Tackling diseases and reducing disease burden (Horizon Europe)

Destination 3: Tackling diseases and reducing disease burden

The destination “Tackling diseases and reducing disease burden” under Horizon Europe focuses on improving healthcare providers’ capacity to prevent, diagnose, treat, and manage diseases, thereby reducing the overall disease burden on patients and enhancing the effectiveness of healthcare systems. It addresses communicable and non-communicable diseases, rare diseases, mental health conditions, antimicrobial resistance (AMR), and epidemic or pandemic threats. This destination emphasizes the need for innovative health technologies, medical countermeasures, public health interventions, and preparedness strategies, while promoting international collaboration to leverage expertise and research infrastructures.

Which goals should be achieved under this destination?

The main goals are to:

Reduce disease burden in the EU and globally through improved disease prevention, diagnostics, treatment, and management, including for co- and multi-morbidities.
Reduce premature mortality from non-communicable diseases by one third by 2030 and promote mental health and wellbeing, in line with WHO targets.
Strengthen healthcare systems’ capacity, knowledge, and expertise to tackle communicable and non-communicable diseases, including AMR and epidemic threats.
Empower patients and citizens to engage in their health management and adhere to evidence-based disease management strategies.
Support international collaboration and alignment with global health priorities, including rare diseases and pandemic preparedness.
Develop new treatment, prevention, and disease management options for NCDs, long-term conditions post-infection, infectious diseases with epidemic potential, AMR pathogens, and rare diseases.

Wie können Forschung und Innovation zur Erreichung dieses Ziels beitragen?

Research and Innovation (R&I) contribute by:

Developing innovative preventive, diagnostic, and therapeutic approaches, including digital and people-centred solutions for healthcare.
Advancing preparedness, surveillance, and response strategies for epidemics, pandemics, and antimicrobial resistance.
Generating knowledge and tools to improve disease management, reduce co- and multi-morbidities, and promote mental health.
Fostering international cooperation to leverage global expertise, research infrastructures, and priority investments.
Encouraging synergies and cross-fertilisation between EU-funded projects, across Clusters and Pillars of Horizon Europe, and with other EU programmes such as EU4Health.
Empowering patients and citizens to understand disease risks, participate in decision-making, and adopt evidence-based health practices.

Through these contributions, R&I under this destination aims to reduce the societal, economic, and health impacts of diseases, strengthen healthcare systems, and improve citizens’ health and resilience across Europe and globally.

Call topics 2026:

single Stage

HORIZON-HLTH-2026-01-DISEASE-02: Innovative interventions to prevent the harmful effects of using digital technologies on the mental health of children and young adults
HORIZON-HLTH-2026-01-DISEASE-03: Advancing research on the prevention, diagnosis, and management of post-infection long-term conditions
HORIZON-HLTH-2026-01-DISEASE-04: Development of novel vaccines for viral pathogens with epidemic potential
HORIZON-HLTH-2026-01-DISEASE-09: Multisectoral approach to tackle chronic non-communicable diseases: implementation research maximising collaboration and coordination with sectors and in settings beyond the healthcare system (GACD)
HORIZON-HLTH-2026-01-DISEASE-11: Understanding of sex and/or gender-specific mechanisms of cardiovascular diseases: determinants, risk factors and pathways
HORIZON-HLTH-2026-01-DISEASE-15: Scaling up innovation in cardiovascular health

Call topics 2027:

single Stage

HORIZON-HLTH-2027-01-DISEASE-05: Development of novel small molecule antiviral therapeutics for pathogens with epidemic potential
HORIZON-HLTH-2027-01-DISEASE-06: Development of monoclonal antibodies to prevent and treat infections from Flaviviruses
HORIZON-HLTH-2027-01-DISEASE-08: Development of innovative antimicrobials against pathogens resistant to antimicrobials
HORIZON-HLTH-2027-01-DISEASE-10: Prevention and management of chronic noncommunicable diseases in children and young people (GACD)

Two stage

HORIZON-HLTH-2027-02-DISEASE-01-two-stage: Innovative healthcare interventions for non-communicable diseases
HORIZON-HLTH-2027-02-DISEASE-14-two-stage: Clinical trials for advancing innovative interventions for neurodegenerative diseases

Calls for Partnerships:

HORIZON-HLTH-2026-02-DISEASE-12: European Partnership on Rare Diseases (ERDERA) (Phase 2)
HORIZON-HLTH-2026-03-DISEASE-13: European Partnership for Pandemic Preparedness (Phase 2)