About

PROACT EU-Response: a European Initiative for Pandemic Preparedness and Response

Initiated as a continuation of the EU-Response project to strengthen Europe’s ability to respond swiftly to emerging health crises, PROACT EU-Response was designed to build proactive, coordinated approaches to pandemic preparedness.

Through a comprehensive European network for clinical trials in hospital settings and the mobilisation of experts, laboratories, and civil society, the programme aims to:

• improve health outcomes,
• reduce societal costs,
• and empower communities through enhanced knowledge and preparedness.

PROACT EU-Response builds on the experience of existing networks and international platform studies, bringing together 25 partners from 11 European countries.

The project goes beyond the clinical approach, also aiming to integrate the humanities and social sciences, as well as patient communities, as structural components of the project.

Discover PROACT EU-Response with Prof. Karine Lacombe, project coordinator

The project in brief :

This project has received funding from the European Union’s Horizon Europe research and innovation programme under Grant Agreement No 101156304.

What are the first achievements of the programme?

Within its first 18 months, PROACT EU-Response has already achieved important milestones, including:

• A clinical research network of 83 sites across 25 European countries;
• The establishment of dedicated virology, methodology and clinical trial networks;
• The active involvement of patients and citizens in developing policies and improving participation in clinical research during health crises;
• Important work to better understand the barriers to patient participation in trials during pandemics;
• Initiatives to combat misinformation and disinformation, which can undermine public health responses.

These achievements demonstrate the comprehensive and collaborative nature of the programme and provide a strong foundation for the years ahead.

What role do patients and patient organisations play in the project?

Patients and citizens are a fundamental component of PROACT EU-Response.

The project recognises that preparing for future pandemics is not only relevant to doctors, scientists and methodologists. It is also about understanding the needs, experiences and expectations of civil society. By involving patient organisations and citizens’ associations from the very beginning, PROACT EU-Response wants to prepare future responses that are more inclusive of and more trusted by citizens, as well as better adapted to their realities.

Building strong relationships with patients and citizens from the outset is essential to the success of the project.