European science for health research needs and priorities

The European research landscape for developing new diagnostic, preventive, and therapeutic interventions is fraught with challenges. Scarcity of qualified talent, limited funding for laboratories and research infrastructure, geopolitical competition, and increasing complexity of data systems all require creativity, leadership, and vision to advance science and translate research results into effective solutions. This paper aimed to identify research priorities across the seven member organisations of the European Science for Health (EurSci4Health) community. The leadership of the membership organisations was surveyed, in total 150 individuals, yielding 38 valid responses (response rate of 21.7%). Three factors emerged as drivers of research: opportunities for collaboration, addressing unmet medical needs, and contributing to European excellence and competitiveness. In terms of disease areas, respondents identified neurological disorders (e.g., Alzheimer's disease, Parkinson's disease), cancer (e.g., brain, lung cancer), and global health threats (e.g., antimicrobial resistance, pandemics) as the highest priorities. Among scientific domains and enabling technologies, data science, artificial intelligence (AI), big data, and robotics emerged as the highest-priority areas for future research investment. There was also a plea for cross-disciplinary funding spanning fields such as data science and chemical biology, nanotechnology and clinical pharmacology, and regulatory science and health technology assessment (HTA). The survey findings are discussed through the perspective of fostering trust, collaboration, and a shared vision within the EurSci4Health research communities. The results underscore a strong preference for enabling talented, independent researchers to pursue curiosity-driven basic science, while remaining responsive to compelling health questions on the horizon. This paper seeks to contribute constructively to the broader dialogue on future health research priorities and innovation policy. Ultimately, progress in the field will depend not on passive adaptation to external developments, but on proactive engagement and strategic advocacy.