UNITY - UNified Integration of Health and Societal Impacts Translation of Yield to policy and practice

Duration: Sep 2025 - Dec 2026

Background

The UNITY project aims to develop an integrated assessment framework for pandemics and health crises. The project addresses the need for timely, effective, and evidence-based decision-making during such crises, integrating insights from diverse scientific disciplines and focusing on health and societal impacts. The relevance of this project is underscored by the recent COVID-19 pandemic, which highlighted significant interdisciplinary gaps in knowledge, preparedness, and response strategies particularly concerning vulnerable groups. 

Aim

An integral assessment framework that can effectively guide scientists and policymakers during pandemics and health crises is missing within the Netherlands, although efforts have been made to enable integrated scientific advice. The primary objective of the UNITY project is to create a robust, scientifically grounded, and practically applicable framework for pandemic preparedness and response. This framework will support policymakers by providing actionable information and integrating complex insights from multiple scientific disciplines. The project aims to address knowledge gaps, assess the quality of available evidence, and develop methods to synthesize and apply this knowledge rapidly during health crises, with a specific focus on pandemics.

Methods

The project is structured into five work packages (WPs), each focusing on different aspects of the framework development:

WP1: Data, Knowledge & Knowledge Synthesis - Develops a consensus list of key questions and methods to obtain actionable information
WP2: Science-Policy Interface - Refines and adapts an integrated assessment framework for scientific advice to policymakers
WP3: Modelling - Creates a cohesive modelling framework to support decision-makers by translating epidemiological model outputs to socio-economic impacts
WP4: Simulation Exercises & Practical Feasibility - Tests and validates the framework through simulation exercises and assesses the practical feasibility of proposed measures
WP5: Collaboration, Reflection, Interaction & Continuation - Focuses on internal and external collaboration, learning, and reflection to ensure the framework's legitimacy and applicability

Cross Cutting themes

Three cross-cutting themes have been identified: citizen engagement, vulnerability and scientific uncertainties. These cross-cutting themes are an integral part throughout the project with specific tasks incorporated per work package. &nb

Objects/Units of the Project

The project involves various participants and data sources, including:

• Participants: scientists, policymakers, public health professionals, and citizens;
• Data Sources: epidemiological models, biomedical and socio-economic data, public health records, and stakeholder interviews;
• Subgroups: vulnerable populations such as ethnic minorities, elderly, individuals with socio-economic disadvantages, and those with impaired health status.

Intervention(s)

The interventions in this project include:

• Development of Key Questions and Methods: Identifying essential questions and methods for obtaining actionable information during different pandemic phases;
• Knowledge Synthesis: Reviewing existing knowledge, identifying gaps, and synthesizing data to provide a comprehensive understanding of pandemic impacts, existing assessment frameworks & existing models;
• Modelling: Creating and refining epidemiological models to predict the impacts of interventions and translating these predictions into socio-economic outcomes;
• Simulation Exercises: Conducting simulation exercises to test the integral assessment framework ensuring they are practical and effective;
• Interviews & Surveys: Conducting interviews and surveys to test the practical feasibility of proposed measures among public health professionals;
• Stakeholder Engagement: Involving scientists, policymakers, and citizens in the development and testing of the framework to ensure it is comprehensive and applicable;
• Reflection moments to evaluate collaboration between consortium members, stakeholders & citizens.

Results

• A comprehensive list of key questions and methods for pandemic preparedness;
• An integrated assessment framework for scientific advice';
• A cohesive modelling framework for translating epidemiological data to socio-economic impacts;
• Validated simulation exercises and practical feasibility assessments;
• Practical tools and guidelines for policymakers.