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European Union (EU) News

Green Paper on the European Research Area

In April 2007, the European Commisison adopted a Green Paper on the European Research Area (ERA).
The Commission also launched an online consultation involving research institutuions, industry and civil society in a broad public debate on what was needed to create a unified and attractive European Research Area. The Commission will propose initiatives in 2008.

 Read the Green Paper
 Read the ERS response to the consultation

EMEA publishes guideline on first-in-human clinical trials

In July 2007, EMEA (European Medicines Agency) published the guideline on strategies to identify and mitigate risks for first-in-human clinical trials with investigational medicinal products. The objective of this guideline is to assist sponsors in the transition from non-clinical to early clinical development.

 Read the guideline

Rules governing medicinal products

Following the adoption and entry into force of Regulation (EC) 726/2004 and Directive 2004/27/EC, Volume 9 of the Rules Governing Medicinal Products in the European Union has been extensively revised and updated. The guideline has been split into Volume 9A, relating to medicinal products for human use, and Volume 9B on medicinal products for veterinary use. Volume 9A underwent public consultations during 2005 and 2006, and based on the comments received the final Volume 9A is now made public and takes effect immediately.

 View the full document

ECDC publishes call for scientific experts

The European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control (ECDC) has published a call for expressions of interest from scientific experts. The ECDC is searching for support for the following tasks (non-exhaustive list) in a number of fields: helping to prepare scientific opinions; compiling reports on the basis of information provided by the Centre and its network partners; supporting the functioning of ECDC scientific panels; and collecting scientific evidence to support the Centre in its activities.

 View complete details of the call

Call for expression of interest

January 4, 2006
DG Sanco published a call for expression of interest that aims to set up a list of candidates who could be awarded contracts in the field of consumers, public health and other fields, such as training. The work would be delivered mainly under the form of time and means, and quoted time and means consultancy. The call for expressions of interest shall be used both by the public health programme and its executive agency.

 View complete details of the call

Centre for disease protection publishes call for expressions of interest

December 2, 2005
The European Centre for Disease Prevention (ECDC) has published a call for expressions of interest from scientific experts. Tasks will include: help preparing scientific opinions; compiling reports on the basis of information provided by the Centre and its network partners; supporting the functioning of the ECDC scientific panel; and collection of scientific evidence to support the Centre in its activities.
The following fields are covered by the call:
  1. Experts in the field of infectious diseases
  2. Experts in the field of clinical microbiology
  3. Experts in the field of public health
  4. Experts in the field of infectious disease epidemiology
  5. Experts in the field of statistics and/or modelling of infectious diseases
  6. Experts in the field of public health crisis, including bioterrorism
  7. Experts in the field of epidemiology training
  8. Experts in the field of comparative epidemiology
The ECDC will start the first screening on December 12, 2005, but applications can be submitted until August 8, 2008.

 Read further information

Guidelines to communicate about SARS and influenza events

The European Commission adopted two sets of guidelines on the procedure for communication to Member States, European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control (ECDC) and the Commission about SARS events and highly pathogenic avian influenza events in humans.

  Procedure for communication to Member States, European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control and the Commission about SARS

  Procedure for communication to Member States, the Commission and the European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control about highly pathogenic avian influenza events in humans (including IA/H5)

 Further information on the EC and communicable diseases