan (CVH Plan) to address Europe’s leading cause of death. In parallel, the European Alliance for Cardiovascular Health (EACH) has published A European Cardiovascular Health Plan: The Roadmap, which sets out a shared vision and concrete recommendations to reduce premature and preventable cardiovascular deaths by one third by 2030. Together, these efforts aim to ensure universal access to risk assessments, patient-centred care, and comprehensive strategies for prevention, diagnosis, treatment, and rehabilitation. Learn more.

Sources: 

[1] Fighting cardiovascular disease – a blueprint for EU action, June 2020. European Heart Network and the European Society of Cardiology. https://ehnheart.org/about-cvd/eu-action-on-cvd/ 

[2] Samuel Chin Wei Tan, Bin-Bin Zheng, Mae-Ling Tang, Hongyuan Chu, Yun-Tao Zhao, Cuilian Weng, Global Burden of Cardiovascular Diseases and its Risk Factors, 1990–2021: A Systematic Analysis for the Global Burden of Disease Study 2021, QJM: An International Journal of Medicine, 2025; hcaf022, https://doi.org/10.1093/qjmed/hcaf022

[3] Europe’s Beating Cancer Plan: a comprehensive action plan working hand in hand with the Cancer Mission. European Observatory on Health Systems and Policies: Domenico Fiorenza Glanzmann, Vittoria Carraro, Philippe Roux; CC BY-NC-SA 3.0 IGO. 12 March 2025, https://iris.who.int/bitstream/handle/10665/380751/Eurohealth-31-1-6-eng.pdf?sequence=1 

[4] A European Cardiovascular Health Plan: The need and the ambition, May 2022. European Alliance for Cardiovascular Health (EACH). https://www.cardiovascular-alliance.eu/wp-content/uploads/2022/05/EACH-Plan-Final_130522.pdf 

New online risk test by the Finnish Diabetes Association garners over 120,000 users in just one month

A groundbreaking new digital health initiative in Finland is empowering individuals to assess their risk of developing some of the country’s most common chronic illnesses, all from the comfort of their homes. This tool has been developed as part of a pilot program within JACARDI’s Work Package on screening by the Finnish Institute for Health and Welfare (THL) and the Finnish Diabetes Association.

The new online risk test has already garnered over 120,000 users in just one month, signaling a widespread public interest. In fact, drawing from extensive population-level health data, the tool estimates a person’s likelihood of developing: type 2 diabetes, cardiovascular diseases, and memory disorders (such as dementia). The risk for type 2 diabetes and heart disease is projected over 10 years, while memory disorders are evaluated over a 20-year timeline.

The test was developed by a team of experts, including Prof. Jaana Lindström, Research Manager at THL and Sari Koski, Director of Diabetes Courses and Knowledge Production at the Finnish Diabetes Association, under JACARDI’s Work Package on Screening, led by Hanna Tolonen from THL. It does not function as a diagnostic tool, yet it offers a general risk assessment based on an individual’s lifestyle and health background, providing valuable insights even before symptoms emerge. It is especially helpful for individuals who may not yet have access to clinical testing or regular medical evaluations.

The test is available online and can be completed in minutes, anonymously and free of charge. It is designed for adults of all ages and is especially relevant for those who are unaware of their risk factors. It can be used independently at home.

Each user receives a personalized summary of their risk, along with science-backed lifestyle suggestions. These include advice in areas, such as diet and nutrition, physical activity, sleep and recovery, and stress management.

By taking the test, individuals are encouraged to make small but impactful changes to their daily habits, changes that could significantly reduce their chances of developing chronic illnesses in the future.

Since its launch in late May 2025, the test has exceeded expectations; the section related to memory disorders has seen particularly high engagement.

This level of adoption underscores a growing interest among the Finnish population in self-directed health promotion and self-care. The success of the initiative also reflects how digital tools can complement traditional healthcare services by raising awareness, prompting early action, and reducing long-term healthcare costs.

Health authorities are enthusiastic about the test’s potential. Prof. Jaana Lindström, from THL, emphasized its preventive power, stating that recognizing risk is key to taking action in time.

Sari Koski, representing the Finnish Diabetes Association, highlighted the importance of modest lifestyle adjustments by saying that even small changes can lead to significant health benefits over time.

This perspective is supported by stark national statistics. Every year in Finland:

• Approximately 23,000 people are diagnosed with type 2 diabetes
• Around 22,000 with coronary artery disease
• About 23,000 begin experiencing memory-related disorders

These figures underline the urgent need for tools that enhance citizens’ awareness of chronic disease risk factors and promote early detection and lifestyle interventions.

For this reason, the launch of this new test quickly gained widespread attention, as the campaign was covered extensively by both major national and local media outlets across Finland. Leading publications highlighted the test’s potential to empower individuals to take control of their health. Regional news platforms played a key role in disseminating the information, ensuring that citizens across the country, from urban centers to rural municipalities, were informed about the tool.

The risk test serves not only as a personal wellness tool but also as a potential model for broader public health efforts. This strategy is not only beneficial for the individual but also contributes to the sustainability of the healthcare system.

Moreover, initiatives like this one are economically sensible: they help curb the rising costs of treating chronic conditions and allow more people to stay healthier and more productive for longer.

Finland’s new online risk test represents a timely and impactful tool for public health promotion. While not a replacement for medical diagnosis, it opens the door to greater personal responsibility and awareness. By bridging digital innovation with health promotion, it empowers citizens to act before illness strikes, and that might just be the key to a healthier future for all.

