Dear Malgorzata,
As promised, here is some additional information on your points 2-4.
We would request limited inputs from you at this stage. These are mainly in connection with the intervention that you think you will be able to implement as part of the project.
It is important, first of all, that you decide which of the two intervention packages you would be best placed to implement in Poland, the one designed for the age group 12-18 or the one designed for the age group 19-25 (but please note that the intervention
for this second age group will still start at age 18, when those young people are in their final year of secondary school). For your information, I am sharing two documents that contain descriptions of the two intervention packages (I had shared them with
Bernard before), to help you in identifying the most suitable one for Poland. If you are indifferent, we have a slight preference for the intervention in the 19-25 age group, to ensure a better balance in the project, but you should not feel constrained by
this if you have a preference for the other intervention.
It would be helpful if you could send us some information as follows:
- Provide some context (a couple of paragraphs maximum) on the three health conditions that we are considering in the project (obesity, mental health
and addictions) in young people in Poland.
- Identify key local players that may need to be involved for the successful implementation of the interventions (e.g. ministry of education, school
authorities, youth organisations, etc.). Please, consider whether any of these actors may require resources from the project for their involvement, and whether they may need to be listed as partners or sub-contractors in the proposal. Sub-contracting is possible,
but ideally we should identify sub-contractors, tasks and funding at this stage, if possible.
- Identify the sites where the interventions will take place. How many will they be? Where are they located in the country?
- Identify approximate numbers of young people who will be involved in the above sites.
I am attaching the intervention description that has been provided by the Norwegian Institute of Public Health for this proposal. This is very comprehensive and well written, so
you may use this as an example.
Your Institute’s contribution will be mostly in WP6, where the implementation of interventions will take place, but you will also contribute to the design of the intervention in
WP4 or WP5 (depending on which intervention you decide to focus on) and to the evaluation of the intervention in WP7. We have so far estimated that the total effort required will be in the region of 60 person months for each Public Health Institute. You may
subcontract some of the work to external organisations, if you prefer, in which case we would structure the budget differently, although this should not affect the amount of funding available.
Please, let me know if I have answered your questions satisfactorily or if you would like to receive more information. I would be happy to have a call this week if you would like
to discuss any of the above.
Franco
From: Majewska Małgorzata
mmajewska@pzh.gov.pl
Sent: 07 April 2026 13:53
To: Sassi, Franco <f.sassi@imperial.ac.uk>
Cc: zhealth-mgmt <zhealth-mgmt@imperial.ac.uk>; Caroline Costongs <c.costongs@eurohealthnet.eu>; Olejniczak Dominik <dolejniczak@pzh.gov.pl>; Waśko Bernard <bwasko@pzh.gov.pl>
Subject: RE: Z-HEALTH, Poland
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mmajewska@pzh.gov.pl.
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Dear Mr Sassi
Thank you for inviting us to join the consortium. As the Director Waśko mentioned, this is an interesting project and we are interested in participating, but given the very short deadline
for submitting the application, we would appreciate it if you could clarify a few points:
1) What formal documents do you need from us to submit the application?
2) Which parts of the application would require our input?
3) What are your budget assumptions regarding the project’s implementation—specifically regarding planned subcontracting?
4) Can we see more detailed implementation plans for WP5, and what contribution would you expect from us?
Dominik and I are available; we can also schedule a quick call to discuss all operational activities.
Kind regards
Małgorzata
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mgr Małgorzata Majewska Narodowy Instytut Zdrowia Publicznego PZH |
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Małgorzata Majewska National Institute of Public Health NIH |
Niniejsza wiadomość jest własnością Narodowego Instytutu Zdrowia Publicznego PZH – Państwowego Instytutu Badawczego i może zawierać informacje poufne lub prawnie chronione. Jeśli nie
jesteś jej prawidłowym adresatem, jakiekolwiek jej ujawnienie, reprodukcja, dystrybucja lub inne rozpowszechnianie, są zabronione. Jeśli otrzymałeś niniejszą wiadomość wskutek błędu, proszę o niezwłoczne powiadomienie nadawcy i usunięcie otrzymanych informacji.
Administratorem Twoich danych jest Narodowy Instytut Zdrowia Publicznego PZH – Państwowy Instytut Badawczy z siedzibą w Warszawie przy ulicy Chocimskiej 24, szczegółowe informacje na temat przetwarzania Twoich danych osobowych, dostępne są na stronie
www.pzh.gov.pl
From: Waśko Bernard <bwasko@pzh.gov.pl>
Sent: Tuesday, April 7, 2026 1:38 PM
To: Sassi, Franco <f.sassi@imperial.ac.uk>
Cc: zhealth-mgmt <zhealth-mgmt@imperial.ac.uk>; Caroline Costongs <c.costongs@eurohealthnet.eu>; Majewska Małgorzata <mmajewska@pzh.gov.pl>;
Olejniczak Dominik <dolejniczak@pzh.gov.pl>
Subject: RE: Z-HEALTH, Poland
Dear Franco ,
I have spoken this morning with my managers about potential engagement in this project. As a result we confirm our expression of interest in submitting the application.
