Spanish Epidemiology Society

Spanish Epidemiology Society
Name	Spanish Epidemiology Society
Native name	Sociedad Española de Epidemiología
Founded	19XX
Headquarters	Madrid
Region served	Spain
Leader title	President

Spanish Epidemiology Society

The Spanish Epidemiology Society is a professional association dedicated to Epidemiology practice and research in Spain. It connects practitioners from institutions such as Instituto de Salud Carlos III, Universidad Complutense de Madrid, Universidad de Barcelona, Hospital Universitario La Paz, Hospital Clínic de Barcelona and fosters links with international bodies like the World Health Organization, the European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Pan American Health Organization and the Global Fund. It participates in collaborations with agencies including the Ministry of Health (Spain), Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas, European Commission, European Research Council and supranational programs such as Horizon Europe.

History

Founded in the late 20th century, the Society emerged amid public health responses to outbreaks like HIV/AIDS epidemic, Ebola virus epidemic in West Africa, and seasonal influenza pandemics such as 2009 flu pandemic. Early meetings included representatives from academic centers such as Universidad Autónoma de Madrid and Universitat Pompeu Fabra and hospitals like Hospital General Universitario Gregorio Marañón. Over decades the Society has interacted with initiatives including the European Public Health Association, the International Epidemiological Association, the World Bank, the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, and national programs like Plan Nacional de I+D.

Organization and Governance

The Society is governed by an elected Board with roles similar to executive structures at Royal Society, National Academy of Medicine (France), Academy of Medical Sciences (UK), and liaises with regulatory bodies like Agencia Española de Medicamentos y Productos Sanitarios and regional health authorities including Servicio Madrileño de Salud and Servei Català de la Salut. Officers commonly have faculty positions at universities such as Universidad de Santiago de Compostela, Universidad de Valencia, Universidad de Granada, and research posts at institutions like Hospital Universitario Vall d'Hebron and Centro Nacional de Microbiología.

Membership and Activities

Membership includes epidemiologists from academic centers including Universidad de Zaragoza, Universidad de Navarra, Universidad de Málaga, clinicians from hospitals like Hospital Universitario Ramón y Cajal, public health professionals from regional bodies like Osakidetza and international members from networks like European Society of Clinical Microbiology and Infectious Diseases. Activities span committee work with organizations such as Sociedad Española de Salud Pública y Administración Sanitaria, collaborations with NGOs like Cruz Roja Española, and participation in multicenter studies coordinated with institutions such as Institut Pasteur and Karolinska Institutet.

Research, Education, and Training

The Society promotes research partnering with research funders including Instituto de Salud Carlos III, Fondo de Investigación Sanitaria, European Commission, Wellcome Trust, Johns Hopkins University, Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, and collaborates on cohort studies similar to work at Nurses' Health Study, UK Biobank, and consortia like COVID-19 Clinical Research Coalition. Training programs are offered in collaboration with universities such as Universidad de Alcalá, Universidad de Oviedo, Universidad de Valladolid and professional schools such as Escuela Nacional de Sanidad. The Society supports mentorship linking early-career researchers affiliated with institutions like Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red and postdoctoral networks such as Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions.

Public Health Policy and Advocacy

The Society issues position statements and technical advice informing policy debates involving the Ministry of Health (Spain), regional governments like Junta de Andalucía and Generalitat de Catalunya, and international forums including the World Health Assembly and the European Parliament. It has provided expertise during emergencies alongside organizations such as Red Cross, UNICEF, Médecins Sans Frontières and contributed to guideline development comparable to work by National Institute for Health and Care Excellence, European Food Safety Authority, and European Medicines Agency.

Conferences and Publications

Annual congresses attract speakers from universities including Universidad de Alcalá de Henares, Universidad CEU San Pablo, Universidad de Salamanca, research institutes like Centro Nacional de Epidemiología, and international partners from London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine, Imperial College London, Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health. The Society publishes proceedings and collaborates with journals and publishers such as The Lancet, BMJ, Eurosurveillance, American Journal of Epidemiology, International Journal of Epidemiology and national outlets like Gaceta Sanitaria and Revista Española de Salud Pública.

Category:Medical associations based in Spain