16.06.2025 - 17.06.2025

2025 Annual Meeting

08:30 CEST
Meeting
The International Congress Centre in Katowice, Poland

Introduction

The Annual JA PreventNCD Meeting 2025 will take place from 16–17 June 2025 at the International Congress Centre (MCK) in Katowice, Poland.

This event brings together partners, invited experts, and representatives from European institutions to share progress, strengthen collaboration, and address key public health challenges in the prevention of non-communicable diseases (NCDs).

In parallel, the meeting will partly overlap with the 2nd Meeting of the Consortium on Cancer and other NCDs Prevention (EU-CNCD).

A detailed description of the scope and purpose of the meeting is available for download here (PDF).

See the preliminary agenda below for full details of the program.

Deadline for registration for the meeting is:

In-person: 25th of April 2025
Online: 9th of June 2025

Aims and Purpose

The Annual Meeting coincides with the project’s technical and financial reporting period to the European Commission and offers an opportunity to reflect on progress towards the project’s main goals:

Strengthening Member States' capacities for planning and implementing prevention policies
Improving monitoring systems for NCDs and their risk factors
Reducing inequalities in NCD outcomes
Engaging key stakeholders across sectors

The meeting aims to promote collaboration, scientific quality, coherence across work packages, and open dialogue about both challenges and opportunities in our work.

Topics

Key themes planned for plenary and parallel sessions include:

Addressing health inequalities in Europe
Best practices and pilot actions within JA PreventNCD
Results from the NCD monitoring capacity mapping survey
Tackling the commercial determinants of health (e.g., tobacco and nutrition industries)
Promoting health literacy and personalized prevention strategies
Strengthening stakeholder and youth engagement for sustainable outcomes

Practical Information

The event will take place at the International Congress Centre (MCK), located in the heart of Katowice, Poland.

Katowice is easily accessible by plane, train, car, or public transport. The MCK is conveniently located within walking distance of the city’s main transport hubs and hotels.

How to Reach the Venue

By Car

The ICC is located close to major highways A4 and A1, making it easy to reach from many parts of Poland and Europe.

Numerous parking options are available nearby, providing convenient access to the facility.

By Train

The ICC is approximately 15 minutes on foot (2.5 km) from the Katowice PKP train station. You can also reach the venue:

By taxi from Plac Oddziałów Młodzieży Powstańczej or ul. Młyńska
By tram from the Katowice Dworzec PKP stop: take lines T2, T11, T13, T23, or T43 to the Katowice Rondo stop (approx. 8 minutes)

By Tram and Bus

The nearest stops to the ICC are:

Katowice Rondo
Katowice Spodek
Katowice Uniwersytecka

These stops are just a short walk from the venue.

By Plane

The ICC is located about 30 km from Katowice Airport, with travel to the venue taking approximately 30 minutes by car. Typical transportation options include:

Taxi: approx. PLN 100
Bus: approx. PLN 30 When traveling by bus from Katowice Airport, you can disembark at:
- Katowice Sokolska (1 km from ICC)
- Katowice Hotel Novotel (850 m from ICC)

Additionally, Kraków Balice Airport (70 km, around 50 minutes) and Ostrava Airport (130 km, around 1 hour 15 minutes) provide excellent international connections for participants traveling from Europe and beyond.

For more detailed travel information, please visit the International Congress Centre website.

Agenda

Below you will find the agenda for the event.

Please note that a downloadable PDF version is available for your reference. Download the preliminary agenda (PDF).

