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Events

9.06.2026 - 11.06.2026

JA PreventNCD General Assembly

  • 08:30
  • Meeting
  • Istituto Superiore di Sanità (ISS), Rome, Italy
General Assembly Banner (1)

The 2026 General Assembly will kick off with a one-day plenary on June 9th highlighting our shared project achievements to date and setting an inspiring tone for the days ahead. On June 10th and 11th, we’ll dive into hands-on workshops, aiming to present insights, exciting results and experiences from activities and pilots within JA PreventNCD, piecing together how the various efforts contribute to the overall objectives of the project.

We’ve also set aside dedicated time for WP-specific meetings, ensuring every team’s unique contributions are recognized and advanced.

Our event will end in a joint plenary session on June 11th, bringing everyone together to celebrate progress and chart the course ahead.

The overall aim of the General Assembly is to contribute to the consortium being able to deliver on the overall objectives of JA PreventNCD:

  • improve joint capacities of MSs to plan and implement prevention policies and activities at national, regional, and local levels
  • improve the monitoring system for NCDs and their common risk factors
  • contribute to reduced inequalities in NCDs
  • engage with key actors in the field of NCD prevention, including decision makers, civil society organizations, professionals, the general population, and patients’ groups to facilitate cooperation and joint efforts.

 

Purpose and expected outcomes of the General Assembly 2026

By June 2026, we are more than halfway into the project. Thus, the purpose of this event is to further drive inspiration and collaboration among project participants, promote high scientific quality and relevance of our work, facilitate effective collaboration within the project, and to ensure project coherence and common understanding of project objectives. The event will also aim to facilitate open discussions on our work, including challenges and opportunities as we start to plan for the final outcomes of the project.

Meeting in person is especially valuable, as it allows for building stronger relationships, exchanging ideas more freely, and fully engaging in networking opportunities that can spark new synergies and enhance the overall impact of our joint efforts.

Specifically, the goal is to:

  • Present and reflect on key results: share experiences and lessons learned to strengthen effective implementation
  • Joint action – added value: Enhance the added value of joint action by strengthening collaboration across countries, work packages, and partners, and by aligning on the project’s key achievements and dissemination activities
  • Way forward: Provide a setting for inspiration and critical reflection regarding the remainder of the project, including exploitation and uptake of results and sustainability. Clear outcomes will be defined, individual results integrated into the project narrative, and sustainability embedded into actions and deliverables.

 

Topics to be included

At this meeting we really aim to present progress from our exciting results and experience from ongoing activities and pilots from JA PreventNCD. We will also invite representatives from MSs and experts to comment and provide feedback on the work presented.

Since the last general assembly in Katowice, the European Union has launched the Cardiovascular Health plan. JA PreventNCD has a number of important activities supporting this plan, and such activities will be highlighted. The program is not yet finalized, but the following topics are being discussed as part of plenary and/or parallel sessions:

  • Presentations on project outputs and success stories
  • Key achievements
  • Cross-cutting themes on risk factors: Alcohol, Physical inactivity, Nutrition and Tobacco
  • Financial management and reporting

 

Who should attend?

This meeting is open to all partners of the JA PreventNCD consortium, Competent Authorities, Affiliated Entities and Associated Partners. Invitations are in particular directed at, but not limited to, colleagues with a leading role in tasks, subtasks, pilots or other key activities such as reporting.

Invitations are also extended to:

  • Members of our External Expert Advisory Board,
  • Members of our Youth Advisory Group
  • Thematic Coordinators
  • Members of the Data Management Board, the Ethics Board and the Publication Board
  • Project observers
  • Other synergistic EU granted projects

Please remember that the cost of participation is the responsibility of your own institution, and we advise you to also confer with your respective (sub/task) leads.

 

Registration

Registration details have been shared directly with the consortium and relevant stakeholders. If you believe you should have received an invitation but have not yet received one, please contact [email protected].

The registration deadline for in-person attendance is now closed.

Registrations for online attendance remain open until May 29. 

 

Practical information

The General Assembly will take place at the Istituto Superiore di Sanità (ISS), Viale Regina Elena 299, 00161 Rome, Italy.

Rome is a major European hub and is well connected by air and rail, with frequent international connections and extensive local public transport options.