Małgorzata and Dominik (cc’ed) will take over all operational activities needed proceeding next steps.
Many thanks
Bernard
From: Sassi, Franco <f.sassi@imperial.ac.uk>
Sent: Thursday, April 2, 2026 6:12 PM
To: Waśko Bernard <bwasko@pzh.gov.pl>
Cc: zhealth-mgmt <zhealth-mgmt@imperial.ac.uk>; Caroline Costongs <c.costongs@eurohealthnet.eu>
Subject: RE: Z-HEALTH, Poland
Dear Bernard,
Thank you for your message. You are asking a good question. The size of the implementation will vary between countries to some extent. For instance, Norway is planning to implement
the intervention for the younger age group (12-18) in two municipality districts. Ukraine is planning to implement the two intervention packages (for the two age sub-groups) in 2-3 oblasts. If we are planning to recruit young people and deliver at least part
of the interventions in school settings, I would think that a minimum of 25 schools would be required for this to qualify as implementation on a “meaningful scale” rather than a pilot project. A larger number of sites would clearly add value to the project,
and allow a more robust estimation of the effects of the intervention. But it will always be a compromise between what is ideal and what is feasible in the context of a project like this. I am attaching a description of the intervention in Norway that has
been provided by the Norwegian Institute of Public Health for the proposal. This is comprehensive and well written, so you may find it useful to take a look at it.
Please, do not hesitate to get back to me if you have further questions.
Franco
From: Waśko Bernard
bwasko@pzh.gov.pl
Sent: 02 April 2026 17:55
To: Sassi, Franco f.sassi@imperial.ac.uk
Cc: zhealth-mgmt zhealth-mgmt@imperial.ac.uk; Caroline Costongs
c.costongs@eurohealthnet.eu
Subject: RE: Z-HEALTH, Poland
Hi Franco,
Thanks for considering us as a crew member, will have deeper discussion about potential engagement with my project team
tomorrow, or Tuesday the latest and may come back to you with some detailed questions raised during the mtg. Materials obtained from Caroline yesterday has been already passed to my team.
Meanwhile, would you pls be more specific what you regard as a “meaningful scale” of interventions ? How many individuals
should be targeted/participate in the implementation phase in order to fulfill project deliverables in volumes and/or geographical coverage ?
I am pretty much sure I will be asked this question first
Regards
Bernard
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dr n. med. Bernard Waśko Narodowy Instytut Zdrowia Publicznego PZH |
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Bernard Waśko MD, PhD National Institute of Public Health NIH |
From: Sassi, Franco [mailto:f.sassi@imperial.ac.uk]
Sent: Thursday, April 2, 2026 2:53 PM
To: Waśko Bernard <bwasko@pzh.gov.pl>
Cc: zhealth-mgmt <zhealth-mgmt@imperial.ac.uk>; Caroline Costongs <c.costongs@eurohealthnet.eu>
Subject: RE: Z-HEALTH, Poland
Thank you, Caroline.
Dear Bernard,
Thank you for expressing an interest in participating in the Z-HEALTH proposal. We would be delighted to have Poland on board in this project. The time frame is indeed tight, but
we can make it work if there is interest on your side. The proposal is well advanced now, so the contributions we will need from you for the text of the proposal itself are relatively limited at this stage. The core of the proposal is two intervention packages,
which are described in the overview that was shared with you by Caroline. The two intervention packages are aimed, respectively, at the age groups 12-18 and 19-25, corresponding to the transitions from early to late adolescence (age 12-18) and from secondary
school to tertiary education/ work/ independent living (age 19-25). In each of these two age groups, we have designed multi-component interventions that will aim at tackling the behavioural determinants of three sets of conditions typically emerging in young
age. These are: obesity and metabolic disorders; mental health conditions; and addictions (broadly defined to include nicotine products, alcohol, illicit substances, gambling, screen addiction).
What we would need from you at this stage is a commitment to implementing either of the two intervention packages on a meaningful scale in Poland (the EC would not fund small pilot
projects, but at the same time full national scale implementation is not required or expected, so we would need to aim at something in between). Whether you focus on the 12-18 or 19-25 age group is entirely your choice. We would be happy either way. We are
conscious that the intervention components we are putting forward at the proposal stage will be only a starting point, subject to redesign and country adaptation during the project. In particular, we have planned a 9-month period at the start of the project
in which we will be co-creating the final intervention packages with youth groups and relevant country stakeholders. So, the interventions that will eventually be implemented in each country may differ to some extent from the descriptions we will be including
in the proposal. This means that your commitment at this stage will not have to be completely tied to implementing an intervention package as it is currently designed. At the moment, we are planning to implement interventions in Spain, Norway, Germany, Slovenia,
North Macedonia and Ukraine.
