Scientific Committee
José Mª Martín-Moreno
University Clinical Hospital of Valencia
Jose Mª Martín-Moreno completed his medical and health education at the University of Granada and Harvard University. Since then, his career has been mainly devoted to Preventive Medicine and Public Health. He has been a member of different European committees. His work in the field of epidemiology, prevention and control of cancer and cardiovascular diseases gives him a solid background in “non-communicable diseases”. In addition, his extensive experience in Public Health has also included dealing with epidemic outbreak control and responding to health emergencies.
Tit Albreht
National Institute of Public Health of Slovenia
Prof. Tit Albreht, M.D., Ph.D. in Health Services Research at the University of Amsterdam, Head of the Centre for Health Care at the National Institute of Public Health of Slovenia, and member of the Scientific Committee of EUPHA. He served as President of the Slovenian Preventive Medicine Society (2016 – 2022) and was elected President-elect of the European Public Health Association for the term 2024-2026. His research and policy work has predominantly been on policies in health workforce, patient mobility, cancer control and cancer care. He was the scientific coordinator of three EU cancer policy projects, Joint Actions.
Mariluz Amador
Spanish Association Against Cancer
“Dr Mariluz Amador, M.D., PhD., has been a Medical Director in AECC (Asociación Española Contra el Cáncer) since September 2019. Dr Amador is a Medical Oncologist trained at Hospital Doce de Octubre, she holds a PhD from Complutense University in Madrid and has an extensive post-doctoral training which includes a Fellowship in New Drugs development in Oncology at Johns Hopkins University and a Graduate Program in Clinical Research at Bloombert School of Public Heath at The Johns Hopkins University. Member of the American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO), European Society of Medical Oncology (ESMO) and Spanish Society of Medical Oncology (SEOM). She has more than 15 years of experience working in pharmaceutical industry. She has extensive experience in clinical research, development and commercialization of new drugs in Oncology at global, regional and country level.
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Pilar Aparicio
Ministry of Health, Spain
Josep Figueras, MD, MPH, PhD (econ), FFPH is the Director and cofounder of the European Observatory on Health Systems and Policies. In addition to WHO, he has served major multilateral agencies such as the European Commission or the World Bank and has worked as policy advisor.. He was Co-chair of the Scientific Advisory Board of the Monti Commission, and member of several governing, advisory and editorial boards including the governance board of the European Health Forum Gastein. He is currently a visiting professor at the London School of Economics and Maastricht University. Dr Figueras started his career as a specialist in Family and Community medicine in Spain.
Vidal Barchilón
GAT de semFYC
Dr. Barchilón is a family doctor and MPH, and is working at the primary care health setting “Rodríguez-Arias” San Fernando, Cádiz. He is currently the coordinator of Tobacco Addiction Group (GAT) of the semFYC (Spanish Society of Family and Community Medicine). He is also chairing the working and research group in smoking cessation at SAMFyC (Andalusian Society of Family and Community Medicine), and GRAP (Primary Care Spanish Respiratory Group). He has been joining the IPCRG’s research subcommittee for 4 years, leading tobacco papers. He has been the director of the comprehensive smoking plan for the government of the Andalusia’s government for two years. çHe has been involved in the development of Spanish national guidelines in smoking cessation, publications in tobacco cessation, and educational activities.
Josep M. Borrás
Catalan Cancer Strategy
Josep M Borras (MD, Phd) is a physician with postgraduate training in epidemiology, Scientific advisor to the Catalonian Cancer Strategy at the Department of Health and full professor of Epidemiology and Public Health at the University of Barcelona, Spain. Previously, he was director of the Catalonian Cancer Institute (ICO). He studied medicine at the Autonomous University of Barcelona (UAB) and subsequently, he gained his PhD in Medicine at the same University. Also, he holds a Master in Methodology in Health Sciences (UAB).
Kristin Byrkje
Norwegian Cancer Society
Kristin Byrkje is a special adviser at the Norwegian Cancer Society (NCS). Kristin Byrkje has almost 20 years’ experience in tobacco control, covering areas such as tobacco cessation, advocacy work, strategic planning and policy making, media work, project development and project management. She contributed to drafting a national tobacco control strategy (A Future Without Tobacco, 2013-2016) at the Ministry of Health and Care Services. Byrkje serves as vice president of the Smoke Free Partnership Board of Directors. She is active in the Nordic Tobacco Control Network and the Smoke Free Partnership Coalition.
