Sessions

This introductory session provides an overview of the EHDS and its broader implications. Learn from Europe’s leading expert why the EHDS matters, where we are in the implementation process and how European countries are jointly moving ahead. 

Join us for an insightful panel discussion on the development of the Nordic model for collaboration on the secondary use of health data, building on the published VALO report. Aligned with both the EHDS and the Nordic sustainability goals for 2030, the model aims to bring together stakeholders to enhance cross-border collaboration and efficiency. This session will delve into potential future collaborations that can drive innovation and improve health outcomes across the region.  

This session provides an overview of the preparations for the EHDS through national case studies. Additionally, we will discuss findings on how Nordic agencies are gearing up for EHDS implementation. 

This comprehensive session will cover multiple aspects of healthcare data initiatives and pioneering research in the Nordic countries. Topics include situational mapping of OMOP readiness in the Nordic countries, VALO Pilot focused on metastatic non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) and the future of OMOP in the Nordics. 

In the rapidly evolving landscape of healthcare data analytics, the OMOP Common Data Model (CDM) has emerged as a game-changer, revolutionizing the way real-world evidence (RWE) is generated and utilized. This presentation gives an introduction to the OMOP Common Data model and its open community. It highlights OMOP's role in enhancing data interoperability, facilitating multi-country observational studies, and its synergy with other standards. This presentation is the first in a series of presentations given as an introduction to OMOP at Vitalis.

This session builds on the previous OMOP 101 session. IT will provide a more practical perspective for organizations looking to adopt the OMOP Common Data Model (CDM) and join the OHDSI community to get started with federated analytics. The presentation will draw from the OMOP experience from Helsinki University Hospital (HUS) and outline key steps, required competencies, and infrastructure needed for implementation, as well as information on how to join and leverage the international OHDSI network in the process.The presentation will show how HUS has successfully navigated the process from data sources, through ETL (Extract, Transform, Load) to OMOP data, quality control, to the first federated real-world study, and further into swarm-learning for predictive modelling.This presentation is the second in a series of presentations given as an introduction to OMOP at Vitalis.

This presentation provides a practical overview of implementing the OMOP CDM in a collaborative, pan-European oncology research setting and learnings from a specific study. Professor Åslaug Helland will present a case study from the DigiONE pilot project, where harmonized oncology data was used to evaluate overall survival (OS) in metastatic non-small cell lung cancer (mNSCLC) patients based on metastasis location. The study leveraged federated analysis across multiple European cancer centers, including Oslo University Hospital, to generate real-world evidence while preserving patient privacy. 
This presentation is the third in a series of presentations given as an introduction to OMOP at Vitalis.

This panel discussion explores how a Nordic federated network can unlock the full potential of Nordic health data and strengthen Real-World Evidence (RWE) generation.Professor Kimmo Porkka from Helsinki University Hospital and founder of FinOMOP will introduce the session with a presentation on FinOMOP—a nationwide, population-based harmonized health data infrastructure in Finland, aiming for full coverage by 2026. Through collaboration with all five Finnish university hospitals and national registries, a large share of patient data (70%) is already mapped to OMOP CDM.Following his introduction, the panel will discuss how Sweden and other Nordic countries can build on FinOMOP’s success to leverage its high-quality health data and create a Nordic-wide federated research network. The discussion will explore lessons learned from existing federated networks, the steps Sweden should take to harmonize health data for secondary use, and which data sources should be prioritized for maximum impact. Can the Nordics be a global hub for pharmaceutical companies, biotech firms, AI-driven healthcare innovators, and clinical trial sponsors seeking access to high-quality, real-time real-world data.This session concludes the four-part OMOP introduction at Vitalis, providing a forum for next steps, collaboration opportunities, and practical insights on Nordic OMOP adoption.

This session gives an overview of the challenges with AI in healthcare and presents the Trustworthy and Reliable AI Network TRAIN Europe

Since 2011 the Nordic Council of Ministers (NCM) eHealth group has been active to ensure knowledge transfer between the Nordic countries and strengthen the region's global leadership in eHealth. Since then, all Nordic countries have successfully digitalized their health care systems and been active at the European and global levels. On March 26th this year the EU Regulation on the European Health Data Space (EHDS) entered into force. During this session, ongoing and planned activities will be presented and the audience invited to contribute with their points of view.

The Extended Electronic Health Record (Xt-EHR) Joint Action supports the Commission’s policy priority for “A Europe fit for the digital age” by implementing the EU4Health Programme’s general objective of “strengthening health systems”. This project enhances the cooperation among Member States (MS) regarding the content and functionality of EHR, the interoperability and the exchange of healthcare data, contribute to the preparation of the foundations for the improved primary use of electronic health data, the most recently voted new regulation for the European Health Data Space (EHDS), and empower individuals to control their health data.

This session explores the ambitious goals of the European Health Data Space and the steps needed to fully realize its potential. It will focus on lessons learned from past initiatives, the role of TEHDAS2 and the Nordic VALO project, and the path forward for a harmonized and impactful health data framework in the EU.

Even under the most extreme conditions — including full-scale invasion, mass displacement of civilians, and systematic attacks on healthcare infrastructure — Ukraine has managed to maintain the functioning of its health system by relying on a robust digital backbone: the national Electronic Health System. With over 35 million patient records and more than 400,000 connected healthcare professionals, the system ensures secure medical data exchange, supports continuity of healthcare services, and enables real-time coordination across all regions of the country.What began as part of a healthcare reform agenda before the pandemic has evolved into a nationwide system ensuring interoperability and efficiency under extreme conditions. Ukraine’s experience demonstrates how public digital infrastructure — when built with flexibility, national stewardship, and long-term vision — can sustain essential services even in crisis.This presentation offers a powerful case study on how public sector digital transformation, driven by urgency, innovation, and determination, can operate under fire—and inspire international partnerships for the future of health data exchange in Europe.

The European Health Data Space stands as a cornerstone for the ambitious European Health Union, with its success dependent on decisions and foundations laid today. This panel brings together key architects of current Joint Actions and diverse European perspectives to envision where EHDS could realistically be in ten years and what critical choices must be made to achieve this shared vision.

Explore the XpanDH project’s key insights into implementing the European Electronic Health Record Exchange Format (EEHRxF) within the European Health Data Space (EHDS). This session highlights actionable strategies to foster interoperability, build trust, and drive digital health innovation across Europe.

Dataspace4Health (DS4H) in Luxembourg showcases a practical pathway to implementing the European Health Data Space. By addressing critical health data challenges in diabetes and cancer, DS4H demonstrates how secure, compliant data ecosystems can enhance care delivery and advance research. This lecture will explore Luxembourg's current approach to primary and secondary use of data and federated data space frameworks through real-world healthcare applications.

The European Health Data Space (EHDS) aims to improve access to and control over personal electronic health data in the context of healthcare. In addition,  establishing a common mechanism to access electronic health data for secondary use across the Union is a necessity for improving health care.

While EHDS represents a landmark regulatory framework, its success hinges on our collective ability to transform fragmented, variable-quality health data into actionable insights that benefit patients, researchers, and healthcare systems. This panel brings together experts who have implemented practical solutions—from Luxembourg's implementation pathway and XpanDH project recommendations to cancer research initiatives and the development of ecosystem approaches—to discuss how we can make health data truly work across primary and secondary uses.