The overall duration of the project will be 4 years, presumably starting in January 2027. The intervention implementation phase will start at the beginning of the school year 2027-28
(so, in September/October 2027) and the implementation and evaluation of interventions in each country will last for 2.5 years. This will leave 9 months at the end of the project for analysing the impacts of the interventions, developing and disseminating
guidelines and recommendations for further future scale up.
Please, do not hesitate to let me know if you require additional information at this stage.
I look forward to hearing from you once you have had a chance to consider this fully with your colleagues.
Sincerely,
Franco
Franco Sassi PhD
Chair in International Health Policy and Economics
Director, Centre for Health Economics and Policy Innovation (CHEPI)
Imperial Business School
London SW7 2AZ
United Kingdom
Email:
f.sassi@imperial.ac.uk Tel: +44(0)207 594 9157
From: Caroline Costongs <c.costongs@eurohealthnet.eu>
Sent: 02 April 2026 13:40
To: Sassi, Franco <f.sassi@imperial.ac.uk>
Cc: Waśko Bernard <bwasko@pzh.gov.pl>
Subject: Re: Z-HEALTH, Poland
Dear Franco,
I had another short meeting with Bernard Wasko, Director of the Polish NIPH.
They are interested in participating but are concerned about the limited time available to contribute to the proposal's development.
Could you reach out to him for what is needed in this stage, so he can link you with his managers who will then consider options? Bernard is in copy of this message.
thanks!
Caroline
From: Caroline Costongs <c.costongs@eurohealthnet.eu>
Sent: 01 April 2026 13:41
To: Waśko Bernard <bwasko@pzh.gov.pl>
Subject: Fw: Z-HEALTH, Poland
Dear Bernard,
As we just discussed, please find attached the PPT and information brief with details on the application to this Horizon Europe call, with the deadline of 16th April. Please treat this confidentially,
as the call is very competitive.
We hope that the Institute is interested in joining our consortium for WP 4&5!
These are the details on the call:
Thanks for getting back to us as soon as feasible,
Caroline
From: Sassi, Franco <f.sassi@imperial.ac.uk>
Sent: Wednesday, April 01, 2026 13:13
To: Caroline Costongs <c.costongs@eurohealthnet.eu>; zhealth-mgmt <zhealth-mgmt@imperial.ac.uk>
Subject: RE: Z-HEALTH, Poland
Hi Caroline, I include the PPT I presented on Monday and an overview document for the proposal. Please, let me know if you need anything else. Franco
From: Caroline Costongs <c.costongs@eurohealthnet.eu>
Sent: 01 April 2026 13:09
To: Sassi, Franco <f.sassi@imperial.ac.uk>; zhealth-mgmt <zhealth-mgmt@imperial.ac.uk>
Subject: Re: Z-HEALTH, Poland
Hi there,
For my meeting with Bernard Wasko, director of the Polish NIPH, it would be good to get the PPT with an overview of the project
Could you share this with me ASAP?
Thanks!
Caroline
From: Caroline Costongs <c.costongs@eurohealthnet.eu>
Sent: 01 April 2026 10:13
To: Sassi, Franco <f.sassi@imperial.ac.uk>;
Mojca Gabrijelčič <mojca.gabrijelcic@nijz.si>
Cc: Dorota Sienkiewicz <d.sienkiewicz@eurohealthnet.eu>;
Monika Robnik <monika.robnik@nijz.si>;
Katja Cic <katja.cic@nijz.si>;
zhealth-mgmt <zhealth-mgmt@imperial.ac.uk>
Subject: Re: Z-HEALTH, Poland
Dear Franco,
Will do and get back to you later today,
Caroline
From: Sassi, Franco <f.sassi@imperial.ac.uk>
Sent: 31 March 2026 22:57
To: Caroline Costongs <c.costongs@eurohealthnet.eu>;
Mojca Gabrijelčič <mojca.gabrijelcic@nijz.si>
Cc: Dorota Sienkiewicz <d.sienkiewicz@eurohealthnet.eu>;
Monika Robnik <monika.robnik@nijz.si>;
Katja Cic <katja.cic@nijz.si>;
zhealth-mgmt <zhealth-mgmt@imperial.ac.uk>
Subject: Z-HEALTH, Poland
Dear Caroline and Mojca,
After an initial promising conversation, BIOG have declined to participate in the proposal. I remember you said you would be seeing potential Polish partners tomorrow. At this point I would be inclined to try to involve them,
even if it is getting very late in the process. May I ask you to mention this to your contacts, and I will be happy to follow up with a call if they express interest?
Thank you so much for your help.
Franco