We are pleased to invite you to the final event of the HELICON project, which will take place on Monday, 15 December 2025, from 09:30 to 14:00, in Room Storck at the Eurostation building (Rue Ernest Blérot 1, Brussels).

Over the past four years, HELICON has aimed to unravel the long-term and indirect health impacts of the COVID-19 crisis in Belgium, with a particular focus on social inequalities. The project examined how the pandemic affected different population groups, both through the disease itself and through the wider consequences of the crisis, such as disruptions in health care and shifts in health care use. By bringing together researchers, policymakers, and stakeholders, HELICON has generated evidence to guide future health policies and improve pandemic preparedness.

During this closing event, the HELICON team will present the main findings of the project, highlighting key insights into health inequalities and the direct and indirect effects of COVID-19. National experts, including Isabelle Devos, Niel Hens, and Marius Gilbert, will share their perspectives on the lessons learned from the pandemic and reflect on strategies to strengthen public health surveillance and response. The program will conclude with a panel discussion on how to better translate scientific evidence into effective policy, followed by a networking lunch to exchange ideas and explore future collaborations.

Join us to look back on the pandemic’s impact and discuss how we can build resilient and equitable health systems for the future.

• Sciensano - HELICON [2]
• Helicon - BRAIN-be [3]

Preliminary programme

9.30: Word of welcome - Brecht Devleesschauwer

9.40: Opening presentation by Belspo - Naji Aziz

10.00: Social health inequalities in the COVID-19 pandemic and its long-term direct health impacts - Lisa Cavillot

10.15: The indirect health and economic impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on non-COVID diseases in Belgium - Yasmine Khan

10.30: Socio-economic and sociodemographic factors of COVID-19: From evidence to policy - Jinane Ghattas

10.45: Q&A

11.00: COVID in historical context - Isabelle Devos

11.20: Break

11.40: Pandemic preparedness (BE-PIN) - Niel Hens

12.00: Pandemic preparedness - Marius Gilbert

12.20: Panel Discussion - Laura Van den Borre, Marius Gilbert, Niel Hens

13.00: Lunch

14.00: End of the meeting

Registration

Register here [4]

Access

access_helicon_closing_meeting.pdf [5]

Contact

Contact our team [6]