“There is a positive story to be told here” — what we learned at the DigiCare4You Workshop

In line with HaDEA’s commitment to foster synergies and share knowledge across EU health initiatives, JACARDI actively engages with a wide portfolio of projects – from Joint Actions and EU4Health grants to Horizon-funded interventions. JACARDI team members recently attended the DigiCare4You Capacity Building and Recommendations Development Workshop with International Stakeholders, held in Lisbon during the annual ICIC conference.

The event underscored how ongoing stakeholder engagement is vital to disseminate results, explore upscaling opportunities, develop evidence-based national policies and lay the groundwork for future cross-country collaborations. We invite readers to learn more about this ambitious intervention – running in parallel to our own pilot implementations – which is already demonstrating early results, implementation insights, and an inspiring commitment to meaningful change in health self-management.

A people-centric, digital health solution for preventing and managing diabetes and hypertension

The Horizon2020-funded DigiCare4You project offers a new model for the early prevention and management of type 2 diabetes (T2D) and hypertension (HTN) by engaging schools, communities, and healthcare systems in an intersectoral approach. At its core, the project empowers families and connects health and education sectors, equipping individuals with digital tools to better manage their health.Building on the evidence-based Feel4Diabetes study, DigiCare4You is being implemented in two high-income (Greece, Spain) and two middle-income countries (Albania, Bulgaria), targeting over 10,000 families across socio-economic groups.

Screen, support, empower – the DigiCare4You approach

DigiCare4You applies a two-step screening model leveraging existing child growth monitoring activities in schools and health centers through which parents and caregivers are approached to complete the FINDRISC questionnaire as the first screening step. Adults identified as at risk are then referred for a second screening, which includes anthropometric and clinical assessments to detect conditions such as prediabetes, type 2 diabetes, or hypertension.

Those confirmed at risk are subsequently invited to join the DigiCare4You two-year, mHealth-supported intervention programme, focused on lifestyle change, self-management, and family support. A multilingual mobile app offers access to health data, tracking tools, and educational resources and even recipies. Importantly, the intervention supports healthier behaviors in both adults and children through school and community-based activities.

DigiCare4You combines digital innovation, equity-driven outreach, and participatory research, while integrating into existing systems and investing in health professional training – ensuring sustainable, real-world impact.

Early results revealed: first findings inspire confidence

The Capacity Building and Recommendations Development (CBRD) Workshop gathered international experts at the midpoint of project implementation to review progress and shape the upcoming Roadmap for Scale-Up.Prof. Brian Oldenburg elevated the spirit of the event stating that: “Early findings are promising enough to say that there is a positive story to be told here.” Indeed, early results are compelling:

• Fewer adults with intermediate hyperglycaemia progressed to T2D; many returned to normal glucose levels.
• Participants with T2D improved their HbA1c.
• Adults with obesity experienced weight loss, BMI reduction, and lower cholesterol—without increased medication reliance.

From research to real-world impact

The workshop emphasized the transition from effectiveness to implementation research – examining how interventions work in real-life conditions. Dr Rajesh Vedanthan facilitated a compelling discussion in which implementers candidly shared successes and challenges.

Key takeaways from country implementers:

• Strong consensus: “Yes, we would start and do it again.”
• Motivation stems from seeing behavior change within families—especially when children and caregivers reinforce each other’s progress.
• Burnout among healthcare staff is a concern—but aligning DigiCare4You with existing systems proved an effective strategy.
• Local ownership and trust, especially through primary care systems and schools, were pivotal.
• Participants emphasized the importance of engaging families holistically, with one Bulgarian team member noting how “changing the behavior at home” can be one of the most lasting outcomes.

Additionally, one noted barrier to engagement was previous unsuccessful attempts at weight control, highlighting the need for tailored motivational support.

Cost-effectiveness, scalability, and the road ahead

Preliminary analyses suggest strong cost-effectiveness, especially when targeting adults with intermediate hyperglycaemia in MICs. A Scalability Decision Support Tool was developed to assess implementation readiness across five domains: NCD care context, digital literacy, support systems, screening capacity, and digital integration. These insights inform the forthcoming Roadmap for Scale-Up.

JACARDI Relevance

The presence of experts involved in both JACARDI and DigiCare4You highlights the existence of a vibrant, cross-country network of professionals dedicated to cardiovascular and diabetes care. The workshop featured members of the JACARDI Stakeholder Advisory Board, including a policy advisor from the European Diabetes Federation, epidemiologist and researcher from EUPHA, healthcare professionals involved in the pilot implementation in Portugal, representatives from the industry developing digital tools, and communication experts. Together, these individuals demonstrate the strength of this interconnected community.

Such events provide valuable opportunities to learn, grow and exchange knowledge, and have the potential to shape and enhance the quality of ongoing interventions. Given the different timelines of these projects, the initial findings of the DigiCare4You project can provide valuable insights for the JACARDI teams, given that the implementation of the pilots has only just begun.

Looking ahead

In its final year, DigiCare4You will focus on completing the intervention, finalizing cost-effectiveness studies, and refining its scalability tools. A second CBRD workshop will present final results and a full Roadmap for Scale-Up, providing a concrete guide for policy and replication.

As the burden of type 2 diabetes (T2D) in Europe is expected to reach 72 million people by 2050, DigiCare4You is emerging as a promising prevention model. “We design a programme, and when we start to implement it, we are confronted with the reality on the ground. Reality is revealed, and we act according to people’s needs,” said Prof. Yannis Manios, Project Coordinator. Meeting people where they are – with empathy, innovation and commitment – may be the most powerful intervention of all.

Discover more about the DigiCare4You project here.

