Dear colleagues,

Thank you for being part of the EUPHA Urban Health Section and for your continued engagement with our work. Urban health research and practice have grown substantially over the past decades, generating a strong and continuously expanding evidence base. At the same time, accelerating urbanisation, social transformation, climate change, and environmental degradation pose evolving and interconnected challenges for population health, health equity, and sustainability in cities worldwide. 

You can learn more about our section and activities on our website: 

https://eupha.org/sections/urban-public-health/ 

Against this backdrop, the EUPHA Urban Health Section brings together researchers and public health practitioners from Europe and beyond to strengthen interdisciplinary collaboration, promote training, advance innovative urban health research, and support the translation of evidence into effective urban policies. Our priority moving forward is to focus on new initiatives, collaborations, and the work of our renewed leadership team. 

We are also pleased to highlight a newly published paper in the European Journal of Public Health, “Urban health research: shaping integrated policies for health, equity, sustainability, and climate.” This article reinforces the importance of integrated and cross‑sectoral approaches to urban health, examining how physical, social, and cultural urban environments shape health and inequalities. The study illustrates how urban interventions can generate multisectoral benefits while contributing to the Sustainable Development Goals. It offers a clear roadmap for strengthening collaboration between researchers, policymakers, and communities in the pursuit of healthier, fairer, and more sustainable cities. 

For more information go to the link:  

https://doi.org/10.1093/eurpub/ckag013

Strategic focus areas 2024–2027 

Our work over the coming years will be guided by the following strategic priorities: 

Knowledge translation 

Bridging the gap between research and policy by designing and conducting policy‑relevant urban health research and ensuring that evidence leads to tangible improvements in population health and reductions in health inequalities. 

Interdisciplinary innovation 

Promoting innovative data collection and analytical approaches through interdisciplinary teams, with an emphasis on sharing data, methods, and results across cities to address complex urban health challenges. 

Global and local collaboration 

Strengthening connections with key stakeholders in Europe and internationally—including partners in Australia, the United States, Latin America, and the International Society of Urban Health (ISUH)—to share best practices and advance the field of urban health. 

Capacity building 

Supporting early‑stage urban health researchers through mentoring and engagement with the EUPHAnxt programme, contributing to the development of the next generation of urban health leaders. 

Community engagement 

Organising Urban Health webinars, pre-conferences, workshops, and sessions at the European Public Health Conference and other relevant forums, strengthening our role as a network hub for urban health research and practice. 

Strategic communication 

Enhancing the visibility and impact of urban health through EUPHA communication channels, including the European Journal of Public Health and social media. 

Conference leadership 

Playing a leading role in the 2026 European Public Health Conference in Bilbao, where urban health will be a central theme: 

 “Urban and Global Synergy: Shaping Health Futures with Climate Resilience, Equity and Innovation.” 

 More details on Pre‑Conferences and Workshops for EPHC 2026 will be shared soon. 

Upcoming webinars 

We are pleased to share two upcoming webinars planned for this year: 

• Presenting the Urban Health Section 

Speaker: Manuel Franco MD, PhD, and section team members 
Date: April 22nd, 16:00 CET 

• “Place, Space and Health Equity: Designing Communities for Wellbeing” 

Speaker: Roshanak Mehdipanah, PhD, MS 
Date: September 17, 10am EST 

Further details will be shared closer to the dates. 

Our team is committed to developing and implementing an ambitious strategy for the Urban Health Section, fully aligned with EUPHA’s broader mission. We will also build on the expertise of previous leadership, inviting past presidents and committee members to contribute to our ongoing work. 

We look forward to collaborating with you in the months and years ahead as we work collectively to strengthen urban health research, policy, and practice. 

Best regards, 
The EUPHA Urban Health Section Leadership Team