Catania, April 10, 2025 – The official visit of the delegation from the National Institute of Public Health (INSP) of Romania to the CoEHAR – Center of Excellence for the Acceleration of Harm Reduction at the University of Catania has concluded today.
The two-day program was marked by institutional meetings, technical working sessions, and laboratory visits, during which INSP representatives – led by General Director Dr. Simona Parvu, along with researchers Dr. Teodora Vremera and Ms. Maria-Teodora Savu – had the opportunity to gain insight into the most advanced scientific projects developed by the CoEHAR team.
The dialogue focused in particular on the prospects for cooperation in defining shared scientific protocols, joint development of Horizon Europe proposals, and adapting CoEHAR’s research methodologies to the Romanian public health and regulatory context, with the aim of strengthening evidence-based harm reduction strategies.
“The visit of the delegation from Romania represents a significant step toward the establishment of a robust scientific dialogue between our institutions,” said Professor Riccardo Polosa, founder of CoEHAR.
“The exchange of expertise and best practices is essential for fostering innovation in public health, particularly in the area of tobacco harm reduction. CoEHAR has developed and validated advanced research protocols that have been successfully implemented in diverse international settings. We envisage this partnership as a catalyst for the co-development of strategic projects aligned with the Horizon Europe 2025 framework, aiming to support evidence-based policy development and enhance the effectiveness of interventions targeting smoking-related diseases.”
Romania faces a significant public health challenge related to tobacco consumption, with approximately 30% of the adult population identified as regular smokers and a particularly high prevalence among young adults and men, according to recent data from the World Health Organization.
The visit was also met with enthusiasm by INSP General Director Dr. Simona Parvu, who emphasized:
“In this context, we are particularly interested in assessing the impact of the standardized methodologies already adopted in several countries and in understanding their potential for transferability to the Romanian setting.
This collaboration with CoEHAR could lay a solid foundation for future joint projects capable of making a tangible impact on the prevention and treatment of smoking-related diseases, and contribute to the development of more effective, evidence-based harm reduction policies for our population”
“At CoEHAR, we firmly believe that international cooperation is a key pillar in advancing research that has a meaningful impact on public health. This exchange marks not only the beginning of a promising collaboration but also reinforces CoEHAR’s role as a hub for excellence and knowledge transfer in Europe and beyond” – add professor Giovanni Li Volti, CoEHAR director.
The program also included a showcase of the technological platforms and innovative experimental models developed by the research team led by Professor Massimo Caruso, including replicable methodologies already applied in seven countries worldwide. This meeting is part of CoEHAR’s broader internationalization strategy, aimed at expanding its global scientific network and strengthening Sicily’s role as a central hub in European and global research on smoking prevention and healthy lifestyle promotion.