How to reach the venue

By public transport

The venue is located in the Nomentano / San Lorenzo area and can be reached by Rome’s public transport network. The Policlinico metro station (Line B) is nearby, with onward connections across the city.

By train

Rome’s main rail hubs connect the city with destinations across Italy and Europe. From central stations, the venue area can be reached via metro, tram/bus, or taxi.

By plane

Rome is served by two international airports (Fiumicino – Leonardo da Vinci and Ciampino) with frequent connections to European cities.

Further details, including recommended accommodation options and additional local guidance, will be shared closer to the event once the programme and logistics are finalised.

 

The programme for the event is available here.

Programme

9 June – Plenary in auditorium

Opening day, keynote sessions, project highlights and poster exhibition.

Use the buttons below to jump between programme days.

 
08:30–09:30

Registration and coffee

Participants are invited to arrive, register and enjoy coffee before the opening session.

09:30–10:15 Opening session

A joyful welcome and opening session

Session description

Formal opening session aiming to set a positive and engaging tone for the meeting. The session will emphasize shared goals, alignment with national and EU priorities, and the overall purpose of the General Assembly.

Speakers

  • Linda Granlund, JA PreventNCD Coordinator
  • Italian Ministry of Health, TBC
  • President of ISS
  • Antonio Parenti, Director, DG SANTE B – Public Health, Cancer and Health Security
  • Line Vold, Director General, Norwegian Ministry of Health and Care Services
10:15–10:40 Keynote

Prevention – prevention – prevention! Why PreventNCD is the answer to current calls for action

Session description

Keynote speech positioning JA PreventNCD within current calls for stronger action on prevention of cancer and other non-communicable diseases.

Speaker: Knut-Inge Klepp, Norwegian Institute of Public Health

10:40–11:00 Campaign launch

Launching the JA PreventNCD Campaign

Session description

This session launches the new JA PreventNCD campaign, developed by the communication and dissemination team in close collaboration with participating member countries. It will present the campaign’s key messages and strategic purpose, while highlighting the role of communication campaigns as effective tools for advancing NCD prevention in today’s attention economy.

Presentation

Campaigns as a Strategic Tool in Today’s Attention Economy: Premiere of JA PreventNCD’s New Campaign

Speaker: Live Bøe Johannesen, Norwegian Directorate of Health

11:00–11:30

Break – Poster exhibition

11:30–12:15 Plenary session

Safe Hearts Plan

Presentations and speakers

  • Safe Hearts Plan – Marianne Takki, DG SANTE
  • Evaluation of the Accuracy of Polygenic Risk Scores for Cardiovascular Disease Across Different European Countries – Andres Metspalu, University of Tartu, and Francesco Piacenza, INRCA
  • Quality Improvement in Primary Care Tobacco Use Treatment – Ana Paulina Medina and Emma del Castillo Sedano, IDIVAL
  • Applying JA PreventNCD learnings on digital tools for personalized prevention to the Safe Hearts Plan – Mette Bach Larsen, Region of Southern Denmark
  • A blueprint for integrating young people’s perspective in the Safe Hearts Plan – Youth Advisory Group member, TBC
12:15–13:00 Plenary session

Future-proofing prevention: NCD monitoring gaps in an evolving market

Session description

How can public policy keep pace when private interests move faster? This session explores the data-to-policy gap and showcases JA PreventNCD efforts to highlight and address this gap, moving from reactive monitoring to proactive regulation.

Presentations and speakers

  • Session introduction – Hanna Tolonen, THL
  • Moving targets: The rapid evolution of harmful markets – Hanna Ollila, THL
  • Bridging the Gap: Harmonising Surveillance – Morten S. Frydensberg, Region of Southern Denmark
  • Impact and insights: measuring success through policy monitoring – Arnfinn Helleve, Norwegian Institute of Public Health
  • Commentary and reflections – Benedetta Armocida, JACARDI Coordinator, ISS Italy, and Youth Advisory Group perspective, TBC
13:00–14:00

Lunch – Poster exhibition

14:00–14:45 Plenary session

Improving Member States capacities in NCD prevention

Session description

The objective of the session is to provide new insights from JA PreventNCD related to NCD prevention at different administrative levels.

