Sustainable and healthy diets for cardiovascular diseases prevention with the support of digital applications

Expected Outcome

Project results are expected to contribute to all the following expected outcomes:

• identified the effects of sustainable and healthy diets on the gut microbiome and on the cardiovascular system (as well as through possible interlinks between the two) using AI and digital tools by considering different groups of the population (children, adults and older population) as well as gender;
• increased knowledge generated through the use of AI and existing digital tools on how to help people improving their eating habits by choosing healthy diets to prevent cardiovascular disease. Development of a new tool or scaling up of an existing tool that patients/individuals can use to guide them in their day to day eating habits with a personalised approach. Identified robust economic cost-benefit analysis, together with real end-user involvement and demonstration;
• the scientific communication on the link between sustainable and healthy diet (which also includes food ingredients and processing food technology) and the prevention of cardiovascular diseases is translated into digital health solutions developed by SMEs and start-ups;
• improved understanding of the link between the decrease of specific nutritional risk factors and the increase of beneficial nutritional intake in the prevention of cardiovascular diseases, through the support of digital solutions developed by SMEs and start-ups.

Scope

The topic is relevant to the EU policies related to the ‘Healthier Together’ initiative, the Commission Communication on the European Health Union[1] and the Council conclusions on the improvement of cardiovascular health in the European Union[2], the R&I Food 2030 framework and the Strategy for European Life Sciences.

Proposals should address all the following activities:

• investigate the host-microbiota interactions, standardised biomarkers, involving inflammatory and metabolic pathways or other pathways to elucidate the relationship between changes in the diet, the gut microbiome and cardiovascular risk. Develop and test nutrition approaches based on microbiome profiles of different populations (based on gender, age, genetic background). Identify the effects of sustainable and healthy diets on the cardiovascular system using AI and digital tools by considering different groups of the population (based on gender, children, adults and older population);
• map the existing digital health solutions (including existing hubs) related to the reduction of cardiovascular diseases linked to unhealthy diets and nutrition;
• develop and provide user friendly digital solutions for authorities, national institutes, and healthcare and nutritional professionals which also consider the cost and the benefits also for the end-users. These solutions should also benefit patients in the monitoring of cardiovascular diseases and individuals identified at risk to develop the disease;
• ensure that SMEs and start-ups should facilitate the successful deployment and commercialization of digital solutions and should be actively involved in expanding data integration across various healthcare systems and in analysing health data to provide insights on the link between diet and cardiovascular health.

Proposals should involve the effective contribution of SSH disciplines. Experts in behavioural sciences and psychology, for instance, might help better understanding the perception and uptake of digital solutions, the diet consumption aspect and the eating habits of different demographic groups.

The multi-actor approach is encouraged. Proposals should include industry and innovative SMEs in the consortia and ensure an early engagement of authorities, national institutes, healthcare and nutritional professionals, patients as well as experts on advanced digital tools for the co-design, testing and adoption of the digital solutions and tool.

Projects are encouraged to explore complementarities and exploit potential synergies with the projects funded under the topics HORIZON-HLTH-2026-01-DISEASE-11: Understanding of gender-specific mechanisms of cardiovascular diseases: determinants, risk factors and pathways and HORIZON-HLTH-2027-01-TOOL-01: Development of predictive biomarkers of disease progression and treatment response by using AI methodologies for chronic non-communicable diseases, once information on the funded projects is available.

Technology Readiness Level - Technology readiness level expected from completed projects

Activities are expected to start from TRL 5 in order to achieve TRL 7 by the end of the project – see General Annex B.

[1] Communication from the Commission to the European Parliament, the Council, the European Economic and Social Committee and the Committee of the Regions: The European Health Union: acting together for people’s health (COM/2024/206 final).

[2] Cardiovascular health: Council calls for more robust efforts to help prevent cardiovascular diseases.