JACARDI’s voices on the scientific stage across Europe

The first half of 2025 has been a busy and productive time for JACARDI, with consortium members sharing key findings and pilot implementation highlights at leading scientific conferences across Europe. These contributions, spanning health literacy, integrated care, biomarker-based screening, and health economics, demonstrate the depth and scope of the work underway across multiple work packages.

Spotlight on ICIC25 – Lisbon, Portugal | May 14–16, 2025

JACARDI had a strong presence at the 25th International Conference on Integrated Care (ICIC25) with three distinct contributions representing different work packages:

Irati Erreguerena (Work Package 6 – Health literacy) delivered an oral presentation on a co-designed health literacy program for adolescents in the Basque Country, Spain. Her talk highlighted how WHO’s Health Literacy Development Model, and the Ophelia (Optimising Health Literacy and Access) co-design methodology were applied to empower younger populations with knowledge and tools for chronic disease prevention.

Yhasmine Hamu (Work Package 9 – Integrated care pathways) presented on the implementation of a value-based integrated care model, sharing strategies to address care fragmentation and improve outcomes for people with chronic conditions.

Gergely Varga (Representing both Work Package 9 – Integrated care pathways and Work Package 5 – Methodological framework) contributed a poster that outlined a situational analysis methodology designed to support integrated care.

Faculty of Public Health Summer Scientific Meeting – Dublin, Ireland | May 20–21, 2025

Sonja Moore (Work Package 8 – Screening) presented findings from a scoping literature review on the use of natriuretic peptides in cardiovascular risk stratification and management. Her poster focused on current strategies and approaches for using these biomarkers in patient populations without diagnosed heart failure, a topic gaining traction in preventive cardiology. The review aimed to inform more targeted screening protocols and identify gaps in clinical practice across Europe.

COMET Conference – Poznań, Poland | June 25–27, 2025

Richard Osborne (Work Package 6 – Health Literacy) represented JACARDI at the 23rd International and Interdisciplinary Conference on Communication, Medicine, and Ethics (COMET). His oral presentation focused on scaling up health literacy development as a strategy to prevent and manage non-communicable diseases. The talk stressed the need for strategic investment in communication and co-design at the system level.

1st European Public Health Economics Conference
– Palermo, Italy | June 26–27, 2025

Katie Ellwood (Work Package 8 – Screening) presented a pilot study from JACARDI aiming to establish the most cost-effective threshold for using NT-proBNP blood marker in cardiovascular disease (CVD) risk stratification. The analysis models the impact of different thresholds over a 30-year horizon in a large population cohort. This pioneering work within JACARDI bridges clinical practice with health economics, helping to inform sustainable, evidence-based screening strategies.

These scientific initiatives reflect JACARDI’s commitment to knowledge-sharing, collaboration, and measurable impact. Consortium members not only showcased research but also engaged with policymakers, practitioners, and academics, advancing the mission to improve cardiovascular and diabetes outcomes across Europe. The autumn season offers a variety of relevant conferences, kicking off right at the end of summer with the Congress of the European Society of Cardiology, taking place from 29 August to 1 September.

From evidence to impact: a united call for equity-driven and sustainable action on NCDs

• JACARDI, JA PreventNCD, WHO Europe, OECD and the European Commission’s DG SANTE have published a joint Comment in The Lancet Regional Health, based on the findings of the newly published report ‘Avoidable mortality, risk factors and policies for tackling NCDs: leveraging data for impact’, by WHO Europe.
• The Comment underscores the critical role of cross-national collaboration in translating WHO findings into actionable policies, with a focus on equity, data-driven solutions, and integrated care pathways.
• These organizations call for an accelerated, harmonised and equity-driven European agenda on non-communicable diseases.

Non-communicable diseases (NCDs) remain the leading cause of death and disability in Europe, and recent trends reveal both progress and setbacks. While tobacco use, hypertension prevalence, and alcohol consumption have declined since 2010, obesity and diabetes rates continue to rise alarmingly, and physical inactivity shows no signs of improvement. This mixed picture is compounded by a slowdown in the implementation of vital public health policies since the COVID-19 pandemic.

These findings are discussed in a Comment published in The Lancet Regional Health and developed through a collaborative effort bringing together JACARDI, JA PreventNCD, WHO Europe, OECD (Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development), and the European Commission’s DG SANTE. The publication summarises the findings of the report Avoidable mortality, risk factors and policies for tackling noncommunicable diseases – leveraging data for impact: monitoring commitments in the WHO European Region ahead of the Fourth United Nations High-Level Meeting, by WHO Europe, reinforcing the urgency of renewed action. It emphasises the need for comprehensive solutions that prioritise strengthening health systems, accelerating the implementation of proven interventions, effective policies, and integrating equity-driven approaches.

The Comment presents key insights taken from the WHO Europe Report on the current state of NCD prevention and management in Europe. It highlights key challenges, such as the decline in the number of countries that have fully implemented NCD surveys, which fell from 28% in 2021 to 19% in 2023, and the reduction in the number of countries with operational multisectoral NCD strategies, which decreased from 60% to 55% during this period.

Despite these challenges, the authors note that 85% of European countries have adopted management guidelines for the four major NCDs: cardiovascular diseases, cancer, diabetes, and chronic respiratory diseases; demonstrating significant foundational progress.

“These figures paint a complex picture. Despite decades of progress in reducing premature mortality from the four major NCDs prioritised by global agenda, currently the region is off track to meet its 2025 targets. Moreover, the rise in obesity and diabetes and the slowdown in policy implementation highlight the urgent need to reinvigorate our efforts”, comments first author Dr Benedetta Armocida, from the Department of Cardiovascular, Endocrine-metabolic Diseases and Aging at Istituto Superiore di Sanità-ISS, Rome (Italy) and Coordinator of JACARDI.

