Geneva Health Forum and AXA Launch €50,000 Grand Jet d’Or de Genève Award to Address Pollution's Impact on Human Health

Since 2006, the Geneva Health Forum (GHF) has been uniting stakeholders to address critical global health issues every two years. By amplifying the voices of field experts and facilitating connections with influential policymakers, the forum provides a platform for showcasing innovative, accessible, and sustainable practices, as well as significant initiatives. Through its editions, the GHF has emerged as a pivotal event in addressing global health challenges.

For its 10th edition, from May 27 – 29, 2024, the GHF will address crucial issues for our future under the theme “Health, A Common Good!” The GHF transcends the boundaries of the healthcare system, considering the social and environmental determinants of health, with a specific focus on how environmental degradation is profoundly impacting human health.

As part of its mission to advance academic research on key societal challenges and contribute to human progress, the AXA Research Fund (https://axa-research.org/) AXA Group’s global science philanthropy launched in 2008, is teaming up with the GHF in this endeavor.

In light of this collaboration, the Geneva Health Forum (GHF) is introducing a new call for the Grand Jet d’Or de Genève Award, in partnership with the AXA Research Fund: Health & medical solutions to address the adverse effects of pollution on humans.

The World Health Organization estimates that exposure to air pollution is responsible for about 7 million premature deaths worldwide each year. Addressing pollution-related health issues is crucial, as underscored on May 24, 2023, by the World Health Assembly's resolution “WHA76.17 - The impacts of chemicals, waste, and pollution on human health.” The resolution calls upon Member States to work on human health impacts associated with plastics, act on linkages between chemicals, waste, pollution and other health priorities, as well as to prepare a proposal for a science-policy panel to contribute to the sound management of chemicals and waste.

Pollution is a major global health issue, affecting human health by causing respiratory diseases, heart problems, and cancer due to exposure to pollutants in the air, water, and soil. Specific attention has been given to pollutants such as per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS), which are linked to cancer, thyroid disease, and developmental issues. Other pollutants such as heavy metals, volatile organic compounds (VOCs), particulate matter, persistent organic pollutants (POPs), and indoor air pollutants, present serious health risks, including neurological damage, reproductive disorders, and respiratory illnesses, highlighting the broad impact of pollution on human wellbeing.

Building on this international momentum, the Grand Jet d’Or de Genève 2024 will focus on the nexus of pollution and its health impacts.

The objective of the Grand Jet d’Or de Genève Award is to support an research team engaged in researching or implementing research-based projects with a focus on health treatment, measurements, use of data, and community involvement in addressing pollution-related health issues. The proposed projects must demonstrate their potential to change health practices and improve health outcomes in relation to pollution of air, water and soil, including but not limited to PFAS. Multidisciplinary teams exploring innovative practices or tools will be favoured.

The projects should not only focus on preventive measures to reduce pollution in the environment, but also encompass a broader scope, including assessing existing pollution, removing pollutants from the body and environment, developing medical solutions for pollution-related diseases, and finding ways to enhance health despite existing pollution.

The call will be open from March 11 to April 21, 2024, midnight (CET). Applications must be submitted online in English.

The Scientific Committee will select the top seven applications, which will then be submitted to the Programme Committee for the final selection of the winner. The award- winning research group will be announced on Tuesday, May 27, 2024, after the first day of the Geneva Health Forum, in the presence of the winning team.

The Grand Jet d’Or de Genève Award carries a prize of €50,000, awarded by the AXA Research Fund.

To prepare your proposal, you can view the complete proposal form:
https://grandjetdor2024form.genevahealthforum.com

If you need more information: contact AT genevahealthforum.com

HIFA* Profile: Eric Comte is Executive Director, Geneva Health Forum, External Affairs Directorate, Geneva University Hospitals. Email: eric.comte AT unige.ch

*My source.