Monday 16th June – Annual meeting in main auditorium (will be streamed)

Time	Session
Plenary in main auditorium (hybrid), moderator opening session: JA PreventNCD Coordinator Dr. Linda Granlund
08:00 – 09:00	Registration and coffee
09:00 – 09:15	Cultural performance
09:15 – 10:00	Official opening and welcome Minister of Health of the Republic of Poland, Izabela Leszczyna Rector of the Medical University of Silesia, Prof. Tomasz Szczepański Chairperson of the Senate Health Committee, Senator Beata Małecka-Libera Director, Public Health, Cancer, and Health Security, Directorate-General for Health and Food Safety (DG Santé), European commission, Antonio Parenti World Health Organization Regional Office for Europe, Special initiative on NCDs and Innovation, Dr. Kremlin Wickramasinghe Deputy Mayor of Katowice City, Waldemar Bojarun Director General, The Department of Public Health, The Norwegian Ministry of Health and Care Services, Dr. Line Vold JA PreventNCD Coordinator, DoH, Dr. Linda Granlund
Plenary in main auditorium (hybrid) Moderator: Dr. Katarzyna Brukalo, Ass. Professor, Medical University of Silesia
10:00 – 10:30	NCD challenges in Europe – Changing priorities and opportunities & contribution by JA PreventNCD JA PreventNCD Scientific Coordinator Prof. Knut-Inge Klepp, NIPH
10:30 – 11:00	Keynote speech: Acting on the commercial determinants of health – A key prevention priority for JA PreventNCD Dr. Nason Maani, Senior Lecturer in Inequalities and Global Health Policy, Deputy Director, UKRI PHI Local Health, Global Profits Theme, School of Social and Political Science, University of Edinburgh, EEAB member
11:00 – 11:30	Break
11:30 – 13:00	Addressing equity Moderator: Dr. Arnfinn Helleve Working towards health equity in Europe: The Role of JA PreventNCD, Dr. Raffaella Bucciardini Policies to tackle health inequalities: Insights from a European scoping review, Dr. Gerd Monika Flodgren Population surveillances for monitoring inequalities in NCDs: From data to equity-oriented action – WP8 Insights, Valentina Possenti and Nicole Rossi From principles to practice: JACARDI’s cross-cutting approach to equity and diversity, Dr. Benedetta Armocida World report on social determinants of health equity – key recommendations, Sudhvir Singh, Unit Head, Equity and Health, Department of Social Determinants of Health, WHO Panel discussion – how do we meet our objective of contributing to reduced social inequalities? (Invited guests)
13:00 – 14:00	Lunch
First parallel sessions (hybrid)
14:00 – 15:30	1A: Bridging the gap: Health literacy for at-risk individuals Ballroom A Introduction on personalized prevention and the concept of Health Literacy, Federica Rossetti & Peder Ringnes Berrefjord (moderators) Presentation of case studies (interactive, audience participation through presentation and questions) Showcasing pilots Plenary reflection and discussion
	1B: Food environments and commercial determinants of diet – showcasing JA PreventNCD activities Ballroom B Introduction and objectives, Katarzyna Brukalo, Thematic Coordinator for Nutrition (moderator) Monitoring and regulating digital marketing of unhealthy products, chaired by Dr. Arnfinn Helleve & Dr. Maria João Gregório School food environment & procurement practices, chaired by Neza Fras and Mette Svendgaard Høgholm Community & Services - Local food baskets & Baby-Friendly Services, chaired by Valentina Possenti & Nicole Rossi
	1C: Alcohol prevention – showcasing JA PreventNCD activities Ballroom C Alcohol in JANCD – what's going on? Kristiane B. Dugstad, Thematic Coordinator Alcohol (moderator) Power Players & Policy Shapers: Who’s Influencing National Alcohol Policy in Seven European Countries? Taija Voutilainen Mystery shopping as a tool to assess age restrictions, Gorazd Levičnik Youth panel: Alcohol policy in Europe, Mikołaj Patalong, Evangelia Savvidou and Pauline Hastenteufel, members of the JA PreventNCD Youth Advisory Group (YAG)
15:30 – 17:00	Walking tour of Katowice Physical attendance only Informal walks to explore different areas of Katowice while connecting with JA PreventNCD colleagues. Participants will choose between four routes. Start and end point: International Congress Centre Route 1: Classic Beboks: A balanced tour through city parks and charming neighbourhoods Route 2: For the Active Explorer: A longer walk for those who enjoy a bit more movement. Route 3: Easy and Relaxed: A shorter, flat route ideal for those who prefer a slower pace. Route 4: Urban Sights: Combines city centre highlights and modern viewpoints.
17:00 – 19:30	Networking Aperitif Physical attandance only Connect with your colleagues. Light finger food will be served. Venue closes at 19.30 but guests are welcome to leave at their convenience. Dress code: Casual

