Gastroenterology body advises H2020 bids, warns against cuts

United European Gastroenterology (UEG) is urging the gastrointestinal community to apply now for much-needed research funding from Horizon 2020 before any cuts are implemented to the framework programme’s budget.

The organisation is encouraging gastrointestinal scientists to submit research proposals to the ‘FET OPEN – novel ideas for radically new technologies – research projects’ call, which has a cut-off date at the end of next month. The €154m Excellent Science call has a final submission deadline of 29 September 2015. The pillar, along with the rest of Horizon 2020, could see its budget reduced following the publication of the European Commission’s Investment Plan for Europe.

UEG president Professor Michael Farthing is encouraging scientists not to be complacent. He warned: “Although gastrointestinal and liver diseases are on the increase and draining European healthcare resources, gastroenterology gets relatively little attention from a policy perspective compared with other specialities. However, research is essential to facilitate the development of more effective treatments and to improve mortality rates.”

According to the results of UEG’s major Survey of Digestive Health Across Europe, gastrointestinal and liver diseases remain one of the most common causes of death and hospitalisation in Europe and are responsible for almost 500,000 deaths per year in Europe alone.

Farthing added: “The deadline is looming with a call for proposals by 31 March 2015, so scientists need to take prompt action to develop steering groups and submit their application.”

UEG is a professional, non-profit organisation combining all the leading European societies concerned with digestive diseases. Together, its member societies represent over 22,000 specialists, working across medicine, surgery, paediatrics, gastrointestinal oncology and endoscopy.