Angela Ciobanu
World Health Organization
Angela Ciobanu is a medical doctor and graduated with a Master’s degree in the Hebrew University-Hadassah Braun School of Public Health and Community Medicine and the Doctoral programs at the State University of Medicine and Pharmacy “Nicolae Testemițanu”, Republic of Moldova. For more than 10 years she worked in the National Center of Public Health of the Republic of Moldova. In the second term of 2018 she moved to Copenhagen in the position of technical officer in tobacco control of the WHO Regional Office for Europe where is currently working.
Esteve Fernández
Institut Català d'Oncologia
Esteve Fernández, Director of the Department of Cancer Prevention & Control and the WHO Collaborating Center for Tobacco Control of the ICO and IDIBELL, in Barcelona, is also a Professor of Preventive Medicine and Public Health at the School of Medicine at University of Barcelona. He received his MD from the Autonomous University of Barcelona, as well as the Master of Public Health and Doctoral degrees. Dr. Fernandez’s main areas of research are primary prevention and early detection of cancer, with special focus on tobacco smoking.
Antonio Fernández-Pro
Spanish Society of General and Family Physicians (SEMG)
Dr. Antonio Fernández-Pro is the actual President of the Spanish Society of General and Family Physicians. He holds a degree in medicine and surgery from the University of Seville, specializing in family and community medicine. He’s got professional knowledge from different points of the health system that he has developed in his professional field Castilla – La Mancha, getting involved with the community and health professionals of said autonomous community, in which, in addition to exercising his healthcare profession at the Health Center of Menasalbas (Toledo), is the coordinator of the Center, as well as of the medical offices in the area linked to the Center.
Josep Figueras
European Observatory on Health Systems and Policies
Josep Figueras, MD, MPH, PhD (econ), FFPH is the Director and cofounder of the European Observatory on Health Systems and Policies. In addition to WHO, he has served major multilateral agencies such as the European Commission or the World Bank and has worked as policy advisor.. He was Co-chair of the Scientific Advisory Board of the Monti Commission, and member of several governing, advisory and editorial boards including the governance board of the European Health Forum Gastein. He is currently a visiting professor at the London School of Economics and Maastricht University. Dr Figueras started his career as a specialist in Family and Community medicine in Spain.
Marcos García
Plan Integral de Tabaquismo de Andalucía (P.I.T.A)
“Dr. Marcos García is Director of the Andalusian Integrated Smoking Plan (P.I.T.A) at the Andalusian Ministry of Health and Consumer Affairs. A specialist at the Regional Hospital of Malaga, his main objective is to reduce the number of smokers, especially among young people. He holds a degree as a Doctor of Medicine, University of Malaga. He also has a Master’s degree in smoking from the University of Seville, University Expert in Smoking from the University of Granada, University Expert in Smoking from the University of Las Palmas, SEPAR Expert in Smoking.
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Francisco García Río
SEPAR
Head of the Pulmonology Section, La Paz University Hospital. Professor of Medicine, Autonomous University of Madrid. President of the Spanish Society of Pulmonology and Thoracic Surgery (SEPAR). Research interests include the systematization of the study of pulmonary function, the pathogenesis of airflow limitation, and systemic manifestations of sleep-related respiratory disorders.
Mervi Hara
Action on Smoking or Health
Mervi Hara has been the Executive Director of Finland’s ASH since 1990. During her professional career she’s published numerous publications on tobacco policy, tobacco marketing, cancer, smoking and communication. She has got a large experience in the tobacco control field while participating in many activities such as the planning, promotion and develop of the national tobacco control policy, the strategic planning of various national projects and being a consultant on tobacco policy and health.
Adelaida Lozano
FAECAP
Dr. Adelaida Lozano is a Public Health Nurse in the Health Promotion and Education Service of the General Directorate of Public Health and Addictions. She is the coordinator of the Smoking Group of FAECAP and SEAPREMURS, the former vice-president of the National Committee for the Smoking Prevention (CNPT) and current Territorial Delegate in the Region of Murcia. Her research and experience focuses mainly in the field of tobacco control, where she has been the principal investigator in three different lines of research.
Liliana Mahulea
Aragonese Health Service (SALUD)
Dr. Liliana Mahulea is a specialist in family and community medicine, with training in Zaragoza. She is currently working as a family doctor at the “La Jota” Health Center in Zaragoza. She has been Coordinator of the Health Center and associate professor of the University of Zaragoza. She is also a tutor of accredited residents. Dr. Mahulea is a member of the SEMERGEN Diabetes Group, the SEMERGEN smoking group and RedGDPS
Florin Mihatlan
European Network for Smoking and Tobacco Prevention (ENSP)
Florin Mihatlan is a Senior Pneumologist, MD, PhD, FCCP at the Institute of Pneumophtisiology “Marius Nasta”. He also is Professor Head of Pneumology Department (II) at University of Medicine and Pharmacy “Carol Davila”, Bucharest (Romania), President of the European Network for Smoking and Tobacco Prevention (ENSP), Future President of the Romanian Society of Pneumology (2024-2026), National GOLD and GINA representative, Initiator of somnology in Romania and of the First Quitting Smoking Office in Romania, Member ENSP Board since 2016, Member of the Romanian Medical Academy since 2018 and Member of ERS, ATS, CHEST, OGP, Romanian Society of Pneumology.
