ISMED-CLIM Launches Its First Project Newsletter

The ISMED-CLIM project is pleased to announce the release of its first official newsletter, marking an important step in sharing the project’s progress, activities, and insights with the wider community. This first edition provides a comprehensive overview of the project’s early achievements, ongoing research, and upcoming activities across the Mediterranean region.

Addressing Climate Change and Health in the Mediterranean

ISMED-CLIM is a Horizon Europe project focused on addressing the growing health impacts of climate change across the Mediterranean basin—one of the regions most vulnerable to rising temperatures, air pollution, and extreme weather events. Coordinated by the University of Cyprus, the project brings together 27 partners from 11 countries, combining expertise from academia, healthcare, policy, and technology sectors.

By focusing particularly on vulnerable population groups, including outdoor workers, pregnant women, and older adults, ISMED-CLIM aims to develop practical, scalable solutions that help protect public health while strengthening the resilience of healthcare systems across the region.

📄 You can read the full newsletter here:

First Issue of the Newsletter

Highlights from the First Year of the Project

The first newsletter presents key developments since the project’s launch in November 2024. During its initial phase, the consortium established the foundations for collaboration and began implementing activities across several countries.

Among the highlights included in the newsletter are:

Kick-off Meeting in Nicosia

The project officially began with a kick-off meeting held in Nicosia, Cyprus, bringing together more than 70 representatives from across the consortium and stakeholder community. The meeting introduced the project’s objectives, defined work package activities, and initiated cross-partner collaboration for the upcoming research and pilot phases.

Stakeholder Engagement Activities

ISMED-CLIM has already begun engaging regional stakeholders through workshops and collaborative discussions. One such event in Cyprus gathered experts from academia, government, NGOs, and local authorities to discuss climate-related health risks and identify strategies to better protect vulnerable populations.

Dissemination and Scientific Outreach

The project has also been actively presented at international events, including the APMVEAC Congress in Lisbon, where researchers discussed the connections between climate change, zoonotic diseases, and public health. These events help broaden collaboration and encourage multidisciplinary approaches to climate-related health challenges.

In addition, ISMED-CLIM has been featured in the Horizon Europe Mission Projects Catalogue, further strengthening its visibility within the European research ecosystem.

Living Labs: Testing Solutions in Real Environments

A central component of the ISMED-CLIM project is the establishment of Living Labs across several Mediterranean countries. These real-world experimental environments allow researchers, healthcare professionals, and citizens to co-develop and test innovative solutions for climate-related health challenges.

The first newsletter introduces five Living Labs focusing on different vulnerable groups and health risks:

  • Living Lab 1 – Outdoor Workers
    Testing wearable sensors and digital notifications to prevent heat stress and pollution exposure.

  • Living Lab 2 – Pregnant Women
    Developing early warning systems and personalized health recommendations during heatwaves and pollution events.

  • Living Lab 3 – Older Adults with Hypertension
    Evaluating digital tools and wearable monitoring to reduce health risks associated with extreme heat.

  • Living Lab 4 – Zoonotic Disease Monitoring
    Addressing climate-driven diseases such as leishmaniasis, using surveillance tools and community engagement.

  • Living Lab 5 – Climate Adaptation for Healthcare Systems
    Adapting climate resilience tools for healthcare institutions to improve preparedness and response.

These pilots will provide valuable data and insights that can help scale solutions across Europe and beyond.

Innovative Tools for Climate and Health Monitoring

To support its objectives, ISMED-CLIM is developing a suite of digital tools and technologies designed to improve monitoring, prediction, and decision-making.

Key innovations highlighted in the newsletter include:

  • AI-Augmented Early Warning and Response System (EWRS)
    Providing real-time predictions for heat exposure, air pollution, and vector-borne disease risks.

  • Citizen Mobile Application
    Delivering personalized alerts and recommendations to help individuals protect themselves during climate events.

  • Policy Dashboard
    Offering data visualisation and decision-support tools for policymakers and healthcare authorities.

  • Digital Knowledge Platform
    Acting as a shared hub for climate-health data, research outputs, and Living Lab results.

Together, these tools aim to bridge the gap between climate science, public health policy, and everyday decision-making.

Stay Updated with ISMED-CLIM

The ISMED-CLIM newsletter will be published regularly to keep the community informed about new research results, project milestones, upcoming events, and opportunities for collaboration.

If you are interested in climate change, public health, digital innovation, or Mediterranean research initiatives, we invite you to follow the project and stay connected.

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