World Health Day 2026

April 7 is World Health Day, for this occasion Université Paris Cité reaffirms its long-standing commitment for an innovative and equal health. Ranked first in France for several years across the six health-related fields of the Shanghai Ranking, the university stands out for its excellence in research and education. From the fight against pandemics to therapeutic innovation, and the training of nearly 32,000 students each year, it embodies a holistic vision of healthcare, combining scientific expertise with social responsibility.

Taking on global health challenges with One Health

Université Paris Cité’s One Health project adopts an integrated approach to addressing global health challenges by linking human, animal, and environmental health. Led by the Faculty of Health, the programme seeks to understand and tackle emerging diseases, antibiotic resistance, and ecological crises by bringing together researchers, clinicians, and field practitioners. Through interdisciplinary and international partnerships, it promotes collaborative research, education, and innovation in support of sustainable and equitable health.

One Health is grounded in concrete initiatives, such as the study of zoonotic diseases, pandemic preparedness and response, and biodiversity preservation. For example, an Antimicrobial Resistance Fresk, designed to improve understanding of the issues surrounding antibiotic use and resistance, is organised by the Graduate School and is open to everyone, with no scientific background required. By combining biomedical sciences, ecology, and the social sciences, Université Paris Cité positions this programme as a key lever for building a future in which health and the environment are inseparable, for the benefit of both populations and ecosystems.

Université Paris Cité, lead institution for the Global Health hub of the European alliance Circle U.

In the face of the environmental, social and economic challenges that affect health, universities must, now more than ever, adopt cross-sectoral approaches and offer coordinated responses, both at local and international levels. Recognised for its expertise in health and its commitment to preventing non-communicable diseases, Université Paris Cité leads the Global Health hub of the European alliance Circle U.

Excellence in research across major health fields

The Faculty of Health at Université Paris Cité embodies research excellence that is multidisciplinary, innovative, and forward-looking. Through its Institutes Without Walls (Instituts Hors Murs, IHM), it covers a broad range of fields: transplantation and regenerative medicine, microbiology, immunology and immunopathology, diabetes and metabolism, cardiovascular sciences, women’s and newborn health, neuroscience and cognitive sciences, as well as musculoskeletal diseases.

Université Paris Cité also plays a key role in the Femtech Île-de-France Fund, the first European fund dedicated to women’s health. As a scientific partner, it contributes its interdisciplinary expertise and research ecosystem to support innovation in women’s health. In practical terms, the university gives supported start-ups access to its laboratories, technology platforms, and expert networks, thereby fostering the development of medical, digital, or biotech solutions tailored to women’s specific needs. This partnership, alongside the Île-de-France Region and Turenne Santé, aims to turn scientific advances into concrete applications that improve the prevention, screening, and treatment of women’s health conditions.

iWISH, Université Paris Cité’s Interdisciplinary Institute for Women’s Health, brings together research, teaching, and innovation to address the major challenges of women’s health. At the crossroads of medicine, the social sciences, epidemiology, and biology, the institute develops an integrated translational approach, from fundamental research to clinical applications. Its work is structured around five major thematic areas—sexual and reproductive rights and health, gynaecological health, women’s health in relation to pregnancy, mental health, and sex-specific aspects of chronic diseases—complemented by two essential cross-cutting themes: living, growing, and ageing in good health, and the environment. Together, these areas shape a comprehensive, multidisciplinary vision rooted in contemporary issues, aimed at better understanding, preventing, and improving women’s healthcare throughout the life course. Driven by a collaborative approach, and through partnerships with the National University of Singapore (NUS), Harvard University, and Stanford University, as well as a partnership currently being developed with the University of Oxford, the institute aims to become an international reference point in women’s health.

The Institute of Global Health of Paris Cité, launched in January 2025, brings together the university’s various departments to address major contemporary health challenges (chronic diseases, ageing, nutrition, climate) through a multidisciplinary approach. It is already collaborating with more than 20 African countries and positions Université Paris Cité as a key player in the Europe–Africa dialogue on global health.

The Initiatives of Excellence (inIdEx) reinforce this diversity through major structuring projects: metabolism and inflammation in diabetes (DiabetEX), metabolism and brain development (MetaboBrain), cardiovascular science and immunology (CITY), red blood cells (GR-Ex), immuno-oncology (Immuno-Onco), inflammation and fibrosis (InFibrex), microbes and infectious diseases (MICROB’EX), and synergy for transplantation and organ regeneration (SYTOR). The RHU programmes SPRINT (cardiovascular disease) and FAME (autoimmune and inflammatory disease) further strengthen this momentum by bringing together researchers, clinicians, and industry partners. This integrated approach, combining fundamental, translational, and clinical research, positions the Faculty of Health as a key player in health innovation, serving both patients and society.

The Faculty of Health is also expanding through a scientific mediation service dedicated to its faculty researchers. Its objective is to make research accessible to all, from school pupils to the general public. Through a variety of events, such as those organised for World Diabetes Day, women’s health initiatives, and workshops in Saint-Ouen for school audiences, the faculty builds bridges between science and society. This is an essential approach for democratising knowledge and strengthening ties between research and the wider community.

Student education at the heart of the Faculty of Health

Each year, the Faculty of Health at Université Paris Cité trains nearly 32,000 students, representing close to 10% of France’s health workforce in training. It offers both initial and continuing education across nine major health fields: medicine, pharmacy, dentistry, midwifery, nursing sciences, hearing aid studies, orthoptics, physiotherapy, and podiatry. Structured around four constituent schools—medicine, pharmacy, dentistry, and midwifery—along with a university department of nursing sciences and a department of rehabilitation, it provides a comprehensive learning environment that combines academic excellence with personalised support. In 2027, the Faculty of Health at Université Paris Cité will begin a privileged partnership with the National Veterinary School of Alfort (ENVA), enabling it to cover the full spectrum of human and animal health.

To support student success, the Faculty offers an enhanced guidance framework: the A2SUP association provides tutoring for students in PASS and LAS programmes, including pre-term preparation sessions, mock exams, revision sheets, and oral exam support; the student health service provides medical and psychological care; and regular training opportunities enable students to qualify in mental health first aid. At the same time, initiatives such as the annual “Equalities” lecture series, the yearly Olympiads for newcomers, and the MoveSanté podcast—dedicated to international mobility—enrich the student experience and foster inclusion, openness, and success for all.

iLumens is Université Paris Cité’s healthcare simulation platform, dedicated to the initial and continuing training of health professionals and students. Through realistic environments and innovative technologies—including high-fidelity mannequins, virtual reality, and role play—it enables learners to acquire and assess clinical, technical, and interpersonal skills. Open to all health disciplines, including medicine, pharmacy, dentistry, midwifery, and nursing, iLumens promotes interdisciplinarity and patient safety by preparing learners for critical and complex situations.

The future of health at Université Paris Cité is taking shape in Saint-Ouen

By 2029, the new GHU Grand Paris-Nord campus in Saint-Ouen-sur-Seine will become a major hub for health education and research. This ambitious projectwill bring together the medical and surgical activities of two flagship AP-HP hospitals—Bichat–Claude Bernard (Paris 18th arrondissement!) and Beaujon (Clichy)—including a maternity unit, along with a university complex dedicated to teaching and research in medicine, dentistry, and nursing.

Spanning seven hectares, the campus will also include a building dedicated to student life, thereby further strengthening the link between care, innovation, and education. A new era is opening for Université Paris Cité, where health, research, and society come together to shape the future.