What Strategy Should France Implement for H2020?

The initiation of Horizon 2020—the European Union’s 8th Framework Programme for Research and Innovation, allotted a budget of 79 billion euros—provides an opportunity to review France’s participation in previous Framework Programmes. Indeed, French participation does not match either its scientific importance or its financial investment. While France contributed 16.5 to 17% of the EU’s 7th Framework Programme research budget, its return through the funding of coordinated projects in which French teams are participating stands at around 12.5 to 13%, a shortfall of 600 million euros. Although the situation depends on the type of activity, French participation in clinical research appears to be smaller than that of its neighbours, with fewer responses to European calls for proposals. While France has many assets, which include the assured funding of clinical research, structured thematic networks and the initiation of major national programmes, it suffers from the dilution of resources due to France’s regional development policy, the lack of multidisciplinarity and the ignorance of both the medical and scientific community and the institutions to which they belong as to how Horizon 2020 actually works. We propose three types of strategy to encourage proposals for coordinated clinical research projects or projects involving French teams, and to help in the drawing up of applications: Broaden the vision of our children, students and colleagues, helping them to adapt to the globalisation of knowledge throughout their educational and professional lives. Recognise the value of European actions to influence the European landscape and change mentalities. Help and support project initiators by pooling skills within a limited number of expert centres designed to assist them in their funding application. • Broaden the vision of our children, students and colleagues, helping them to adapt to the globalisation of knowledge throughout their educational and professional lives. • Recognise the value of European actions to influence the European landscape and change mentalities. • Help and support project initiators by pooling skills within a limited number of expert centres designed to assist them in their funding application

Polyphenol intake and metabolic syndrome risk in European adolescents : the HELENA study

Purpose The role of polyphenol intake during adolescence to prevent metabolic syndrome (MetS) is little explored. This study aimed to evaluate the association between intake of total polyphenols, polyphenol classes and the 10 most consumed individual polyphenols with MetS risk in European adolescents. Methods Of the cross-sectional HELENA study, 657 adolescents (54% girls; 14.8% overweight; 12.5-17.5 year) had a fasting blood sample and polyphenol intake data from two non-consecutive 24-h recalls matched with the Phenol-Explorer database. MetS was defined via the pediatric American Heart Association definition. Multilevel linear regressions examined the associations of polyphenol quartiles with MetS components, while logistic regression examined the associations with MetS risk. Results After adjusting for all potential confounders (socio-demographics and nine nutrients), total polyphenol intake, polyphenol classes and individual polyphenols were not associated with MetS risk. From all MetS components, only BMI z-score was modestly inversely associated with total polyphenol intake. Further sub analyses on polyphenol classes revealed that flavonoid intake was significantly associated with higher diastolic blood pressure and lower BMI, and phenolic acid intake was associated with higher low-density cholesterol. For individual polyphenols, the above BMI findings were often confirmed (not independent from dietary intake) and a few associations were found with insulin resistance. Conclusion Higher intakes of total polyphenols and flavonoids were inversely associated with BMI. No consistent associations were found for other MetS components

Estimated dietary intake of polyphenols in European adolescents: the HELENA study