Presentations and speakers

  • Session introduction – Arnfinn Helleve, Norwegian Institute of Public Health
  • The potential in policy impact modelling: the example of health taxation – Franco Sassi, Imperial College London
  • Health in All Policies: key insights from nine European countries – Leena Tervonen, Cancer Society of Finland
  • Building local capacities for NCD prevention: where policies meet everyday life – Katarzyna Brukało, Medical University of Silesia
  • EU Semester and MFF indicators as tools to increase Member State capacity – Vania Putatti, EuroHealthNet
14:45–15:30 Plenary session and panel

Engaging with key actors to strengthen NCD prevention

Session description

Meaningful engagement with key actors, from policymakers and civil society to practitioners and communities, is central to the effectiveness and sustainability of NCD prevention. This session features short presentations from consortium pilot leads and a panel discussion across local, national and supranational perspectives.

Presentations and speakers

  • Why engaging key actors matters for NCD prevention – Martin Thißen, WP3
  • Engaging key actors for Health Impact Assessment – Gabriele Gruber, Task 9.5, TBC
  • An EU network to improve public food procurement – Mette Svendgaard Høgholm, Task 5.4, TBC
  • Commercial partnerships to improve oral health literacy – Nicolas Giraudeau, Pilot 7.5.20, TBC
  • Panel discussion – Hugrún Snorradóttir, Hanna Ollila, Mojca Gabrijelčič Blenkuš and Martina Serra, moderated by Meg Yates
15:30–15:50

Break – Poster exhibition

15:50–17:20 Plenary session

Reducing social inequalities in cancer and other NCDs

Session description

This plenary session highlights how the JA Prevent NCD is actively contributing to reducing social inequalities in non-communicable diseases. It focuses on concrete results across multiple areas, from monitoring health inequalities in Europe, to investigating interventions and policies to reduce social inequalities, and community- and municipal-level actions. The session concludes with a short Q&A, providing an opportunity for discussion and reflection.    

Presentations and speakers

  • Social Inequalities in Cancer and NCDs: measuring, acting and monitoring – Raffaella Bucciardini, WP7 lead
  • Reporting of inequalities in population health dashboards – Sebastián Peña Fajuri, Task 7.1
  • How population-based monitoring systems can help monitor impact on social inequalities in NCDs – Valentina Possenti, Task 8.3
  • Evidence for national policy action on health inequalities – Gerd M. Flodgren, Task 7.2
  • Wellbeing Economy Toolbox – Dóra Guðrún Guðmundsdóttir, Task 9.6
  • WHO ICOPE implementation in France – Néda Tavassoli, Pilot 7.5.13
  • Strengthening health literacy to reduce inequalities – Peder Ringnes Berrefjord, Task 7.4
  • No equal start: social disparities in early infancy – Angela Giusti, Task 6.5
  • Environmental justice in overburdened communities – Roberto Pasetto, Task 7.5.9
17:20–17:30

End of Day 1 programme – summary

17:30

Joint welcome event

Non-alcoholic drinks.

10 June – Parallel Sessions

Workshops, thematic sessions and interactive discussions across three rooms.

 
09:00–10:30 Parallel sessions

Morning parallel sessions

Room 1

Addressing Commercial Determinants in JA PreventNCD: Policy, Practice and Inequalities

This session explores the commercial determinants of health as a cross-cutting challenge for NCD prevention and health equity. It examines how commercial determinants operate in practice, how they contribute to social inequalities, and what public-sector responses and safeguards are needed.

Speakers

  • Freyr Guðlaugsson, Directorate of Health, Iceland
  • Dr. Nason Maani, University of Edinburgh
  • Silke Cnockaert, Sciensano, Belgium
  • Taija Voutilainen, THL, Finland
  • Kaja Lund-Iversen, Norwegian Institute of Public Health
  • Elise Chapin, UNICEF Italy
  • Panel moderated by Sofie Randby

Room 2

Physical Activity across scales: from local action to global strategies

This session presents how physical activity is addressed within JA PreventNCD across different levels and approaches, from local to national and cross-sector initiatives.

Speakers

  • Urška Polanc, NIJZ
  • Federica Rossetti, Sciensano
  • Morten Frydensberg, Region of Southern Denmark
  • Harry Rutter, External Advisory Board
  • Youth Advisory Group representative, TBC

Room 3

Financial management session: How to ensure effective financial management of a large EU project

The session focuses on financial management of JA PreventNCD, including reported data, phased budgets, use of PM, budget flexibility, RP2 financial reporting, common issues from RP1 and feedback from HaDEA.

