The EU and US have launched a taskforce to bolster their collaboration on health topics including cancer research.
Launched on 17 May, the EU-US Health Task Force will focus on cancer, global health threats and strengthening the global health architecture, with technical working groups being set up for each area, according to the European Commission and US Department of Health and Human Services.
Cancer research
On cancer, the country and the bloc are planning to increase cooperation between their US Cancer Moonshot and the European Beating Cancer Plan, and to this end they have formed expert working groups on lung cancer and on cancer in children and young adults.
“This collaboration aims to facilitate peer-learning, exchange best practices, and advise on the development of possible joint initiatives to improve cancer outcomes across the globe,” the joint statement said.
“The goal is to promote the establishment of a new structured dialogue on cancer, addressing both cancer policies and research collaborations.”
Global health
On global health threats and the health architecture, taskforce representatives discussed the need to increase understanding of long-term effects of Covid-19, as well as emerging threats such as antimicrobial resistance.
The joint statement said the EU and US both support reaching a global agreement on access to preventatives and treatments for responding to pandemics.
EU health commissioner Stella Kyriakides (pictured right) said the launch of the taskforce reaffirmed “our mutual commitment to an ever-closer transatlantic partnership in the area of health”, while US health secretary Xavier Becerra (pictured left) said it would “build on our existing work together and allow us to take on new challenges”.