The Scientific Coordinator of JA PreventNCD, Prof Knut-Inge Klepp, concurs and is particularly concerned regarding the slowdown in the implementation of population level policy interventions:

“We know how critical such policies are if we are to succeed in having a significant and lasting impact across population groups in Europe. Inequalities in NCD-related health remain a key challenge across and within European countries”.

Driving change

The European Union’s flagship initiatives under the EU4Health Programme are pivotal in addressing these challenges. JACARDI and JA PreventNCD are at the forefront of strengthening cross-national collaboration and implementing integrated strategies for NCD prevention and management.

JA PreventNCD targets primary prevention by tackling root causes such as unhealthy diets, tobacco and alcohol use, and lack of physical activity. JACARDI, meanwhile, focuses on secondary and tertiary prevention, aiming to enhance outcomes for cardiovascular diseases and diabetes through evidence-based interventions and integrated care pathways. Together, these initiatives exemplify the EU’s commitment to tackling NCDs across the care continuum, supported by a combined budget of €160 million and participation from 27 European countries.

The WHO NCD Global Monitoring Framework, which includes nine global voluntary targets, notably the headline goal of a 25% reduction in premature mortality from NCDs by 2025, is about to expire. That is why the authors provide a clear roadmap for advancing the fight against NCDs, ensuring systematic policy implementation and strengthening data infrastructures to translate commitments into measurable health outcomes.

“There are no more excuses. We have the knowledge and the tools. What remains is the will to implement them swiftly and hold ourselves accountable for delivering real results. This is not just a matter of public health; this is a matter of justice, security, and competitiveness, and a shared future”, says Dr Hans Henri P. Kluge, World Health Organization Regional Director for Europe.

Armocida and Klepp underscore the power of collaboration in achieving meaningful change: “We truly believe this joint effort reflects the strength and unity across Europe, bringing together a diverse group of organisations, initiatives, and stakeholders committed to reducing the burden of NCDs. The collaborative authorship of this Comment itself serves as an example of the collective commitment and shared vision needed to address one of the region’s most pressing public health challenges.”

The Comment calls for an accelerated, harmonised, and equity-driven European agenda on NCDs, particularly in the lead-up to the 2025 UN High-Level Meeting on NCDs.

The JA PreventNCD and JACARDI Joint Actions encourage policymakers, researchers, and public health advocates to explore this vital publication and join in building a healthier, more equitable future for Europe.

JACARDI (Grant Agreement 101126953) and JA PreventNCD (Grant Agreement 101128023) projects have received funding from the EU4Health Programme 2021-2027.

JACARDI featured on Italian national TV: free health screenings raise awareness on diabetes and cardiovascular risks

JACARDI was recently featured on RAI, Italy’s national public broadcaster, highlighting a free public screening campaign aimed at the early detection of diabetes and cardiovascular disease. This broadcast was filmed during a high-profile event in Reggio Calabria tied to the arrival of the Italian Navy’s historic ship Amerigo Vespucci, and it brought national attention to a simple yet powerful tool for screening and prevention: online self-assessment accessible through a QR code.

The JACARDI project, in collaboration with the ASP (Azienda Sanitaria Provinciale, Local Health Authority) of Reggio Calabria, was able to engage with citizens by making them scan a QR code with their smartphone and receive information about preventive health measures. People answered simple questions and received useful lifestyle tips, and those showing health concerns were flagged for follow-up, providing an immediate and accessible method for early diagnosis.

During the broadcast, several key figures were interviewed, including Dr. Lucia Di Furia, Director General of ASP Reggio Calabria, who suggested that prevention begins with daily awareness. Along with Dr. Ernesto Giordano, an endocrinologist and project manager on childhood obesity prevention, Di Furia highlighted how important it is to educate children on food habits to prevent future health issues.

This initiative exemplifies how JACARDI, as part of a broader EU Joint Action, is transforming prevention into practical action. By combining digital innovation with community outreach, the project is not only improving health literacy but also enabling early detection of conditions that often go unnoticed until it’s too late. As one of the 142 pilots under JACARDI, the ASP Reggio Calabria screening demonstrates how EU joint actions can deliver real, measurable benefits to people’s lives, fostering a culture of prevention and improved care that crosses borders and builds healthier futures for all.

The pilot in Calabria is one of 18 pilots within JACARDI’s Work Package 8, which focuses on screening and identifying individuals at increased risk of cardiovascular diseases and diabetes. These conditions can often be prevented or delayed through healthy lifestyle changes and better risk factor management. The pilots collect standardized data on key risk factors across European countries to support more targeted, evidence-based prevention strategies.

For the news broadcast in Italian, click here, and to watch the pilot’s promotional video, click here.

JACARDI takes the floor at OECD policy dialogue on Europe’s Cardiovascular Health

On 5 May 2025, the OECD convened a high-level policy dialogue in Brussels to address one of Europe’s most pressing public health challenges: the growing burden of cardiovascular diseases (CVDs). With the participation of the European Commission and key representatives from national governments, civil society, and international organisations, the event marked an important moment in shaping the OECD’s analytical work on CVD trends, prevention, and care across the EU. Represented by its Coordination Team, JACARDI brought forward lessons from its cross-country collaboration, referencing tools, frameworks, and reflections that align with the OECD’s strategic priorities, particularly around equity, data, and cross-sectoral integration.

Cardiovascular diseases (CVDs) remain the leading cause of mortality and morbidity across Europe, placing immense pressure on health systems, economies, and societies. Addressing this burden demands more than incremental change—it requires a shared, data-driven, and equity-focused vision for action.