Speakers: Agnes Karina Straum Rasmussen, Leonard Rabben and Kjell-Tore Sørensen, Norwegian Directorate of Health.

10:30–11:00

Break

11:00–12:30 Parallel sessions

Late morning parallel sessions

Room 1

Transversal work on social inequalities across the Joint Action

This session will present the Equity Tool and explore transversal working groups on monitoring systems, populations in vulnerable, fragile or at-risk situations, and transferable tools.

Speakers

  • Raffaella Bucciardini
  • Chiara di Girolamo, TBC
  • Giorgia Rossi
  • Representatives from the transversal working groups, TBC

Room 2

Modernising tobacco control legislation in the EU to achieve Tobacco-Free Generation

This session provides an overview of tobacco-related work within JA PreventNCD supporting the Safe Hearts Plan flagship on modernising tobacco control legislation.

Speakers

  • Youth Advisory Group chair, TBC
  • Hanna Ollila, THL
  • Marcela Fu, ICO
  • Tord Finne Vedøy, Norwegian Institute of Public Health
  • Christina Martinez, ICO
  • Taija Voutilainen, THL

Room 3

How to ensure sustainability of public health policies and practices: Framework for a Sustainability Plan*

Bringing together perspectives from the European Commission and Joint Action partners, this session will provide practical guidance on translating project outcomes into long-term impact.

Speakers

  • DG SANTE representative, TBC
  • Mojca Gabrijelčič, NIJZ, WP4 Leader
  • Léopold Vandervliet, Sciensano
  • Guided discussion with facilitators from technical work packages, TBC
12:30–13:30

Lunch


JA PreventNCD: "European version of the Determinants of Health Rainbow"

Creating a JA PreventNCD (European) version of the “Rainbow model” (a revised Dahlgren and Whitehead model) may help all partners see the overall picture of health determinants and NCD prevention efforts in a European context and to understand how it relates to the main objectives of JA PreventNCD.

13:30–15:00 Parallel sessions

Afternoon parallel sessions

Room 1

Prevention Pays: The Investment Case for NCD Prevention

This session will explore how prevention and health promotion can be framed and communicated as investments in economic and social wellbeing, creating co-benefits across sectors.

Speakers and contributors

  • Carolyn Daher
  • Katri Sääksjärvi
  • Sólveig Karlsdóttir
  • JA PreventNCD pilot contributors and discussion groups

Room 2

Shaping Healthier Food Environments to Prevent NCDs

This session will explore how nutrition-related activities across JA PreventNCD contribute to shaping healthier food environments and preventing NCDs, using the Nutrition in PreventNCD system map.

Speakers and contributors

  • Katarzyna Brukało
  • Short thematic contributions across five pathways: Rules and Incentives, Daily Food Environments, Communities and Equity, Prevention Pathways, and Monitoring and Evidence
  • Moderated joint discussion with participants

Room 3

WP10 meeting: personalised risk stratification

Interactive session starting from reflections on WP10 posters, followed by structured group discussion in a World Café setting. The aim is to synthesise pilot insights and translate them into implementation and policy recommendations on personalised risk stratification.

15:00–15:30

Break

15:30–17:00 Parallel sessions

Late afternoon parallel sessions

Room 1

Opportunities for Sustainability in JA PreventNCD: blueprints and roadmaps*

The session will explore the role of blueprints and roadmaps in supporting the sustainability of Joint Action outcomes and increasing implementation potential.

Speakers

  • Ingrid Stegeman, EuroHealthNet, TBC
  • Juliette Legendre, Ministry of Health, France
  • Helena Križan, HZJZ, Croatia
  • Guided discussion with participants

Room 2

Alcohol policy and NCD Prevention: From Gaps to Opportunities

This session will cover mystery shopping, alcohol sales promotion and regulation in retail, e-commerce on alcohol, and a panel discussion on alcohol policy and NCD prevention.

