Advancing care
through collaboration
Managing obesity is a complex challenge. The scale of which means that no single organization can tackle it alone.
That’s why SOPHIA is a Public-Private Partnership bringing together more than 35 partners from around the world – each of us united in optimizing future obesity care.
SOPHIA partners
Universities, research organizations, public bodies, non-profit groups
- University College Dublin, National University of Ireland
- Assistance Publique Hopitaux De Paris, France
- Centre Hospitalier Regional Et Universitaire De Lille, France
- Centre Hospitalier Universitaire Vaudois, Lausanne, Switzerland
- Consiglio Nazionale Delle Ricerche, Roma, Italy
- Dasman Research Education and Training Company, Sharq, Kuwait
- Eberhard Karls Universitaet Tuebingen, Tuebingen, Germany
- Erasmus Universitair Medisch Centrum Rotterdam, Netherlands
- Fundacio Institut D'Investigacio Biomedica De Girona Doctor Josep Trueta, Salt, Spain
- George Washington University Corporation, Washington DC, United States
- Goeteborgs Universitet, Gothenburg, Sweden
- Katholieke Universiteit Leuven, Leuven, Belgium
- Lunds Universitet, Lund, Sweden
- Maccabi Sheirutei Briut Foundation, Tel Aviv, Israel
- SIB Institut Suisse De Bioinformatique, Genève, Switzerland
- The European Association for the Study of Obesity, Dublin, Ireland
- The University of Exeter, Exeter, United Kingdom
- Universita Cattolica Del Sacro Cuore, Milan, Italy
- Universitaet Ulm, Ulm, Germany
- Universiteit Maastricht, Maastricht, Netherlands
- University College Cork, National University of Ireland
- University Of Bristol, United Kingdom
- University Of Dundee, United Kingdom
EFPIA companies
- Novo Nordisk A/S, Bagsvaerd, Denmark
- Boehringer Ingelheim International gmbh, Ingelheim, Germany
- Eli Lilly And Company LTD, Basingstoke, United Kingdom
- Medtronic International Trading SARL, Tolochenaz, Switzerland
- Pfizer Limited, Sandwich, Kent, United Kingdom
Healthcare SMEs
- Atturos Limited, Limerick Clare, Ireland
- Lipotype, Dresden, Germany
- Metabolon GmbH, Potsdam, Germany
- Third-I, Vilvoorde, Belgium
Associated partners
- JDRF International, New York, United States
- Obesity Action Coalition Inc, Tampa, United States
- T1D Exchange Inc, Boston, United States
Third parties
- Fundacio Institut Universitari Pera La Recerca A L’Atencio Primaria De Salut Jordi Gol I Gurina, Barcelona, Spain
- Obesitas Nederland BV, Huis Ter Heide, Netherlands
- Universidad De Navarra, Pamplona, Spain
- Universita Degli Studi Di Roma Tor Vergata, Rome, Italy
Project Coordinator: Carel le Roux, University College Dublin
Project Manager: Werd Al-Najim, University College Dublin
The Public-Private Partnership SOPHIA is led by University College Dublin and global
healthcare company Novo Nordisk
SOPHIA advisors
Patient Advisory Board
The Patient Advisory Board (PAB) is made up of people living with obesity and those with extensive
experience in obesity treatment and its complications.
The PAB has two main roles:
- Providing patient-centric guidance and feedback on all project activities and outputs
- Offering specialist advice and input to the project team when needed
Reimbursement Advisory Board
The Reimbursement Advisory Board (RAB) reflects the perspectives and priorities of payment agencies
and insurance companies. Their support is essential for the long-term value and impact of SOPHIA.
Strategic Advisory Board
The Strategic Advisory Board (SAB) includes top scientists and clinicians in the field. They bring their
expertiseand awareness of the obesity research landscape to advise on developments and
opportunities that may impact SOPHIA.
The SAB roles are both general and specific:
- Provide scientific and clinical inputs on project plans, activities, and outputs
- Help SOPHIA deliver optimal impact and benefits
- Provide specific insight on scientific challenges within their areas of expertise
SOPHIA funding
SOPHIA is funded through the Innovative Medicines Initiative (IMI), a joint undertaking of the European Commission and the European Federation of Pharmaceutical Industries and Associations (EFPIA), T1D Exchange, JDRF, and Obesity Action Coalition.
The current Innovative Health Initiative (IHI), formerly the Innovative Medicines Initiative (IMI) is the world’s largest public-private partnership framework within health technology and life sciences – aiming to translate scientific knowledge into people-centered, cost-effective interventions responding to unmet public health needs.