César Minué
Spanish Society of Tobacco Specialists (SEDET)
Dr. Minué has been a family doctor since 1995, with uninterrupted care activity. He is currently the Director of the Perales del Río Health Center. He’s main activity is care, in the Primary Care consultation, which he complements with teaching and research activity, in the field of cardiovascular risk, aimed at the control and management of tobacco. He is also the President of the Spanish Society of Tobacco Specialists (SEDET), he belongs to the Tobacco Addiction Group (GAT) of the Madrid Society of Family and Community Medicine, and is part of the GAT of the Spanish Society (semFYC).
Iveta Nagyova
Pavol Jozef Safarik University
Dr. Iveta Nagyova is the Head of the Department of Social and Behavioural Medicine and a Senior Research Leader at Pavol Jozef Safarik University. She is also the President of the European Public Health Association (EUPHA), and a member of several advisory groups at the WHO. Her research interests are in biobehavioural and psychosocial innovations in chronic condition prevention and management, non-pharmacological interventions, behaviour change, improvements in functional status and quality of life in persons with a chronic disease and their implications for integrated care.
Haik Nikogosian
The Graduate Institute Geneva
Haik Nikogosian, MD, PhD, DSc, Prof. is currently a senior affiliate with the Global Health Centre, Graduate Institute of International and Development Studies in Geneva, with focus on global health instruments, diplomacy and governance. In 2007-14 he was the founding Head of the Secretariat of the WHO Framework Convention on Tobacco Control. Served also in other senior roles in WHO, including as Special Representative and as Head, Non-communicable Diseases and Lifestyles with WHO/Europe. Before his move to international work, served as Minister of Health, and as founding Chairman of the National Institute of Health of Armenia.
María José Peña Mateo
Sociedad Española de Médicos Generales y de Familia (SEMG)
María José Peña is a Medical Doctor specialized in Family and Community Medicine and is part of the cardiovascular and diabetes working group. She has worked as a professional at the Institut Català de la Salut for more the 13 years. Dr. Peña is also a member of the Spanish Society of General and Family Doctors. She obtained her Medicine’s degree at the Autonomous University of Barcelona.
Verónica Pérez
SEMERGEN
Psychologist degree with demonstrated experience in psychological care for elderly, in Neumology Services with asthmatic patients and smokers with chronic disease and in the use of new technologies in the psychological treatments also. I have acquired these experiences both in Spain as in Japan where I’ve been working during the last three years. This multi-country and multicultural experience has allowed me to be fluent in three languages, Spanish (mother tongue), English (bilingual) and Japanese (bilingual) and understand different cultures and ways to see disease.
Francisco José Rodríguez Lozano
European Network for Smoking and Tobacco Prevention (ENSP)
Dr. Francisco José Rodríguez Lozano is a Medical Doctor, Specialist in Dentistry and Magister in Tobacco Control. During his professional career he has held different positions such as: the president of CNPT, the vicepresident of CED and board member of SEDET, among others. He has done lobby work with Spanish parliamentarians, union representatives and journalists for the latest Spanish Tobacco Law (2010) and its maintenance and lobby work with Spanish MEPs for the latest Tobacco Products Directive (2014).
Lucienne Thommes
Director of the Fondation Cancer Luxembourg
A medical doctor (GP) by training, Dr Thommes is the Director of the Fondation Cancer Luxembourg (FC) since January 2016. Lucienne is a Board Member of the Scientific Committee in the Association of European Cancer Leagues – selecting cancer research projects to be funded by the FC – and acts as the representative of FC in the European Network on Smoking Prevention. She also participates in the ECL’s Access to Medicines Task Force and serves in multiple working groups of the National Cancer Plan as cancer patients advocate.
Wendy Yared
European Cancer Leagues (ECL)
Dr Wendy Yared is the Executive Director of the Association of European Cancer Leagues (ECL), a pan-European alliance of national and regional cancer leagues. Dr Yared has over 30 years’ experience in international public health and cancer policy, most of which is in Europe. Professional roles include the World Health Organization, the European Parliament, Johns Hopkins University, the United States Public Health Service, and with the US government in sub-Saharan Africa.