The OECD’s policy dialogue, “Burden of Cardiovascular Disease in the EU,” held on 5 May 2025 with the participation of the European Commission, convened key stakeholders to discuss forthcoming OECD work that aims to analyse trends in CVD burden, prevention, and management across the EU.
The event gathered representatives from national governments, civil society, and intergovernmental organisations to ensure that the forthcoming report reflects stakeholder priorities and is rooted in collective insight.

JACARDI—the Joint Action on Cardiovascular Diseases and Diabetes—was represented by its Coordination Team: Benedetta Armocida, Graziano Onder and Beatrice Formenti. During both plenary and roundtable sessions, JACARDI shared reflections on the future of CVD response in Europe, highlighting insights from its ongoing collaboration with countries and stakeholders. The Joint Action welcomed this opportunity to align with OECD’s strategic direction and contribute to a common agenda for strengthening CVD prevention and control.

Six key areas of alignment were highlighted:

1. A shared framework: the Patient Journey
   Echoing the OECD’s analytical framework, JACARDI supports a patient-centred approach that addresses the full continuum of care—from health promotion and early prevention to integrated treatment and long-term management. This patient journey model underpins JACARDI’s operational structure and is currently being implemented through real-world pilots in 18 European countries.
   Notably, JACARDI integrates cardiovascular diseases and diabetes within a unified framework, recognising their clinical, biological, and systemic interlinkages. This convergence reflects a growing consensus: that sustainable improvement in population health requires integrated, system-strengthening, and equity-oriented solutions.
2. Equity as a structural imperative
   JACARDI endorses the OECD’s emphasis on reducing health inequities, particularly among migrants, ethnic minorities, and other underserved groups. Equity is not an add-on but a core pillar of JACARDI’s approach—operationalised through the 4C Equity Framework: Critical reflection, Contextualised data, Co-design, and Clear, inclusive communication.
   This commitment is made tangible through specific tools like capacity-building masterclasses, a dedicated maturity matrix, and pilot initiatives targeting institutional barriers, including racism and discrimination in healthcare. JACARDI advocates for the standardisation and institutionalisation of such equity-driven models across EU health policies and programmes.
3. Putting women’s hearts on the Agenda: gender-sensitive CVD responses
   Despite notable advances in CVD care, gender disparities persist. Women remain underdiagnosed, undertreated, and underrepresented in research—leading to suboptimal outcomes. JACARDI addresses these challenges through a gender-sensitive approach, following The Lancet Commission on Women and Cardiovascular Disease which underscores the need to embed sex- and gender-specific data into every level of policy and practice.
   For example, in Spain, an interactive tool is being developed to map gender-based health disparities regionally. In France, a comprehensive data linkage is underway to examine how gender and social deprivation intersect in influencing disease risk and care pathways. These initiatives represent a shift toward gender-responsive and inclusive health systems.
4. Data for change: building the evidence base
   Fragmented, delayed, and non-comparable data continue to hinder effective CVD policy implementation. There is a pressing need for harmonised, disaggregated, and interoperable health data—especially data disaggregated by sex, ethnicity, and socioeconomic status.
   JACARDI is addressing this gap by developing a conceptual data framework for mapping and improving national and regional datasets. The framework spans risk factors, disease conditions, and modifiers of disease or care across population, outpatient, and hospital settings. The information is also structured by domains (care, results, quality indicators), offering a comprehensive and standardised approach to data mapping.
   This framework will inform a practical consultation tool to support standardised, comparable, and interoperable data collection across Europe. The aim is to enhance research, promote accountability, and strengthen European health information systems in alignment with OECD, WHO, and EC priorities.
5. Screening and early detection
   A key recommendation from JACARDI reported within the dialogue was the creation of a centralised platform to oversee CVD screening—ensuring quality, transparency, and accountability throughout all stages, from design to evaluation. Such a platform would also house validated risk prediction tools tailored to diverse populations.
   JACARDI supports this vision with a suite of tools developed across the Joint Action, including guidance for implementing, monitoring, and evaluating screening programmes; roadmaps for sustainability; and strategies for disease burden surveillance (via WP7). These resources reflect JACARDI’s holistic approach, linking prevention, early detection, and continuous care.
6. Workplace interventions
   CVDs and diabetes significantly impact Europe’s labour market. JACARDI addresses this challenge by promoting workplace interventions that support people living with NCDs in maintaining or returning to employment.
   Strategic recommendations include strengthening occupational health services, fostering inclusive workplace cultures, combating stigma, promoting intersectoral collaboration, and increasing awareness and research investment. By aligning employment policy with health priorities, JACARDI aims to reduce economic strain and improve quality of life.
   
   

From prevention to rehabilitation: closing the gaps

Effective care for CVD and diabetes requires integrated, person-centred pathways that span the full spectrum of need—from early detection to long-term management and reintegration into society. Reducing fragmentation, ensuring timely access to services, and addressing the needs of chronically ill individuals are essential. JACARDI is actively supporting Member States in designing and implementing more cohesive, sustainable care models—bridging current gaps and promoting resilience in national health systems.

Looking ahead: building Europe’s CVD response together

As the OECD-led analytical report continues to evolve, JACARDI remains committed to contributing to this inclusive, co-creative process. Through piloted innovations, practical tools, and sustained cross-border collaboration, the Joint Action seeks to strengthen Europe’s collective response to CVD and diabetes.

JACARDI’s contribution rests on four foundational principles:

1. Equity as structure and substance—addressing the needs of women, migrants, and other underserved groups throughout the policy cycle;
2. High-quality, harmonised, and disaggregated data—to enable effective monitoring, accountability, and action;
3. Cross-sectoral integration—connecting health with education, employment, social protection, and digital transformation;
4. Inclusive, multi-stakeholder engagement—ensuring that patients, professionals, policymakers, and civil society shape the future together.