[Purpose]: Knowledge about polyphenols intakes and their determinants among adolescents might be helpful for planning targeted prevention strategies at an early age.[Methods]: In the European multicenter cross-sectional HELENA study of 2006–2007, 2428 subjects (47% boys) had data on dietary intake of polyphenols from 2 non-consecutive 24 h recalls via linking with the Phenol-Explorer database. Differences by sex, age, country, BMI, maternal education, paternal education, family affluence, smoking status, alcohol use, and physical activity were explored by linear regression.[Results]: Median, lower and upper quartiles of polyphenol intakes were 326, 167 and 564 mg/day, respectively. Polyphenol intake was significantly higher in the oldest (16–17.49 years), girls, non-Mediterranean countries, lowest BMI, highest paternal education, and alcohol consumers. Main food contributors were fruit (23%, mainly apple and pear, i.e., 16.3%); chocolate products (19.2%); and fruit and vegetable juices (15.6%). Main polyphenol classes were flavonoids (75–76% of total) and phenolic acids (17–19% of total). The three most consumed polyphenols were proanthocyanidin polymers (> 10 mers), hesperidin, and proanthocyanidin 4–6 oligomers.[Conclusion]: The current study provided for the first time numbers on the total polyphenol intake and their main food sources in a heterogeneous group of European adolescents. Major differences with adult populations are the lower polyphenol consumption and the major food sources, such as chocolate and biscuits. The discussed determinants and polyphenol types already point to some important population groups that need to be targeted in future public health initiatives.The HELENA Study was carried out with the financial support of the European Community Sixth RTD Framework Programme (Contract FOODCT-2005-007034). The writing group takes sole responsibility for the content of this article. The European Community is not liable for any use that may be made of the information contained therein. The first author was sponsored as PhD student by Indonesia Endowment Fund for Education (LPDP, Indonesia).Peer reviewe

Quelle stratégie française dans le cadre H2020 ?

Le lancement d’Horizon 2020, 8è programme cadre de recherche et de développement (PCRD) de l’Union Européenne, doté de 79 milliards d’euros, est l’occasion de faire le bilan de la participation de la France aux précédents PCRD. Elle n’est à la hauteur ni de son poids scientifique, ni de son investissement financier. Alors que la France a contribué au budget recherche de l’Union Européenne (7è PCRD) à hauteur de 16,5 à 17 %, le retour monétaire assuré par le financement de projets coordonnés auxquels ses équipes participent est de l’ordre de 12,5 à 13 %. C’est un manque à gagner de 600 millions d’euros. Même si la situation doit être nuancée par type d’activité, la France, en recherche clinique, apparaît en retrait et moins engagée dans les appels à projets européens par comparaison avec ses voisins. Si la France possède des atouts (financement assuré de la recherche clinique, structuration de réseaux thématiques, lancement de grands plans nationaux), elle est pénalisée par l’éparpillement des ressources au nom de la politique d’aménagement du territoire, le manque d’approche multidisciplinaire et la méconnaissance du fonctionnement de Horizon 2020 par la communauté médicale et scientifique et les institutions auxquelles elles appartiennent. Les solutions envisagées pour inciter au dépôt de projets coordonnés ou associant des équipes françaises en recherche clinique et aider à leur montage sont de trois ordres : • élargir la vision de nos enfants, étudiants et collaborateurs et les aider à s’adapter à la mondialisation des connaissances tout au long de leur cheminement éducatif et professionnel ; • valoriser les actions européennes pour agir sur le contexte européen et faire évoluer les mentalités ; • aider et accompagner les porteurs de projets en mutualisant les compétences autour d’un nombre limité de centres d’expertise d’aide au montage

How do energy balance-related behaviors cluster in adolescents?

BJECTIVES: To delineate the clustering of energy balance-related behaviors in adolescents and investigate whether these behaviors are associated with the household socioeconomic status and parental education level. METHODS: Two cross-sectional studies assessed information on sedentary behavior, physical activity, sugar-sweetened beverages and fruit and vegetable consumption, and sleep duration by self-reported questionnaires in adolescents (12.5-17.5years old) from Maringa/Brazil (BRACAH Study; n=682) and ten European cities (HELENA Study; n=1252) from nine different countries. Gender-specific cluster analyses were performed separately for each study, applying a combination of hierarchical and non-hierarchical methods. RESULTS: Girls showed equivalent behaviors: Sedentary; Active; Unhealthy Eating; Healthy Eating; while boys differed (Brazilian: Sedentary; Active; Healthy Eating; European: Sedentary; Healthy; Unhealthy Eating). In Brazil, we found no association between socioeconomic status and parental education. In European girls, the high socioeconomic status and both parents' university degree were associated with Healthy Eating. In European boys, the high socioeconomic status was associated with Unhealthy Eating, and the mothers' university degree was associated with the Healthy cluster. CONCLUSIONS: Adolescents show Sedentary behavior, regardless of their sex, country of origin, or socioeconomic condition