European joint programme HBM4EU - Bridging science and policy: experiences and lessons learned from the key partners in the scientific steering of the initiative
The European Joint Programme HBM4EU was established to address politically relevant questions on chemical risks to public health through a targeted human biomonitoring research programme. Running from 2017 to 2022, it was co-financed by the EU's Horizon 2020 Research and Innovation Programme (grant agreement No. 733032) and national or institutional funds from participating partners. HBM4EU was the first large European initiative to establish a robust science-to-policy interface by systematically aligning research activities with concrete regulatory needs. The programme introduced a structured governance model that actively involved policy-makers at European and national levels, scientists from multiple disciplines, and other stakeholders. A transparent prioritisation process defined key chemical groups as scientific focus areas, each supported by dedicated topic leaders. These leaders formulated relevant policy questions and translated them into targeted scientific tasks implemented via annual work programmes. To support regulatory uptake, HBM4EU produced tailored, policy-oriented communication products for all priority chemicals. At the end of the project, a structured survey among project partners assessed collaboration between scientists and policy-makers, as well as coordination, management and knowledge transfer. The results highlighted factors enabling effective communication and mutual understanding at the science-policy interface. They showed that shared governance promoted transparency, fair distribution of effort and synergies, and underlined the importance of continuous dialogue to ensure lasting impact. Overall, the findings provide practical guidance for future EU-funded projects seeking strong scientific excellence and policy relevance.
Authors
- Hanna K Tolonen (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-3121-4303)
- Rita Cavaleiro (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-3949-6088)
- Argelia Castaño (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-4152-7119)
- Normunds Kadiķis
- Marta Esteban (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-4527-350X)
- Mariana F. Fernández (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-6417-8914)
- Marike Kolossa‐Gehring (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-8644-7564)
- Susana Viegas (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-1015-8760)
- Andromachi Katsonouri (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-2038-0648)
- Nicole M Probst-Hensch (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-8561-5976)
- Beatrice Bocca (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-6503-6026)
- Medea Imboden (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-9414-5862)
- T. Berman (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-0702-8690)
- Lisa Emily Melymuk (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-6042-7688)
- Dragan Gjorgjev (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-5631-8726)
- Greet E. R. Schoeters (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-6556-4814)
- Nicole Kobosil
- Cathrine Thomsen (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-6889-7868)
- Robert Barouki (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-9471-399X)
- Maja Mampaey
- Mirjana Dimovska (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-2587-3188)
- Maria Uhl (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-5406-3718)
- Ovnair Sepai (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-3577-3313)
- Thorhallur Ingi Halldorsson (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-5115-0162)
- Rosa Lange (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-6551-6719)
- Tamás Szigeti (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-5078-9503)
- Philipp Weise
- Roser Gasol
- Siiri Latvala (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-1092-7064)
- Helle Raun Andersen (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-9184-3593)
- Jean‐Philippe Antignac (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-9512-9314)
- Madlen David (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-1328-2532)
- Flavia Ruggieri (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-5161-8615)
- Petra Apel (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-2109-0239)
- Karin Norström (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-5099-5016)
- Paula Alvito (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-8396-1357)
- Joana Lobo Vicente (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-3494-8241)
- Alexandra Polcher
- Catherine Ganzleben (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-9287-675X)
- Maria João Silva (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-6060-0716)
- An Van Nieuwenhuyse (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0009-0009-6259-8654)
- L. Kim Pack (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-4752-5272)
- Lijana Kononenko
- Lena Reiber
- Christina Hartmann
- Maren Gadermann
Institutions
- University of Antwerp (BE)
- Inserm (FR)
- Environment Agency (GB)
- University of Basel (CH)
- Université Paris Cité (FR)
- Masaryk University (CZ)
- Istituto Superiore di Sanità (IT)
- Flemish Government (BE)
- Statistical Office of the Republic of Slovenia (SI)
- Instituto de Salud Carlos III (ES)
- Slovenian Environment Agency (SI)
- Finnish Institute for Health and Welfare (FI)
- Institut National de Recherche pour l'Agriculture, l'Alimentation et l'Environnement (FR)
- Sorbonne Paris Cité (FR)
- Ramboll (Germany) (DE)
- Environment Agency Austria (AT)
- National Public Health and Medical Officer Service (HU)
- Swedish Environmental Protection Agency (SE)
- German Environment Agency (DE)
- Institute of public health of Republic of Macedonia (MK)
- National Institute of Health Dr. Ricardo Jorge (PT)
- Laboratoire National de Santé (LU)
- Department of Public Health (MM)
- Department of Public Health (US)
- Oniris (FR)
- Comprehensive Health Research Centre (PT)
- University of Aveiro (PT)
- Fundação para a Ciência e Tecnologia (PT)
- Universidade Nova de Lisboa (PT)
- European Environment Agency (DK)
- KU Leuven (BE)
Publication Details
- Journal
- International Journal of Hygiene and Environmental Health
- Published
- 2026-10-07
- DOI
- https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ijheh.2026.114907
- Primary Topic
- International Science and Diplomacy
- Type
- article
- Field-Weighted Citation Impact
- 0.00
Funders
- European Commission
- Umweltbundesamt
- Directorate-General for Research and Innovation
- Bundesministerium für Umwelt, Naturschutz, nukleare Sicherheit und Verbraucherschutz