Fields of Activity

Structure of the Health Research Programme

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The goals of the Health Research Programme yield four fields requiring action:

 

• Effective fighting of diseases 
  
• Research on the health care system 
  
• Health research in cooperation with industry and science 
  
• Strengthening of the research landscape through structure optimisation and innovation

These four fields of activity form the basis for the selection and definition of future research focus areas within the framework of the Health Research Programme. The selection is made according to uniform criteria that give equal consideration to the scientific and social aspects as well as issues in health and research policy.

The following criteria apply for the inclusion of new research focus areas:

• Social need: Morbidity and mortality, i.e. how many people are affected by a disease and how many people die of it? 
  
• Obvious care gaps that the research can help close
  
• Economic significance
  
• Consequences on the efficiency and effectiveness of the health care system
  
• Scientific and technical innovation
  
• Potential for strengthening top-level research
  
• Economic benefits, particularly for securing and creating jobs
  
• Ethical and legal requirements and consequences.