Europe
Regional Area Councilor: Patricia Kearney

IEA-Europe also maintains its own website, with more detailed information on European events and activities.

The IEA European Committee incorporates epidemiological societies in 15 European countries (Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Iceland, Italy, Macedonia, Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Serbia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, and United Kingdom). Each country is represented  in the board. Board meetings were held in November 2010 in Florence and in August 2011 at the WCE in Edinburgh.

In Europe, epidemiological patterns of diseases and health are evolving rapidly following social and economical changes. The European population is aging, health inequalities are increasing, immigration is continuing. Climate change, among other environmental determinants, is of great concern. Beside understanding the fundamental determinants of health, epidemiologists are facing substantial questions concerning health care and prevention: what interventions are really beneficial for individuals and communities?  By how much should we advance population based prevention or personalised interventions. How does the current scientific evidence support the two different approaches? How should the scientific evidence be transferred into policy? How do different policies influence health? Finding acceptable and equitable solutions is urgent in a Europe under economic stress.

The IEA-Europe intends to maintain its objective of holding  regional conferences in each of the non-WCE years aimed at focusing on major scientific and public health questions.

Regional conferences provide the opportunity for researchers to present their work to colleagues across Europe and to hear what is being done in countries other than their own.

While most of us owe our primary allegiance to our own ‘national’ (epidemiological) societies it is important to recognize that many of the same scientific, medical and public health questions are being asked, addressed and answered in neighbouring countries.

Regional News

A joint IEA-Europe (European Congress of Epidemiology) and Society for Social Medicine and Population Health (SMS) Annual Scientific Meeting is planned September 4-6, 2019 in Cork, Ireland. Announced plans include Pemberton Lecturer Kenneth Rothman, Distinguished Fellow, Research Triangle Institute, and Cochrane Lecturer WH Duncan, Professor of Public Health, University of Liverpool.  Of note, USD $5,000 will be available to support early-career epidemiologists attendance at the conference. This funding is provided through monies previously collected as a dues surcharge on members from Western Europe.

The European Congress of Epidemiology 2018, titled Crises, Epidemiological transitions and the role of epidemiologists, took place on July 4-6 2018 in Lyon, France. Please find more information here: http://euroepi2018.com/

 

Regional News

 Cesar Vitora Wins 2021 Richard Doll Prize (5/7/2021) 
   

Cesar Victora named winner of 2021 Richard Doll Prize in Epidemiology

Cesar Victora, Emeritus Professor of Universidade Federal de Pelotas, Brazil, and Director, International Center for Equity in Health, has been named the winner of the 2021 Richard Doll Prize in Epidemiology.

The Richard Doll Prize is awarded by IEA in commemoration of Richard Doll’s legacy and his achievements in epidemiology. The prize is for a body of scientific research in epidemiology that has advanced understanding of conditions that are important for population health.

Victora's research has driven global policies on breastfeeding, child nutrition and inequalities in health. He has applied and advanced epidemiological methods to maternal and child health, initially in his home country and later in dozens of low and middle-income countries. His studies in the 1980s led to the discovery of the importance of exclusive breastfeeding for infant survival, which shaped World Health Organization policies in 1991. His leading role in the creation of the WHO Child Growth Standards led to growth curves that are now used in over 140 countries. He leads the Pelotas Birth Cohort Studies (1982, 1993, 2004 and 2015) which have made major contributions to recognition of the importance of early nutrition for adult health and human capital. More recently, he became a global leader in the study of inequalities in maternal and child health, and his team provides global analyses that are widely used by international organizations.

Having opted to remain in Brazil throughout his career, he has honorary appointments at Oxford University, Harvard University and Johns Hopkins School of Public Health. He is a member of the editorial board of many journals, including The Lancet. In Brazil, he founded the Post-Graduate Program in Epidemiology at the Federal University of Pelotas, a remote location without any research activity until the 1980s and led this program to become the top-ranked program in the Ministry of Education’s scoring system for over 80 Public Health programs in the country.

