I am forwarding a section of a grant proposal prepared by Marie Bragg, aimed at testing ways to limit teenagers’ screen use. I am not sure to what extent we could claim these are evidence-based, but they are potentially interesting components of an intervention package. Franco

 

From: Tsai, Krystle <Krystle.Tsai@nyulangone.org>
Sent: 24 February 2026 19:55
To: Sassi, Franco <f.sassi@imperial.ac.uk>
Cc: Bragg, Marie <Marie.Bragg@nyulangone.org>
Subject: Re: Possible collaboration on EU call

 

Hello Franco,

 

Attached are the aims from our recent grant submission with Damon McCoy. 

 

Best,

Krystle

From: Bragg, Marie <Marie.Bragg@nyulangone.org>
Sent: Tuesday, February 24, 2026 11:25 AM
To: Sassi, Franco <f.sassi@imperial.ac.uk>; Tsai, Krystle <Krystle.Tsai@nyulangone.org>
Subject: Re: Possible collaboration on EU call

 

Hi Franco,

 

I can ask Krystle from my team to share the text of our Aim 1 and 2 from a recent grant we submitted with a computer scientist, where we modify social media apps to reduce exposure to problematic content.

 

I also want to mention that this work that was developed by a computer scientist means it would likely be most appropriate to include that person on the EU Horizon grant. Would there be room to include some effort for him to honor the fact that it's his area of expertise? His name is Damon McCoy and he is also at NYU.

 

Thank you!

Marie

 

 

 

From: Sassi, Franco <f.sassi@imperial.ac.uk>
Date: Thursday, February 19, 2026 at 5:26 PM
To: Bragg, Marie <Marie.Bragg@nyulangone.org>
Subject: Re: Possible collaboration on EU call

[EXTERNAL]

Dear Marie, 

 

We are trying to identify a package of interventions that we can assess in the European project. Ideally, we should be able to intervene on features or behaviours that have an established link with one or more of the conditions we want to focus on (obesity, mental health, addictions). I wonder if you have any materials that you could share about the interventions we have discussed in our recent call, which you have developed in previous projects. Even a brief description would be helpful at this stage. Whatever is easiest for you to send. 

 

Thank you! 

 

Franco 

 

 

From: Bragg, Marie <Marie.Bragg@nyulangone.org>
Sent: Tuesday, January 20, 2026 10:14:10 PM
To: Sassi, Franco <f.sassi@imperial.ac.uk>
Subject: Re: Possible collaboration on EU call

 

Hi Franco,

 

It’s so wonderful to hear from you! I’d welcome a chance to chat about this call for proposals and appreciate the invitation to brainstorm.

 

I’m now a tenured Associate Professor (and just finished a year consulting two days a week for the U.S. Federal Trade Commission on the digital environment) – so I hope those two new additions to my profile might be useful for the application!

 

Looking forward to speaking with you soon,

 

Marie

 

From: Sassi, Franco <f.sassi@imperial.ac.uk>
Date: Tuesday, January 20, 2026 at 8:02 AM
To: Bragg, Marie <Marie.Bragg@nyulangone.org>
Subject: Possible collaboration on EU call

[EXTERNAL]

Dear Marie,

 

How are you? It has been some time since we last spoke. I am contacting you because the European Union has issued a very interesting call for proposals in an area of interest for both of us (behavioural intervention to improve young people’s health). This time, the EU has made clear that participation of US partners is possible, following an agreement that was signed with NIH. The call is available at the following link: https://ec.europa.eu/info/funding-tenders/opportunities/portal/screen/opportunities/topic-details/HORIZON-HLTH-2026-01-STAYHLTH-02.

The call has a strong behavioural dimension, and I would like to consider a focus on digital environments and how they affect young people’s behaviours and eventually their health. Please, let me know whether you would be interested in exploring a collaboration on a proposal. If so, I can follow up with more details and maybe we can set up a call.

 

I look forward to hearing from you.

 

Franco

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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