RPP Group Policy Communication Opportunities for COST iPlanta 10_17/Presentazioni... · •RPP’s...
Transcript of RPP Group Policy Communication Opportunities for COST iPlanta 10_17/Presentazioni... · •RPP’s...
RPP Group – Policy Communication Opportunities
for COST iPlanta
Edoardo Ferri – Director of RPP Group Italy
RPP Group: A true European Firm
• RPP Group is a consultancy focused on policy creation
and development, building on our integrated services such
as digital campaigning and visual communications.
• RPP Healthcare is a member of the RPP Group. Our topical
focus and expertise are in healthcare, well-being,
nutrition, R&D, innovation, market access &
reimbursement, trade, and internal market policy.
• RPP Healthcare offers Public Affairs Services in various
European Countries and on EU Level.
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In a joint effort with relevant stakeholders we focus on the
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We establish and implement full political compliance and adapt these
to changing political rules ahead of time.
The role of policy maker engagement in scientific consortia
• While policy decisions are made on the results of scientific
progress, keeping only the results of scientific actions for policy
makers is a major mistake
• In the context of populist activism that is driven by partial
information, often contrary to robust independent science,
scientists must be first to the table with policy makers
• Informing policy makers is an investment in your
own research, setting a productive atmosphere for
legislation around scientific breakthroughs and
building an understanding amongst policy makers
of the value of scientific progress and the evidence
that supports it
• Working in a reactive policy environment is infinitely
more difficult than proactively building an environment
Setting the policy scene for breakthroughs – COST iPlanta
• As a Commission funded international independent
research group, COST iPlanta has a unique role in
bringing evidence to policy makers and engaging with
stakeholders in Brussels on the newest evidence in the
field of RNAi.
• To effectively transfer new evidence into better policy
making requires a continuous partnership with
policymakers and effective communication activities.
• In many ways, we are acting in a reactive space given
the decade of EU policy on GMOs, but the continuous
focus on this topic still give the opportunity to
proactively place key messages on the EU agenda.
v v
Reviewing the objectives
Promote collaboration among
European interested parties and
stakeholders, and with interested
parties outside Europe.
Benefits and Costs associated with using RNAi technologies &
Building our communication plan to reach all stakeholders
Encourage the development
of new relevant research consortia
and programmes within the EU.
At an EU level what does achieving these objectives mean?
One of the major outcomes of engagement with EU bodies is to
ensure continuous funding of projects on RNAi by highlighting results,
potential benefits, risk assessment and activities.
Spreading these results also to policy makers means that they will
have a reference point for future consideration when legislative items
are on the agenda.
Importantly, building supportive relations with other stakeholders in
the EU environment ensures that the scientific voice is multiplied.
Where we are: The GMO space – Policy reflections
• The EU has looked to Regulate GMOs through recent
legislative proposals, mostly relating to the subsidiarity of
decisions across the EU. These however have not passed
after the European Parliament blocked them.
• The European Parliament has emerged as a very strong
actor on the GMO topic and will be a key decision maker in
any future EU legislation on GMOs.
• One of the biggest claims by ‘anti-GMO’ groups is the
“unknown impacts” – this means that scientific groups need
to emphasise the “known impacts” and “known benefits”.
• Concerns largely emerge from uncertainty, and effective
communication around independent international research,
helps resolve that uncertainty.
Where we need to go:
a receptive environment for RNAi technologies
A policy environment that
recognizes the policy
challenges, accepts the
added value of the
breakthrough and reaches
a consensus with the
scientific community on
policy solutions
A differentiation for
RNAi in comparison to
other forms of GM
Educated and supportive
stakeholders in the nutrition
and agriculture field
Desired Outcomes of high level stakeholder engagement?
• Deliver information on RNAi to MEPs, Commission
Officials and key EU stakeholders of the food and
feed chain at EU level.
• Give exposure to independent international research
which deals with innovation and sustainable
agriculture
• Expose benefits of the technology including to the
Environment and Nutrition
• Expose policy and acceptance issues and generate
ideas on how to tackle them
Impact of high level events – results and examples
• RPP’s work with the ‘Virtual Physiological Human’ Institute and the Avicenna
Alliance on in-silico medicine has had many similar communication aims to
COST iPlanta. The development of a communication plan, visually designed
messages and high level engagement culminated in a high-level EU event.
• Results:
• Unknown policy topic entered into the revision of Medical Devices and EMA
Regulation
• 3 consecutive Horizon 2020 programmes featuring research on in silico medicine
• Liaison between EMA and FDA on integration of in silico modelling and simulation
into health practices
• Scientists, industry and regulator have been cooperating since this event on
integrating these brekathroughs into regulatory pathways.
Avicenna Alliance: Where we stand today
• Avicenna Alliance established
as a legal entity with 3
distinct working groups
• Signed memorandum of
understanding with FDA and
EC expected to also join as
an observer member
• Successfully advocated
for inclusion of in silico in
MDR & EMA Regulations
• First contact made with
EMA - Japanese
Regulators needed
• VPH now a member of
the EC eHealth
Stakeholder Group
• 1st event of Avicenna Alliance in
Parliament
Other communication needs
• In addition to regular engagement, policy makers and stakeholders need
information they can easily understand including:
Simple visualization Concise messages Clear and independent
position from the
scientific community
Conclusions
• A stakeholder and Government Affairs program which will include a high level
event in Brussels will be key in order to disseminate and share knowledge
and gain support for RNAi
• A collaboration between RPP and Cost iPlanta can be very productive and
contribute to a more balanced debate in order to foster science-based policy
decisions
• The program should include at least one important event from 2018 to 2020
in order to understand the progress and gain momentum in policy outcomes
at EU level