Specific research programme RTD: biomedicine and health (1994-1998)

The proposal for a decision aimed to establish a specific programme of research and technological development, including demonstration, in the field of biomedicine and health for the period 1994-1998. - Amount deemed necessary: ECU 336 million. - General objective of the programme: to improve the effectiveness of research into medicine and health by ensuring better coordination of the research activities of the Member States and ensuring the application of results through cooperation and pooling of resources at Community level. - Areas covered by the programme: research on AIDS, tuberculosis and other infectious diseases; cancer research; pharmaceuticals research; brain research; human genome research; research on occupational and environmental health; research on diseases with a major socio-economic impact (cardiovascular diseases, chronic diseases and ageing, rare diseases); public health research, including health services research; biomedical technology and engineering; biomedical ethics. Participation in the programme was open, with financial support from the Community, to all legal entities established in the Community or in an associated country, following the conclusion of an agreement with that country, as well as to the Joint Research Centre. The programme would be implemented through shared-cost actions, concerted actions, specific measures and accompanying measures relating to international cooperation, the dissemination of results and the training of researchers and users. The Commission was authorised to hold negotiations with a view to concluding international agreements with third countries in Europe in order to involve them in all or some of the programme. �