Strategic Health Initiatives for Effective Disease Prevention (SHIELD) launches to transform non-communicable disease prevention in Europe The groundbreaking SHIELD project, a four-year initiative funded by the European Union’s Horizon Europe program, officially commenced on December 1, 2024. With an ambitious mission to revolutionize personalized prevention strategies for cardiovascular disease (CVD) and diabetes, SHIELD aims to significantly reduce the global burden of non-communicable diseases (NCDs). Harnessing Technology for Personalized PreventionSHIELD integrates multimodal data collection and Artificial Intelligence (AI) to develop risk stratification tools, personalized care plans, and behavior-change interventions. The project focuses on secondary and tertiary prevention, empowering patients with early-diagnosed conditions to manage their health effectively. Additionally, insights derived from SHIELD will inform policies with population-wide health impacts. Key Objectives A Global Effort SHIELD unites eight partners from four countries, including leading universities, healthcare providers, and private sector innovators. With a total funding of €6.5M (plus contributions from Switzerland), SHIELD represents a significant leap forward in collaborative healthcare innovation. Clinical Pilots Across Europe Transformative Vision SHIELD’s vision aligns with European Union and WHO initiatives on NCDs, leveraging innovative technologies to advance healthcare delivery and patient empowerment. The project is poised to become a benchmark for collaborative health innovation at the intersection of technology, behavioral science, and medicine. About the Consortium Coordinated by HI-IBERIA and involving 8 organizations from 4 different countries: SERMAS (La Paz Hospital), Polytechnic University of Madrid, Université de Genève, Hospital Policlinico di Bari, Qualive, Consorzio per la ricerca nell’automatica e nelle telecomunicazioni CRAT and University of Limerick. SHIELD’s multidisciplinary approach ensures robust impact across technical, clinical, and policy domains. Contact Information For further details about SHIELD:Inmaculada LuengoProject Coordinator @ HI-IBERIA Acknowledgment This project has received funding from the European Union’s Horizon Europe research and innovation program under grant agreement Nº 101156751. The content reflects the authors’ views only and the European Union is not liable for any use of the information contained herein. Follow SHIELD Stay updated with SHIELD’s latest developments on https://horizon-shield.eu/ (in progress).