Speakers

  • Rafn Jónsson
  • Gorazd Levičnik
  • Taija Voutilainen
  • Elisabete Weiderpass, TBC
  • Tord Finne Vedøy
  • Youth Advisory Group representative, TBC

Room 3

Policy monitoring as a tool for NCD Prevention

Policy monitoring of NCD prevention aims to systematically capture countries’ efforts in addressing NCDs. JA PreventNCD collaborates with WHO/Europe to develop a composite index of core NCD prevention policies.

Speaker: Arnfinn Helleve, Norwegian Institute of Public Health.

* These sessions are thematically linked.

11 June – Parallel Sessions & Plenary Closing Session

Policy briefs, board meetings, work package meetings and the plenary closing session.

 
09:00–10:30 Parallel sessions and meetings

Morning parallel sessions and board meetings

Policy Briefs: A practical approach to policy briefs and policymaker engagement in JA PreventNCD

A major opportunity to strengthen the shared approach to policy briefs and policymaker engagement. The session will help move this work from guidance to practice, supporting partners to develop stronger policy briefs and think more strategically about how to reach the right audiences.

Programme elements

  • Welcome and introduction
  • Why this is a key focus for JA PreventNCD
  • Practical steps to prepare a policy brief
  • Panel discussion
  • Wrap-up
Pilot/practice assessment

Session details TBC.

WP10

During this session, WP10 participants are invited to follow the Policy Brief Workshop.

WP6 Meeting

Meeting details TBC.

Board and group meetings

  • External Expert Advisory Board
  • Data Management Board: physical meeting focused on new features within the Synergy Scope
  • Youth Advisory Group
  • Ethics Board
10:30–11:00

Break

11:00–12:30 Plenary closing session

Plenary closing session

Including feedback and reflections from the External Expert Advisory Board and the Youth Advisory Group, followed by a summary and closing of the meeting.

12:30–13:30

Lunch

Publication Board meeting takes place during lunch in Sala Biblioteca.

13:30–15:00 Parallel meetings

Afternoon parallel meetings

Communication campaigns as a strategic tool

This session will explore the JA PreventNCD communication campaign together with project partners, focusing on the strategic thinking behind the campaign, its role within the wider dissemination and communication strategy, and its potential for adaptation across countries, work packages and settings.

Speakers and contributors

  • Sólveig Karlsdóttir, Directorate of Health, Iceland
  • Anita T. Munch, Norwegian Directorate of Health
  • Freyr Guðlaugsson, Directorate of Health, Iceland
  • Thea Breili, Norwegian Directorate of Health
  • Participants and WP2 team
In dialogue with YAG

Session details TBC.

WP6 - Task 6.5 Meeting

Meeting details TBC.

WP7 meeting

This WP7 meeting will align progress and plan next steps ahead of the WP7 Annual Meeting in October in Iceland. Task leaders will present updates on progress, challenges and support needs.

WP8 meeting

The purpose of this session is to acknowledge accomplishments achieved to date and foster active knowledge sharing across tasks and pilots. The meeting will also look ahead to upcoming milestones and deliverables.

WP9 meeting

Meeting details TBC.

WP10 meeting

During this meeting, participants will summarise the main outputs from the WP10 meeting on Day 2 and agree on next steps.

15:00–17:30 Parallel meetings continue

Work package meetings continue

WP2 Communication Officers

To strengthen collaboration between communication officers, identify windows of opportunity across countries and work packages, and agree on priority communication activities at work package and national level.

Programme elements

  • Welcome – Sólveig Karlsdóttir, DOHI and Anita Thorolvsen Munch, HDIR
  • Getting to know each other – Sólveig Karlsdóttir, DOHI and Anita Thorolvsen Munch, HDIR
  • Where are we now? – Anja Feiss, 
  • Strategic priorities for the rest of the Joint Action – Freyr Guðlaugsson, DOHI
  • Five key outputs from each work package – WP communication officers
  • Panel discussion moderated by Hugrún Snorradóttir, DOHI
  • Wrap-up and Q&A – Sólveig and Anita
WP6 - Task 6.5 Meeting

Meeting details TBC.

WP7 continued

Continued alignment on progress and next steps ahead of the WP7 Annual Meeting in Iceland.

WP8 continued

Continued knowledge sharing across tasks and pilots, including upcoming milestones, deliverables and detailed in-task or pilot discussions.

WP9

Meeting details TBC.