The LINDA-FAMILIA research project officially commenced with a four-day kick-off meeting held in Istanbul, Turkey, in November 2025. The meeting brought together over 30 participants from the project’s global partner consortium, with representatives from Ireland, Ethiopia, Norway, Rwanda, Tanzania, Uganda and the United Kingdom. The event marked an important milestone for the project, setting the direction for collaborative research, capacity strengthening, and policy engagement in maternal and child health.
Day 1
Marked the formal opening of the project with a Principal Investigator meeting in the morning, followed by a keynote presentation from the Director of INFANT, Prof Geraldine Boylan. Prof Boylan welcomed participants and outlined the overarching vision and ambition of LINDA-FAMILIA within the Horizon Europe framework. This was followed by detailed work package meetings, during which work package leads presented planned activities, timelines, and deliverables. These sessions provided clarity on roles and responsibilities and facilitated cross-work-package discussions to identify synergies and address potential challenges early in the project lifecycle.
Day 2
Day 2 focused on policy engagement and digital health systems. The morning opened with an insightful presentation from the Chief Medical Officer of Tanzania, Dr Grace Magembe who shared national perspectives on maternal and child health priorities and the importance of strengthening health information systems. This was followed by a live demonstration of an eRegistry system, giving partners a practical understanding of how digital tools can support improved data capture, continuity of care, and evidence-informed decision-making.
In the afternoon, consortium members participated in a dedicated meeting with policymakers to discuss strategies for transitioning from paper-based to digital health records. Representatives from all four African partner countries – Tanzania, Ethiopia, Rwanda, and Uganda – summarised the challenges and opportunities within their national contexts, identifying shared learning opportunities across countries. The session was further enriched by the remote participation of Dr Semakula Muhammed, Permanent Secretary at the Ministry of Health, Rwanda, who provided valuable insights into the structure of Rwanda’s healthcare system and its ongoing digital health reforms.
Day 3
Day 3 centred on capacity strengthening for both early-career researchers and the wider consortium. A series of workshops supported PhD students in developing research and professional skills, while additional sessions engaged all partners. The day also included a comprehensive Project Management session, which presented guidance and best practices for the successful delivery of a Horizon Europe project, clarified partner responsibilities, and outlined reporting requirements. A lengthy and productive discussion on data sharing reflected the consortium’s shared commitment to ethical, transparent, and equitable research practices.
Day 4
Day 4 continued the focus on capacity strengthening for PhD students. PhD candidates were given the opportunity to pitch their research projects to the consortium, fostering mentorship, collaboration, and constructive feedback. The final session of the meeting, titled “Maternal and Child Health Research Grants to Consider Beyond LINDA-FAMILIA”, highlighted opportunities for future research funding and encouraged partners to think strategically about sustaining collaboration beyond the project’s lifetime.
Overall, the four-day kick-off meeting in Istanbul was highly successful, providing extensive opportunities for networking, knowledge exchange, and LINDA-FAMILIA team building. With strong engagement across the consortium and a clear roadmap in place, the project is well positioned to deliver impactful research outcomes in maternal and child health.