 Early Career Epidemiologist Representatives Elected (5/7/2021) 
   

Early Career Epidemiologist Elections Conclude

The election of regional Early Career Epidemiologist representatives has concluded. Winning candidates for each region are:

  • Dr. Moleen Dzikiti, Africa Region
  • Rajini Nagrani, Europe Region
  • Ghinwa El Hayek, MPH, Middle East North Africa Region
  • Astou Thiam, North America Region
  • Dr. Ritu Pradhan Sharma, South East Asia Region, and member of IEA Council
  • Dr. Gazaleh Dashti, Western Pacific Region

A candidate was not elected in the Latin American & Caribbean Region.

IEA defines Early Career Epidemiologists as those currently enrolled in a graduate or postgraduate course of study in a subject relevant to epidemiology, or who have worked in the field of epidemiology for not more than ten years.

Elected representatives will serve for the next three years starting at the conclusion of the 2021 IEA World Congress of Epidemiology in Melbourne, Australia (http://ieaweb.org). Terms will end at the conclusion of the 2024 World Congress of Epidemiology.

Per IEA’s Constitution and Bylaws, the representative elected from the region that will be hosting the next World Congress of Epidemiology will become the ECE Council Member. This person will liaise with the ECE representatives in all regions, formulate proposals for ECE activities, and represent the interests of ECE members to Council. The 2024 WCE will be held in Goa, India.

 Congratulations to IEA's 2021-24 Councilors (5/7/2021) 
   

IEA Council Election Results, 2021-24


Of 1592 eligible IEA members, about half (764) voted during December 15-30, 2020. Every election was independently certified as having no evidence of fraud. Regional councilors were elected by IEA members in good standing who reside in the specific region. The new Executive and Council members will assume their offices at the World Congress of Epidemiology, currently scheduled to take place in September 2021. Their terms will last until the next World Congress of Epidemiology, currently scheduled for September 2024.

Newly Elected IEA Council Members for the next IEA period of office are:

Officers of the Executive Committee

President: Chandra Mani Pandey

President-Elect: Akindele Adebiyi

Past President: Henrique Barros

Secretary: Karina Braga Ribeiro

Treasurer: Yosikazu Nakamura

 
Regional representatives

Africa Region: Armanda Nkwescheu

European Region: Linda O’Keeffe

Latin America & Caribbean Region: Pedro Hallal

Middle East/North Africa Region: Mary Deeb

North America Region: Jennifer Salerno

Southeast Asia Region: Umesh Kapil

Western Pacific Region: Chihaya Koriyama
Early Career Epidemiologist: Ritu Pradhan Sharma (Southeast Asia Region)

Congratulations to all our new Council Members, and thank you for your service to the IEA.

 In Memoriam - Adetokunbo Lucas (12/30/2020) 
   

In Memoriam - Adetokunbo Oluwole Lucas

The Council of The International Epidemiology Association (IEA) deeply mourns the passing of Professor Adetokunbo Oluwole Lucas OFR MD DSc FRCPH FFPH FRCOG FUI (1931–2020), a globally acknowledged public health leader and foremost epidemiologist. He was until his death on the 25th of December 2020, a retired Professor of Preventive and Social Medicine, University of Ibadan and Professor of International Health, Harvard University.
Prof. Ade Lucas made significant contributions to the field of epidemiology and public health, especially with regards to the epidemiology and control of Schistosomiasis, Onchocerciasis and Malaria. He hosted the first regional conference of the IEA in Ibadan, Nigeria in 1970 and went on to be the President of IEA from 1971 to 1974. He later directed the Tropical Diseases Research (TDR) Programme of the World Health Organization between 1976 and 1986. It was in recognition of his contribution towards the development of the TDR into a globally acclaimed program of research in tropical diseases that he was jointly awarded the prestigious Prince Mahidol prize, given annually for achievements in medicine and public health.
Prof. Ade Lucas would be remembered for his efforts at improving the quality of life of the most underprivileged in society and eliminating inequity.

 Statement on COVID 19 (3/25/2020)