Tuesday 17th June – Annual meeting (will be streamed)

Time	Session
Main auditorium (hybrid) Moderator: Dr. Katarzyna Brukalo, Ass. Professor, Medical University of Silesia
08:30 – 09:00	Registration and coffee
09:00 – 09:30	The road ahead for JA PreventNCD: ambitions, alignment and added value Welcome, Dr. Katarzyna Brukalo (moderator) Reflections from the project’s funding agency, Anna Bulzacka-Bogucka, Project Advisor HaDEA, European Commission How do we drive policy change? Prof. Knut-Inge Klepp, Scientific Coordinator, Prof. Harry Rutter, Chair of EEAB and Dr. Kremlin Wickramasinghe, WHO European Regional Office, and Caroline Costongs, Director of EuroHealthNet
09:30 – 10:15	Strengthening capacities for NCD monitoring and prevention Introduction, Emil Høstrup, RSYD (moderator) Preliminary results from the Country Fact Sheets on monitoring of NCDs, project manager, Morten Sønderskov Frydensberg, RSYD Policy monitoring, Dr. Arnfinn Helleve, NIPH Monitoring of cost and access to healthcare, Silvia Francisci, ISS
10:15 – 11:00	Prerequisites for successful activities: the role of evaluation and sustainability Introduction and purpose, Researcher Martin Thißen (moderator) Evaluation overview and first results of collaboration survey, Research Associate Simon Löbl, RKI The accountability cycle and its importance for sustainability, Dr. Mojca Gabrijelcic, NIJZ, Leopold Vandervliet, Sciensano Evaluating community-based pilots in WP6, Research Associate Meg Yates, RKI, Helena Križan Pilots relating to vulnerable groups in WP7, Gabrielle Schittecatte, Dr. Raffaella Bucciardini
11:00 – 11:30	Break
Second parallel sessions (hybrid)
11:30 – 13:00	2A: Tobacco prevention – FCTC 20 years: past achievements, future ambitions and addressing corporate political activities Ballroom A Moderator: Senior specialist, Hanna Ollila, THL Implementing the WHO FCTC in the EU: A 20-Year Journey, Dr. Angela Ciobanu, WHO Regional Office for Europe Stepping up with new tobacco control strategy and forward-looking regulations in Spain, Senior researcher Marcela Yu Lan and Project manager Anna Mar Lopez Luque, ICO Cross-border trade and taxation in tobacco and nicotine products, Dr. Tord Finne Vedøy, NIPH Monitoring and addressing tobacco industry interference, Dr. Taija Voutilainen, THL Developing tobacco and nicotine cessation services, Senior specialist Patrick Sandström & Prof. Tuula Vasankari, Filha ry. Panel discussion on the way forward, with speakers and additional panelists: Karina Mocanu, YAG & Dr. Nason Maani, EEAB, University of Edinburgh, moderated by Filipa Alpeza, YAG
	2B: Decision makers’ commitment and community engagement – prerequisites for sustainable action at local level (Workshop) Ballroom B Introduction to the workshop by Dr. Rosana Peiro & Helena Križan (moderators) Strategies applied to achieve decision makers’ commitment and community engagement in pilots across the project (WP6, WP7 and WP10) World café addressing the following questions: (i) What is currently being done (or could be done) to achieve greater commitment from policy makers to support your pilot? (ii) What does it mean to adopt an equity perspective when implementing community engagement strategies?
	2C: Power to the people: How to activate communities for a healthier tomorrow? Ballroom C Moderator: Mustafa Kamala (Youth Advisory Group) Interactive session to explore and enhance the role of diverse stakeholder groups in shaping and implementing effective strategies concerning social participation for better health. “Hot chair” panel about intergenerational collaboration Panelists (TBC): Dr. Arnfinn Helleve, NIPH, Dr. Vesna Kerstin Petrič, EEAB/MoH Slovenia, Daniel Millor, EEAB/Quatorze, YAG members World café (discussions in small groups)
