Major challenges in biomedical research are the elucidation of the aetiology and pathogenesis of diseases for which there is more than one interacting cause (genetic, environmental, lifestyle) of high (e.g. cardiovascular diseases, cancer, diabetes) or low (e.g. rare diseases) morbidity.  There is an urgent need to improve diagnosis, treatment, prevention and surveillance through epidemiology and applying advances in modern technology, requiring a multinational approach.