In closing, JACARDI exemplifies what is possible when countries align around a shared vision. Through collaboration, knowledge exchange, and an unwavering commitment to inclusion, we are not only shaping better health outcomes—we are building a lasting legacy of equity, resilience, and solidarity across Europe.

“JACARDI, together with all key stakeholders, is showing what’s possible when Europe comes together with a shared purpose and vision—turning knowledge into action, and collaboration into a legacy of healthier, fairer societies for all, starting with the urgent challenge of cardiovascular diseases.”

— JACARDI Coordination Team, Benedetta Armocida and Beatrice Formenti

Francesco Cosentino: Policy change can only happen when it is driven both at EU and national level

As the European Commission prepares to launch the European Cardiovascular Health Plan, recognizing the strong link between cardiovascular disease and diabetes is more important than ever. However, for real impact, the plan must provide funding that reflects the scale of the CVD burden, says Francesco Cosentino, Vice-President of the European Society of Cardiology (ESC) from 2020 to 2022, and a member of JACARDI’s Stakeholder Advisory Board. JACARDI’s work in optimizing the availability of health data can play a vital role in shaping future policies and ensuring data availability will also be key to improving adherence to guidelines.

What significance does JACARDI hold for you and your organization in terms of its mission and values?

The mission of the European Society of Cardiology (ESC) is to reduce the burden of cardiovascular disease (CVD). Our society is very supportive of the great work being undertaken through JACARDI, which aims to support European countries in reducing the burden of CVD and diabetes and improve quality of care for the individuals affected.

How do you see JACARDI’s role in tackling the increasing prevalence of cardiovascular disease and diabetes in Europe?

I believe that JACARDI, through its numerous science-based pilot projects in 18 EU countries and with its network of 76 partners, has great potential to foster community spirit, knowledge sharing and to create value for tackling the increasing prevalence of CVD and diabetes across Europe. I think that JACARDI’s main strength is the integrated approach addressing both diseases simultaneously with a focus on the entire patient journey.

How do you think JACARDI will influence future collaboration on cardiovascular disease and diabetes prevention in Europe?

JACARDI specifically reflects the realities of patients who live with two comorbidities. We know CVD remains the predominant cause of death and disability in Europe. In the European Union, 62 million people live with CVD and 5 million new cases are diagnosed every year. In addition, 1 in 10 adults live with diabetes. What we also know is that people with diabetes have a two to three times higher cardiovascular risk than people without diabetes. They also see their life expectancy reduced by 10-14 years.

It is important to diagnose CVD and diabetes as early as possible to prevent complications and reduce healthcare costs. Recognizing these interlinkages between these two comorbidities is also crucial in the context of the incoming European Cardiovascular Health Plan from the European Commission. I believe that diabetes will be included within this plan.

So, joint health checks based on common risk factors for both diseases, such as high body mass index (BMI), high blood pressure, tobacco and alcohol consumption, high blood glucose and high LDL cholesterol are sensible and cost-effective options for the identification of high cardiovascular risk in individuals.

Based on your experience chairing the ESC Guidelines on Diabetes and Cardiovascular Disease, how can JACARDI’s research contribute to shaping future clinical guidelines in Europe?

Our ESC Guidelines on Diabetes and Cardiovascular Disease are an excellent tool to implement evidence-based, person-centered treatment strategies. This is what we call personalized medicine, which we know is effective in reducing cardiovascular risk in patients with diabetes. I believe that findings from JACARDI may potentially help the implementation of our guidelines in the daily clinical practice.

A critical step is ensuring that the clear target outlined in the ESC guidelines, to achieve better outcomes for people living with diabetes and CVD, is met for all patients. However, we are not there yet.

In this regard, data availability, data sharing and utilization are really crucial to improve patients’ and healthcare professionals’ adherence to the guidelines. One of the Work Packages of JACARDI aims to optimize the way individuals, communities, and organizations access, understand and use health information. These can be very helpful in shaping future guidelines.

With your background in cardiovascular pharmacology, what role do you think pharmacological innovations will play in complementing JACARDI’s efforts to reduce the burden of cardiovascular disease and diabetes?

I believe that a wide range of stakeholders have an important part to play in improving cardiovascular health in our population. This also includes the innovations coming from pharma and device companies. We hope that the innovation pipeline will continue to improve in the coming years as many clinical needs remain unmet.

Collaboration is definitely key and this is why the ESC is also a proud partner of the European Alliance for Cardiovascular Health (EACH), which comprises 21 leading organizations, including medical societies, industries and patients organizations.

Given your leadership experience in the European Society of Cardiology, how can JACARDI help drive policy changes at the European level to improve cardiovascular and diabetes care across diverse healthcare systems?

The ESC together with the European Alliance for Cardiovascular Health, has been advocating for a European Cardiovascular Health Plan for many years. Now finally, the policy context is extremely positive. The President of the EU Commission put CVD on the agenda and the Commissioner for Health has committed to developing a European Cardiovascular Health Plan, similar in ambition to Europe’s Beating Cancer Plan.

This was announced on the 3rd of December 2024, on the same day the Ministers of Health from the 27 Member States of the European Union approved the Council Conclusions on the Improvement of Cardiovascular Health in the EU.

It is clear that the plan is coming. What we need to ensure is that there is significant funding attached to the plan, proportionate to the burden of CVD. I believe the magnitude of work and effort from JACARDI also shows the interest at Member State level of this being a priority topic.