13:00 – 14:00	Lunch
Third parallel sessions (hybrid)
14:00 – 15:30	Meeting of the External Expert Advisory Board Expert room Based on invitations only; no streaming.
	3A: Special session on JA PreventNCD Consortium on Cancer and other NCDs Prevention “EU-CNCD” Ballroom A Based on invitations only, physical attendance only Welcome address by JA PreventNCD Scientific Coordinator, Prof Knut-Inge Klepp, NIPH Presentation of the sustainability work in JA PreventNCD and zero draft of EU-CNCD Prevention Terms of Reference, Dr. Mojca Gabrijelcic, NIJZ Discussions and comments from MS
	3B: “Shape the future of NCD information systems” – Monitoring scenario workshop Ballroom B Online participants have observer status only. Moderator: Specialconsultant Emil Høstrup & Project manager Morten Givskud RSYD This will be an interactive workshop experience where you through dialogue and choices will explore the power of monitoring of NCDs in a playful manner. We will investigate three themes: From data to decision Ethical considerations New methods and possibilities. Be prepared to step into the shoes of decision makers.
	3C: Physical activity promotion for NCD prevention, resilience and wellbeing – Why and how? Main auditorium Welcome, Project manager Gígja Gunnarsdóttir, Thematic Coordinator Physical Activity (moderator), DoHI Monitoring Physical activity, sedentary behavior and sleep. Senior Assistant Professor Tommi Vasankari, UKK Institute Healthy urban environments, overview of pilots in task 6.3. Dr. Nina Iszatt, NIPH Car free areas around schools and physical activity: insights from Lyon, La Rochelle and Marseille. Project manager Martina Serra,The French Healthy Cities Network Heart Zones – A measure to reduce traffic and increase active transport in schools in Kristiansand, Norway. Adviser Ranveig Odden, Kristiansand municipality Park regeneration for increasing physical activity and well-being in schools and local communities. Dr. Isabelle Budin Ljøsne, NIPH The Digital Health Centre Pilot – physical activity in cancer rehabilitation. Project Manager Stephanie Anker Gents, Health Innovation Centre of Southern Denmark. Next steps, discussions
	3D: Strengthening the voice of JA PreventNCD: How to contribute to communication efforts Ballroom C Moderators: Project Manager Sólveig Karlsdóttir & Project Manager Freyr Guðlaugsson, DoHI This workshop will highlight the role of communication in achieving JA PreventNCD goals and show how participants can contribute. We’ll share practical tools to make communication efforts easier, more coordinated, and more impactful.
15:30 – 16:00	Afternoon snack buffét and coffee available
Main auditorium (hybrid)
16:00 – 16:30	Wrap-up & Way forward Closing session of the Consortium meeting, Prof. Knut-Inge Klepp, Scientific Coordinator, NIPH
16:30 – 17:00	Free time with coffee and refreshments available.
17:00 – 18:30	Opening Ceremony: JA PreventNCD Consortium on Cancer and other NCDs Prevention Plenary Welcome remarks by JA PreventNCD Scientific Coordinator Prof. Knut-Inge Klepp, NIPH Lecture summarizing the Polish presidency to EU, Katarzyna Anna Kacperczyk - Deputy Minister of Health of Poland Academic keynote speech by Prof. Harry Rutter , Carolyn Daher and Daniel Millor (EEAB) Opening remarks and reflections by Lucia Rodriguez-Borlado Salazar and Jinane Ghattas (YAG)
19:00 –	Working dinner