Research is the basis of change and progress in all respects; investing in research is an investment in the future. The EU has been initiating, funding and bringing together research projects in a large variety of domains for over 50 years. The first ‘framework programme’ (FP) (1984-1987) was established in order to:

• strengthen the scientific and technological base of European industry
• encourage its international competitiveness, while promoting research that supports EU policies.

While each of the subsequent framework programmes has reflected the changing nature of scientific and technological research as well as the EU’s evolving policy priorities, the general objectives have remained the same.

FP7: The current framework programme
The ‘7th Framework Programme for Research and Technological Development’ (FP7) (2007-2013) disposes of a total budget of over €50 billion – a substantial increase on its predecessor. Activities funded from FP7 must have ‘European added value’: research actions have to be transnational and complement national research actions. This means that projects are carried out by consortia of participants from different European (and other) countries. Participation in FP7 is open to a wide range of organisations and individuals, such as research groups at universities or research institutes, companies intending to innovate, small or medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), SME associations, public or governmental administration, and civil society organisations. Different rules for participation apply, according to the research initiative.

Health in FP7
FP7 consists of 5 specific programmes - Cooperation, Ideas, People, Capacities and Nuclear Research. The Cooperation programme is the core of FP7 and represents two thirds of the overall budget. Research under this programme is carried out in ten key thematic areas, one of which is health. A budget of € 6.1 billion has been set aside for the funding of health research. The main objective of health research is to:

‘Improve the health of European citizens and increasing the competitiveness and boosting the innovative capacity of European health-related industries and businesses, while addressing global health issues including emerging epidemics. Emphasis will be put on translational research (translation of basic discoveries into clinical applications including scientific validation of experimental results), the development and validation of new therapies, methods for health promotion and prevention’.

Activities fall under three main headings:

• Biotechnology, generic tools and technologies for human health - producing knowledge that will be applied in the area of health and medicine;
• Translating research for human health - making sure that basic discoveries have practical benefits and improve the quality of life;
• Optimising the delivery of health care to European citizens - ensuring that the results of biomedical research will ultimately reach the citizens.

Child health, health of the ageing population and gender-related health have been defined as overarching issues. As translation of basic discoveries into clinical applications is one of the main objectives under the health theme, clinical research is expected to be a major tool used in the funded projects. Inclusion of 'high-tech' SMEs in most projects is another priority of the health theme, as are communicating research outcomes and engaging in dialogue with civil society (e.g. patient groups).

As part of the rationale for health research the Commission mentions the need to ensure ‘that biomedical research provides practical benefits and improves life quality’. The need for clinical research on a variety of diseases (e.g. cancer, cardiovascular and infectious diseases, mental and neurological diseases) is mentioned, as well as the need to develop new diagnostics and treatments for rare disorders, epidemiological research and health policy-driven research. In addition, the Commission refers to research-based SMEs as the main economic drivers of the healthcare biotechnology and medical technology industries, and the need to contribute to the development of standards to set up an appropriate legislative framework for new medical technologies.

FP7 and complementary and alternative medicine (CAM)
FP7 does not contain explicit research objectives on CAM or homeopathic and anthroposophic medicinal products apart from one reference in relation to research activities:

 ‘Translating clinical outcome into clinical practice: to create the knowledge bases for clinical decision making and to address the translation of outcomes of clinical research into clinical practice, addressing patient safety and the better use of medicines (including some aspects of pharmacovigilance and scientifically tested complementary and alternative medicines)’. 

However, FP7 does currently fund research activities in areas which are indirectly relevant to CAM and homeopathic and anthroposophic medicinal products such as:

• Optimising the delivery of health care to European citizens
• Quality, efficiency and solidarity of health care systems: to translate effective interventions into management decisions, to assess the cost, efficiency and benefits of different interventions including with regard to patient safety, to analyse factors influencing equity of access to high-quality health care
• Enhanced disease prevention and better use of medicines: to identify successful interventions in different health care settings to improve the prescription of medicines and their use by patients
• Appropriate use of new health therapies and technologies.

The CAMbrella research project, a pan-European research network for Complementary and Alternative Medicine (CAM) has received funding within the EU 7th Research Framework Programme.

Looking ahead
FP7 will be reviewed later this year, to monitor the Programme’s success in reaching its set objectives and to learn lessons for future EU research activities. This review and its outcome will serve the discussions and deliberations in relation to the content of the next framework programme, to make sure this addresses the most appropriate and relevant European themes and issues. Deliberations on the content of FP8 will take off at the end of 2010 and ECHAMP intends to work closely with other stakeholders to ensure that this next programme explicitly addresses issues in relation to CAM, including homeopathy and anthroposophic medicine, so that EU research activities can benefit our industry and the many patients that choose to make use of our products.

Christine Marking
Public Affairs Consultant, ECHAMP