Health
The changing attitudes of Generation Z towards substance use and risky behaviours
For approximately 30 years, the Italian National Research Council has partnered with the European Union Drugs Agency (EUDA) to survey more than 113,800 students aged 15–16 across Europe to monitor adolescent risk behaviours. The latest findings reveal that, although cannabis, alcohol, and traditional cigarettes use among European teenagers has steadily declined, new behavioural and health ...
Dr Vanessa Harris on planetary health research: exploring the links between the health of humans and the health of ecosystems
Dr Vanessa Harris is an infectious diseases physician and Assistant Professor at the Department of Global Health, Amsterdam UMC, University of Amsterdam (UvA). Her research focuses on diarrheal diseases in children under the age of five, investigating environmental impacts on disease risk, prevention and vaccine performance in high-risk settings, and indirect effects of having diarrheal ...
Long Covid: The ‘invisible illness’ people must learn to see
In Europe, Long Covid has impacted around 36 million people over the first three years of the pandemic. However, the disease’s complexity, novelty, and often invisible symptoms, combined with a lack of public understanding, have led to many patients being dismissed or doubted by doctors, policymakers, colleagues, and even their loved ones. As a result, ...
‘One Health’ and the role of science for better policy
As Europe faces overlapping challenges - from public health threats to biodiversity loss and environmental degradation - the need for integrated, evidence-based policymaking has never been clearer. The ‘One Health’ concept, which recognises the interconnection between human, animal and environmental health is now increasingly influencing the way policy is shaped. ‘One Health’ is gaining significant ...
Prof. Roel Vermeulen: ‘Understanding the exposome is key to building a healthier, fairer future’
How does exposure to chemicals, air pollution, stress or noise affect human health over the course of a lifetime? What about the complex interactions between environmental exposures, social determinants of health and genetics? The 'exposome' concept offers a framework for understanding and analyzing this complex reality of our health. The ESMH spoke with Prof. Roel ...
Do e-cigarettes pose a growing threat to the health of young Europeans?
E-cigarettes tend to be particularly popular among younger people. But how dangerous are they? Modern electronic cigarettes (e-cigarettes) were introduced two decades ago, becoming commercially available in Europe and the USA around 2006. They were viewed as a potentially less harmful alternative to traditional tobacco products. However, while the long-term health effects remain unclear, other ...
Building a hopeful future for oncology: using people’s own cells in the fight against cancer
Insights of John Haanen, European Society for Medical Oncology (ESMO) Lifetime Achievement Award winner. Professor Haanen and his team developed a promising new treatment for melanoma, a form of skin cancer. In 2022 alone more than 100 000 new cases of melanoma were reported in the EU. This treatment, known as tumour-infiltrating lymphocyte (TIL) therapy, uses ...
World Patient Safety Day: Preventing harm in healthcare in a digitalised world
17 September is World Patient Safety Day. Can innovation and technology help to guarantee patient safety? Experts believe it is crucial to invest more in reducing patient harm. It is also important to fully understand the pros and cons of using new digital health technologies for this purpose.