European Action on Global Life Sciences

Addressing Europe’s responsibilities towards the developing world

European Action on Global Life Sciences (EAGLES) aims at enhancing the collaboration between European researchers and researchers in the developing world to fight hunger and disease. EAGLES has been launched by the European Federation of Biotechnology (EFB). The project is being supported by the European Commission and is a collaboration between EFB and scientific partners in Europe, China, Egypt, Ghana, South Africa and the Philippines. Members of the Steering Committees include prominent scientists from China, Egypt, Ethiopia, Ghana, India, Kenya, Mexico, South Africa, Syria and Thailand.

A number of EAGLES conferences and workshops has been organised during the last four years in Europe and various developing countries (DEC). The topics illustrate the need for much more effective European responses on the use of biology in combating problems in health and food supply in the DECs and in achieving the Millennium Development Goals.

Next EAGLES report:

• Does climate change impact on Malaria transmission?
  This trans-disciplinary workshop includes participation of some of the world´s leading climatologists and parasitologists.  As a direct effect of the climate change, malaria parasites may encounter high enough temperatures to be able to multiply in their mosquito hosts in areas where malaria a few years ago was considered unthinkable. It is less than 100 years since the last regular outbreak of Malaria in England. The meeting took place at Grantham Institute for Climate Change at Imperial College London on Feb 12-13 2009.

Here is an overview of some of the latest events and reports:


• 5-7 November 2008, EAGLES organised a Workshop on Tuberculosis in Shenzhen, China.  This report on tuberculosis diagnostics is the first of two statements from the workshop.  Download “Tuberculosis Diagnostics” and EAGLES Health Report on Tuberculosis.


• China is undergoing a radical shift in its health policy, especially towards the rural poor, in which research is playing a major role. Werner Christie, past Minister of Health of Norway and health advisor to WHO China, and member of EAGLES health committee, gives his latest perspective in spring 2009. Download the EAGLES Health Systems Report.