Policy change can only happen when it is driven at both the EU and national levels. And JACARDI showcases this important complementary nature with 80% of the close to €60 million in funding coming from the EU and the remaining 20% from the 21 participating European countries. I think collaboration is key and the driving force behind making real progress.

Prof. Francesco Cosentino is a Professor of Cardiology at the Karolinska Institute and University Hospital in Stockholm, Vice-President of the European Society of Cardiology (ESC) from 2020 to 2022 and co-Chair of the ESC Advocacy Committee from 2022 to 2024. He chaired the 2019 ESC Guidelines on Diabetes and Cardiovascular Disease and serves as Deputy Editor of the European Heart Journal and Consulting Editor of Cardiovascular Research Journal.

As a leading researcher, he has received grants and awards from national and international research councils and private foundations and has authored over 200 original articles in top-ranking, peer-reviewed journals. As a member of JACARDI’s Stakeholder Advisory Board, he contributes to work packages focused on data insights (WP7), screening (WP8), patient pathways (WP9), and patient self-management (WP10).

Learn more about Francesco Cosentino and his work here, and about ESC here.

From promising ideas to real impact: WHO’s Quick Buys for combating NCDs

What if targeted actions could transform public health across Europe in just five years? This was the question posed at an event organized by the WHO European Region, where experts gathered to unveil and discuss the groundbreaking paper ‘Quick buys for prevention and control of noncommunicable diseases’. The study, conducted by experts in noncommunicable diseases (NCDs) at WHO/Europe, has for the first time analysed exactly how 25 specific public health measures, so-called quick buys, can have a positive impact on population health across Europe and central Asia in as little as 5 years.

NCDs are the leading cause of death and disability worldwide. In Europe, they account for 90% of all deaths and 85% of disability, including mental ill health. A significant proportion of NCD deaths are premature, before the age of 70 and an estimated 60% of all avoidable NCD deaths are due to preventable causes. These could be addressed by reducing alcohol and tobacco use, unhealthy diets and physical inactivity.

However, progress on NCD prevention has stalled, as highlighted by the WHO Europe’s European Health Report 2024 and the UN’s 2025 NCD progress report. These publications show a rise in obesity and diabetes and insufficient progress toward meeting global NCD targets by 2030. With just 25 weeks remaining until the 4th UN High-Level Meeting on NCDs, the clock is ticking to accelerate progress toward reducing premature mortality from NCDs. In line with this objective, JACARDI supports countries in reducing the burden of cardiovascular diseases and diabetes at the individual and health system levels.

From best buys to quick buys: a roadmap for action

Dr Benedetta Armocida, coordinator of JACARDI, emphasized during the event the transformative potential of these interventions. “Advancing cost-effective policies is a global health priority. This paper makes a critical contribution by introducing structured timeframes, an essential component for strategic planning, implementation and impact assessment”.

WHO has previously identified a set of best buys, proven, cost-effective measures to address NCDs. Now, it can show which of those measures deliver the fastest results. The 25 quick buys, published in The Lancet Regional Health – Europe [1], include policies targeting key risk factors and disease groups.

The 25 quick buys with proven impact within 5 years

These measures are designed to yield high-impact results in record time, making them indispensable in the current public health landscape. Professor David Stuckler, from the University of Bocconi and co-author of the paper, echoed the urgency: “This paper is a roadmap for action. There are no more excuses not to implement it”.

The quick buys focus on practical measures. For example, pharmacological treatment of hypertension in adults, treatment of myocardial infarctions with acetylsalicylic acid, and treating strokes with intravenous thrombolytic therapy have all an impact of less than a year.

The role of Joint Actions: JACARDI and JA PreventNCD

As a Joint Action initiative, JACARDI exemplifies how research and policy can align to drive meaningful change.

1. Provide evidence on feasibility, scalability and sustainability

The study on quick buys underscores the need for more natural experiments to assess the real-world impact of interventions. “This is precisely where Joint Actions like JACARDI can play a crucial role. By generating robust implementation research, Joint Actions provide essential evidence on feasibility, scalability and sustainability of interventions. JACARDI serves as a bridge between research and policy, facilitating the translation of evidence into concrete, actionable strategies at national and regional level”, explained Dr Armocida.

2. Creating a platform for knowledge exchange

Stakeholder cooperation and a multi-sectoral approach is another aspect highlighted by the JACARDI coordinator. “By fostering cooperation among Member States and key EU stakeholders and diverse sectors, Joint Actions can create a platform for knowledge exchange, capacity building and coordinated policy responses. This collaborative approach extends beyond national boundaries, contributing to a more integrated and effective NCDs prevention and control framework at European level”, concluded Dr Armocida.

3. Ensuring the effectiveness and equity of monitoring systems

In line with this, Dr Hanna Tolonen, representing JACARDI’s sister project called JA PreventNCD, emphasized the vital importance of monitoring systems in ensuring the effectiveness and equity of public health interventions: “Within JA PreventNCD, we are working on the monitoring aspects to see how countries are currently tracking progress and how we can support them in improving their surveillance activities”.

By leveraging collaborative initiatives like these and integrating evidence-based strategies, the path forward becomes clearer and more achievable. The message from the WHO/Europe event is clear: the time for action is now. This is the way to turn promising ideas into tangible health outcomes for all.

