title: Strategies for public health research in European Union countries.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  'Health' is an identifiable theme within the European Union multi-annual research programmes. Public Health Innovation and Research in Europe (PHIRE), led by the European Public Health Association, sought to identify public health research strategies in EU member states.
  
  
  METHODS
  Within PHIRE, national public health associations reviewed structures for health research, held stakeholder workshops and produced reports. This information, supplemented by further web searches, including using assisted translation, was analysed for national research strategies and health research strategies.
  
  
  RESULTS
  All countries described general research strategies, outlining organizational and capacity objectives. Thematic fields, including health, are mentioned in some strategies. A health research strategy was identified for 15 EU countries and not for 12. Ministries of health led research strategies for nine countries. Public health research was identified in only three strategies. National research strategies did not refer to the European Union's health research programme.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Public health research strategies of European countries need to be developed by ministries of health, working with the research community to achieve the European Research Area.
authors.affiliation: 1 Département épidémiologie et biostatistiques, EHESP, Av du prof Léon Bernard, 35043 RENNES, France; Inserm, UMRS 707, research group on the social determinants of health and healthcare, UPMC, University of Paris 6, Paris, France.
authors.forename: Olivier
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Grimaud
authors.forename: Mark
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: McCarthy
authors.forename: Claudia
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Conceição
mesh_terms: D003299:Cooperative Behavior; D003625:Data Collection / Q000379:methods; D005060:Europe; D005062:European Union; D006302:Health Services Research / Q000379:methods* / Q000458:organization & administration; D006305:Health Status Indicators; D006801:Humans; D009313:National Health Programs / Q000458:organization & administration*; D011634:Public Health; D012106:Research