J.Z.U. INSTITUT ZA JAVNO ZDRAVJE NA REPUBLIKA SEVERNA MAKEDONIJA SKOPJE

Their core work

The Institute of Public Health of North Macedonia is the country's national public health authority, responsible for population-level health monitoring, disease surveillance, and environmental health assessment. Within EU research, they serve as North Macedonia's node for human biomonitoring and food safety metrology infrastructure, collecting and analyzing biological samples to track chemical exposures across the population. They contribute epidemiological data from national health surveys and cohort studies, particularly on how environmental factors affect child development and mental health. Their practical value lies in providing access to Balkan population data and public health infrastructure that is otherwise difficult for Western European consortia to reach.

What they specialise in

How they've shifted over time

Their early H2020 work (2016-2017) was broad — intersectoral health-environment research (INHERIT) and food metrology infrastructure planning (PRO-METROFOOD). From 2017 onward, a clear specialization emerged around human biomonitoring, chemical exposure tracking, and environmental health, culminating in the Equal-Life project on childhood mental health and the exposome. The trajectory shows a shift from general public health participation toward a focused role as a national biomonitoring and environmental epidemiology node.

Moving toward exposome science and environmental effects on child development — expect future involvement in large-scale population health and biomonitoring initiatives across the Western Balkans.

How they like to work

Exclusively a participant — they have never coordinated an H2020 project, which is typical for national public health institutes from enlargement countries joining large pan-European consortia. With 183 unique partners across 33 countries, they operate in very large networks (their projects average 35+ partners each). This makes them an accessible, low-friction partner accustomed to working within complex multi-country governance structures.

Remarkably broad network of 183 partners across 33 countries, achieved through participation in flagship pan-European initiatives like HBM4EU (over 100 partners) and METROFOOD-RI. Their network spans nearly all EU and associated countries, giving them connections well beyond what their modest funding levels would suggest.

What sets them apart

As North Macedonia's national public health institute, they are the default entry point for any EU consortium needing Balkan population data, biomonitoring samples, or public health infrastructure from the Western Balkans region. Few organizations can provide equivalent access to North Macedonian health survey data and biological sample collections within an established EU research framework. For consortium builders seeking geographic coverage of enlargement countries, they offer proven reliability across five completed or ongoing H2020 projects.

Highlights from their portfolio

• HBM4EU
  Flagship European Human Biomonitoring Initiative with 100+ partners — positioned IJZRSM as North Macedonia's national hub for chemical exposure monitoring across the population.
• Equal-Life
  Their most recent and longest project (2020-2025), marking a strategic shift into childhood mental health and exposome research with the largest single-project funding they received (EUR 120,500).
• METROFOOD-PP
  Preparatory phase for a major ESFRI research infrastructure on food metrology — signals long-term commitment to EU food safety infrastructure beyond individual project cycles.