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

 Congratulations to IEA's 2021-24 Councilors (1/18/2021) 
   

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

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) 
   

 Early Career Researchers Meet in Europe (12/5/2019) 
   

The annual Society for Social Medicine & Population Health/International Epidemiology Association pre-conference early career researchers’ event took place on September 3rd, 2019 at the Mardyke Pavilion, University College Cork. The event was organised by Dr Kate O’Neill, Ms Niamh McGrath and Ms Emmy Racine from the School of Public Health, and held prior to the Joint SSM and IEA European Congress.

Almost 70 early career researchers attended the event; the largest attendance at a SSM preconference event to date. Funding from SSM, IEA and the Health Research Board meant the event was free and organisers were also able to offer accommodation bursaries and subsidise a networking dinner for attendees.

The event was centered around promoting early career researchers careers within and outside of academic settings. Topics which were covered included ways of engaging with existing organisational structures and initiatives, such as mentoring, the research support service and the innovative ‘Odyssey’ Programme and middle and senior career academic researchers spoke about key skills for ECRs such as securing funding and writing research papers, as well as the personal side of career progression in academia; finding what excites you and managing imposter syndrome. In the afternoon, those who attended the event heard from researchers who are pursuing competitive and fulfilling careers in business, the NGO sector and in private industry.

Speakers at the event included:

  • Dr. Peter Tennant (SSM Honorary Secretary, University of Leeds) – “Supporting your Development with Mentoring”
  • Ms. Sarah Fink (Athena Swan Project Officer, Royal College of Surgeons Ireland) – “Athena SWAN: Gender Equality and Support for Early Career Researchers”
  • Ms. Imma Zoppi (Research Support Office, University College Cork) – “Understanding the Research Office: Its Role and Expertise”
  • Ms. Mary-Kate O’Regan (HR Manager, University College Cork) – “How UCC Launched a Transformative Programme to Prepare PhDs and Research Staff for Rewarding Careers beyond Academia”
  • Dr. Linda O’Keeffe (School of Public Health, University College Cork) – “Progressing from Early to Mid-Career; Finding a Direction,  Creating your Career Narrative and Beating Imposter Syndrome”
  • Dr. Sheena McHugh (School of Public Health, University College Cork) – “Forever Finding Funding; Realities and Tricks of the Trade”
  • Prof. Simon Capewell (Department of Public Health & Policy, University of Liverpool) – “Top Tips for Getting your Research Published and Disseminated”
  • Dr. Martin Davoren (Executive Director, The Sexual Health Centre Cork) – “A Road Less Travelled: Turning Theory into Practice in the Third Sector”
  • Dr. Fiona Geaney (Founder/CEO, Food Choice) “Cork Daring to Lead? Thinking Outside the Box to Bridge the Gap Between Research and Industry”
  • Dr. Sarah Jo Sinnott (Harvard University, Massachusetts) – “Switching it Up - Academia to Industry”

 
Ms. Emmy Racine who won a prize for best rapid fire 
presentation during the SSM Conference: "Us" and "Them."



Members of the SSM ECR subcommittee who organized the joint SSM/IEA ECR event. Pictured (l-r): 
Mr. Paul Henery (communications officer); Dr. Kathryn Skivington (chair); Dr. Janice Atkins
(mentoring officer); Ms. Georgia Chatzi (newsletter officer); Dr. Kate O'Neill (local officer): and
Ms. Niamh McGrath (local officer),

 Europe Region IEA Joins SSM for European Congress, September 2019 (12/5/2019) 
   

The Joint Annual Scientific Meeting of the Society for Social Medicine & Population Health and the International Epidemiology Association European Congress was held in Cork from 4th -6th of September, organised by the University College of Cork School of Public Health.

The conference was attended by more than 300 people from all over the world. Topics which were covered include epidemiology, health services research, psychology, public health and social sciences. 

The event featured 90 speakers dispersed over three days who spoke about topics such as; Cancer, Food Policy, Lifecourse Epidemiology, Cardiovascular Disease, Ageing / Older People and Mental Health. This was accompanied by 36 rapid fire presentations throughout the course of the conference which covered topics such as; Chronic Disease, Mental Health, Pregnancy & Infant, Child & Adolescent Health, Interventions & Stakeholders’ Perspectives, Health inequalities and Social Medicine & Population Health.

In addition, two poster presentation sessions displayed eighty-three posters, these addressed topics such as;

  • “Healthcare system performance in continuity of care for patients with severe mental illness: a comparison of five European countries”, Nicaise et al
  • “Adverse pregnancy outcomes and long-term risk of maternal renal disease: a systematic review and meta-analysis”, Barrett et al
  • “Communication is the root issue: Informing the development of cyberbullying interventions”, Dennehy et al
  • “Developing a healthy lifestyle index for asthma and allergy prevention in childhood”, Morales et al

Key speakers and topics included: 

•  Professor Kenneth Rothman (Boston University, USA) – “The End of Statistical Significance Questing”

•  Professor Margaret Whitehead (University of Liverpool, UK) - “Barely Believable” or Nakedly Truthful: What is the Point of Doing Research on Child Poverty and Health?

•  Professor Valerie Beral (University of Oxford, UK) – “The Power of Collaborative Research in Epidemiology”


Eunice T. Phillip, Eve Griffin & Elaine McMahon




More than 300 participants attended