Cities@Heart Kick-off Meeting
- Warren John
- 4 days ago
- 3 min read
The two-day Cities@Heart Kick-Off Meeting, held on January 27–28, 2026, at Novartis, Basel, marked the official start of a five-year collaboration aimed at reducing cardiovascular disease (CVD) and tackling health inequalities in urban communities .
A shared vision for healthier cities
Cities@Heart brings together universities, city governments, patient organisations, industry partners, and international bodies including the World Health Organization (WHO) and the European Society of Cardiology. The project focuses on practical, city-level solutions to address some of the most common and preventable causes of heart disease, including obesity, high blood pressure, high cholesterol and diabetes.
Opening the meeting, project leads welcomed participants and outlined a shared vision built around four core pillars: raising awareness, improving prevention, strengthening early detection, and enhancing long-term management of cardiovascular conditions. Rather than creating entirely new systems, the consortium aims to build on what cities are already doing—strengthening local initiatives, using data more effectively, and ensuring that solutions reach the communities most in need.
Tackling inequality at the heart of the problem
A strong theme throughout the meeting was inequality. Cardiovascular disease remains one of Europe’s leading causes of death, but its burden is not shared equally. In many cities, risk factors are concentrated in disadvantaged neighbourhoods where access to healthcare, healthy food, green space and health information may be limited. Participants repeatedly emphasised that improving heart health means understanding the social and economic realities of city life, not just medical risk factors.
Much of the first day was dedicated to understanding these urban challenges. In interactive breakout sessions, participants discussed barriers to awareness, prevention and care. A recurring message was that information alone is not enough. People need clear, relatable messages—such as “know your numbers” for blood pressure or cholesterol—combined with convenient opportunities to act. Community leaders, schools, workplaces, faith groups and local influencers were all identified as essential partners in reaching people where they live and work.
Smart use of data and digital tools
Technology and data were also central topics. The project plans to strengthen digital tools and city dashboards so that local teams can better understand trends and identify gaps. However, speakers cautioned that digital innovation must be inclusive. New tools should support underserved populations, not widen existing inequalities. Building trust, protecting privacy and ensuring ease of use will be critical to success.
Connecting local action to European momentum
The second day highlighted the role of professional societies and international networks in amplifying the project’s impact. Representatives from major European and global heart and public health organisations described how Cities@Heart aligns with the European Commission’s newly launched Safe Hearts Plan and other international initiatives. By linking local action to European policy momentum, the consortium hopes to ensure long-term sustainability beyond the five-year project.
Importantly, the project will not operate behind closed doors. Plans are underway to establish a Citizen Council in each participating city, bringing community voices directly into decision-making. Early-career professionals will also form a dedicated study group to strengthen collaboration and build future leadership.
A strong start
As the meeting closed, organisers described the atmosphere as energetic and highly engaged. The launch exceeded expectations in terms of participation and enthusiasm. Leaders reminded the group that improving heart health in cities is a “marathon, not a sprint”—one that will require sustained collaboration, shared learning and a commitment to measurable impact.
If the spirit in Basel is any indication, Cities@Heart has begun its journey with strong momentum and a clear sense of purpose: helping Europe’s cities become healthier places to live, work and thrive.
Check out our launch video with snippets of the Kick-off Meeting.
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