Source:
[1] Gauden Galea, Allison Ekberg, Angela Ciobanu, Marilys Corbex, Jill Farrington, Carina Ferreira-Bores, Daša Kokole, María Lasierra Losada, Maria Neufeld, Ivo Rakovac, Elena Tsoy, Kremlin Wickramasinghe, Julianne Williams, Martin McKee, David Stuckler, Quick buys for prevention and control of noncommunicable diseases

The Lancet Regional Health – Europe, 2025, 101281, ISSN 2666-7762

David Beran: What has impressed me most is the collaboration between outstanding scientists across Europe

David Beran, a member of JACARDI’s Scientific Advisory Board, highlights the value of the network being built through JACARDI, fostering exchanges that will have a positive impact on science beyond the project. He is a Swiss citizen and Assistant Professor at University of Geneva specialized in health management and diabetes. In his view JACARDI exemplifies the strength of the European ideal of uniting individuals from different member states to collectively improve lives. David Beran is currently involved in leading a new initiative that aims to bridge science and policy, the NCD Policy Lab at University of Geneva. In this interview, he shares his insights on the connection between evidence-based outcomes and policy making, the anticipated local and global impacts of the JACARDI pilot projects and the importance of collaboration and mutual learning in research.

What significance does JACARDI hold for you and your organization in terms of its mission and values?

I think there’s three ways to answer this question. As a university researcher specialized in diabetes, I believe we need more research to document and develop a wide range of tailored solutions. JACARDI does this with the diversity of pilot projects across different countries and contexts.

I would say another important element is that one of the missions of the division I’m in focuses on partnerships and learning from others. One of the key values I’ve observed in JACARDI is the interactions, discussions and presentations among colleagues from different countries, exchanging their experience, their knowledge and working together.

Finally, I’m leading a new initiative at the University of Geneva, the NCD Policy Lab, which aims to bridge science and policy. This goal is in line with the objectives of JACARDI. This Joint Action also recognises the need to engage a wide range of policymakers, including the EU, the World Health Organisation, ministries of Health, local authorities and even mayors or lower level officials. I think these three areas are crucial for JACARDI: research, partnership and knowledge sharing, and the link between science and policy.

How do you see JACARDI’s role in tackling the increasing prevalence of diabetes in Europe?

I think JACARDI has an important role to play in the fight against diabetes. The different work packages address concrete challenges that exist and the approach is to document the challenges and to also find innovative solutions. The approach of having different pilot projects and how these can address local specific challenges, as well as how these lessons from a small context can then be transferred to the whole country or even to the whole of Europe is really innovative. I really think that the strength of this project is to look at those local specificities and then to take that mutual learning and spread the lessons learned beyond that small pilot either to the whole country or to other countries.

From your extensive experience as a diabetes researcher, how do you think JACARDI will influence future collaboration on diabetes prevention in Europe?

Beyond the scientific aspects, what has impressed me most is the collaboration between the outstanding scientists across Europe in this Joint Action. A valuable outcome of this project is the network that is being created, fostering exchanges that will have a positive impact on science beyond JACARDI.

As a Swiss citizen living outside “Europe”, I’m also a proud European. I think this project exemplifies the strength of the European ideal of uniting individuals from different member states to collectively improve lives. To really tackle diabetes, which is a global challenge and a European challenge. And again, JACARDI is bringing together the best scientists to tackle it.

Moreover, diabetes is not only a health problem, it is also a social and economic problem. I firmly believe that research has the power to document, to provide solutions and to guide governments in their responses to this challenge.

What impact do you hope JACARDI will have on future research and policy-making?

The pilot projects have the potential to move from pilots to full-blown projects. So, what does it take to scale up a pilot? Scaling up can mean different things: does it involve expanding to one more region, to an entire country, or even to other European nations? Will these larger initiatives within a specific country drive progress? Could they also be regarded as multi-country studies based on the initial pilot fostered by JACARDI?

As I mentioned earlier, I believe that the networks created are the greatest impact that JACARDI can have on future research. Research thrives on collaboration and the exchange of ideas, and this project has excelled in fostering these connections. For example, I was involved in the work package tackling patient pathways, where colleagues from different countries, such as Spain, Italy or Finland, all worked together on important data issues.

There are so many ideas floating around that you can clearly see this could lead to future research and have a clear impact on diabetes policy. One potential impact is on policies that continue to support research in this area, while another is on policies to adopt the outcomes of JACARDI. I think we need more research and this Joint Action has a role to play in highlighting the importance of research and continued funding for research. Both of those will take investment, time and engagement with policy makers and I think JACARDI has already started to do that. It will take persistence and patience to really be able to keep this on the policy makers’ agenda both by emphasizing the need for further research and by highlighting what JACARDI’s results mean for the future of diabetes.

I also see an opportunity to demonstrate the value of JACARDI’s work for people with diabetes and non-communicable diseases. By involving advocates and patient organizations and sharing JACARDI’s successes with the media, we can remind everyone that people with diabetes are citizens with rights and a voice. With one in ten people in Europe affected by diabetes, they represent a significant political bloc. Building on this momentum, JACARDI can continue to show policymakers the return on their investment, while also highlighting the need for ongoing support for this unique and exciting initiative.

David Beran is an Assistant Professor at the Geneva University Hospitals and University of Geneva within the Division of Tropical and Humanitarian Medicine. Previously, he has worked as Project Coordinator of the International Insulin Foundation based at University College London (UCL) where he developed and implemented a health systems tool to assess access to diabetes care. This work was carried out in Kyrgyzstan, Mali, Mozambique, Nicaragua, Vietnam and Zambia and led to the development of specific policies and projects to address the barriers identified.

His research interests include health systems and health systems research, management of chronic diseases, diabetes, access to insulin and the issue of multi-morbidity. Current projects include the NCD Policy Lab at University of Geneva, a global survey of barriers to access to insulin, and he has worked closely with the WHO on the issues of diabetes and access to medicines for noncommunicable diseases.

Learn more about David Beran’s work, the NCD Policy Lab, and connect on LinkedIn.