Our project
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Who we are
The ConsortiumSTARS-Health is carried out by a multidisciplinary European consortium composed of five universities and a regional health service, all of which have extensive experience in applied research, innovation, and healthcare delivery. This combination ensures that the project is firmly connected to real clinical practice while maintaining high scientific standards.
Team Experience
The STARS-Health team has a strong track record in European projects related to digital health, ageing, health literacy, person-centred care, and integrated care. Their expertise includes the development and evaluation of digital tools, the creation of training programmes for professionals and caregivers, and studies aimed at reducing health inequalities and improving communication within healthcare settings.
Our Researchers
Rui Pedro Lopes
Associate Professor – Polytechnic Institute of Bragança (Portugal) Rui Pedro Lopes is a researcher and associate professor at the Polytechnic Institute of Bragança. He holds a PhD in Electrical Engineering and an MSc in Electronics and Telecommunications from the University of Aveiro. His research focuses on distributed systems, operating systems, and network management, as well as innovative approaches to learning and student motivation. Within STARS-Health, he brings expertise in digital technologies, user-centred solution design, and the development of digital tools applied to health and education.
Sandra Jorna-Lakke
Project Coordinator – Hanze University of Applied Sciences (The Netherlands) Sandra Jorna-Lakke is the STARS-Health project coordinator and researcher at Hanze University of Applied Sciences. She has extensive experience in applied research in health, ageing, and integrated care. She has led European projects focused on improving healthcare delivery and health services innovation. In STARS-Health, she oversees the scientific and strategic coordination, ensuring integration between research, clinical practice, and the development of inclusive digital solutions.
Lilisbeth Perestelo-Pérez
Director of the Evaluation Unit – Canary Islands Health Service (SESCS-SCS, Spain) Lilisbeth Perestelo-Pérez holds a PhD in Clinical and Health Psychology and is the Director of the Evaluation Unit of the Canary Islands Health Service. She specialises in health services evaluation, health technologies, and shared decision-making. She has an extensive national and international research career, including postdoctoral work at Massachusetts General Hospital and the Mayo Clinic. In STARS-Health, she contributes her expertise in health literacy, intervention evaluation, patient-centred care, and evidence generation for public health policy.
Ángel José Acebes Vindel
Full Professor – University of La Laguna (Spain) Ángel Acebes is a Full Professor in the Department of Basic Medical Sciences at the University of La Laguna and principal investigator in neuroscience and ageing. He has a strong international research background, with experience in European projects and research group leadership. He is the leader of the STARS EU Healthy Ageing Thematic Interest Group (TIG) at ULL and co-leader of STARS-Health. His contribution focuses on healthy ageing, translational research, and the integration of scientific evidence into European projects.
Margareta Karlsson
Senior Researcher – University West (Sweden) Margareta Karlsson is a senior researcher at University West, with extensive experience in health, ageing, and person-centred care. Her work focuses on improving the quality of healthcare services and communication between patients, caregivers, and professionals. In STARS-Health, she contributes to the design and evaluation of interventions aimed at improving integra
Kristina Åhlund
Researcher – University West (Sweden) Kristina Åhlund is a researcher at University West, specialising in ageing, healthcare, and the development of innovative practices in long-term care. Her profile combines applied research with collaboration with healthcare and social services. In STARS-Health, she participates in needs analysis, digital solution evaluation, and the development of approaches focused on older adults with lower health and digital literacy.
Sara Darias-Curvo
Professor of Nursing and Public Health – University of La Laguna (Spain) Sara Darias-Curvo is Professor of Nursing and Public Health at the University of La Laguna and Director of the Centre for the Study of Social Inequality and Governance (CEDESOG). She holds a PhD in Political Science and Sociology and has over 30 years of experience in public health, ageing, health literacy, and social inequalities. She has led numerous European and international projects and collaborated with the WHO. As principal investigator in STARS-Health, she contributes her expertise in health equity, public policy, and the social determinants of ageing.
Markéta Skalná
Assistant Professor – Silesian University in Opava (Czech Republic) Markéta Skalná is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Paramedical Health Studies at Silesian University in Opava. She holds a PhD in Anthropology from Masaryk University in Brno, in collaboration with the State University of Milan, Italy. Her research focuses on human society, multiculturalism, health literacy, human anatomy, and imaging methods of the human body. She was the Principal Investigator of the Breaking Fences project, which explored norms and power structures in healthcare, and she also organises the BIP course on the same topic. Within STARS-Health, she brings her expertise in multicultural health, health literacy, and understanding social factors that influence older adults’ interaction with digital health services.
Anne Svensson
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Our Objectives
General ObjectiveTo improve digital health and healthcare outcomes for older adults with lower health and digital literacy.Specific Objectives
Identify the needs, barriers, risks, and opportunities of older adults and their caregivers in using digital health services. Redesign and adapt the FindMyApps application to better support older adults with lower health and digital literacy. Develop and implement training programmes in digital communication for caregivers and healthcare professionals in primary, hospital, and community care. Generate practical recommendations and promote good practices in digital health and integrated care.
Expected Impact
STARS-Health will contribute to improving equity in access to healthcare, strengthening secondary and tertiary prevention strategies, and enhancing communication between patients, caregivers, and professionals. In the medium and long term, the project will help reduce pressure on healthcare systems and provide robust evidence to support public health policy design in digital health, healthy ageing, and integrated care
Phases/Schedule
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Activities and results
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit. Suspendisse orci velit, egestas non turpis condimentum, semper vehicula nibh. Pellentesque habitant morbi tristique senectus et netus et malesuada fames ac turpis egestas. Nam ultricies facilisis mi, quis venenatis turpis hendrerit a. Curabitur quis tempus turpis, id molestie dolor. Vivamus ullamcorper semper nisl ac pharetra. Integer convallis imperdiet leo, in egestas tellus sagittis sit amet. Curabitur ut felis ac leo luctus aliquet. Duis interdum faucibus volutpat.
Testimonials
Scope Map
News
STARS EU looks out for European Researchers’ Night with science that transforms lives
Sara, Samir, Ariola and Jan are the experts behind health, clean energy and entrepreneurship projects, which connect Europe and bring science closer to society
0 Comments3 Minutes
STARS-Health defines its roadmap to strengthen digital inclusion for older adults
The project was officially launched with a workshop in Groningen, attended by patient organisations, healthcare professionals, educators and researchers
0 Comments4 Minutes
STARS EU to research healthcare for older patients with lower health and digital literacy
STARS-Health, an initiative of the universities of Hanze, La Laguna, West, Silesian and Bragança, will redesign an application to reduce inequalities in this area
0 Comments5 Minutes
Resources
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Norm-Consciousness and Health Mastering the Art of Effective Presentations Job It Up! Critical thinking in the age of generative artificial intelligence Emotional Education Climate Responsive and Sustainable Building Design Business Simulation and Financial Analysis Heritage in Video Games Knowledge Transfer Academy
Norm-Consciousness and Health Mastering the Art of Effective Presentations Job It Up! Critical thinking in the age of generative artificial intelligence Emotional Education Climate Responsive and Sustainable Building Design Business Simulation and Financial Analysis Heritage in Video Games Knowledge Transfer Academy
Contact/Participation
Netherlands
Zernikeplein 7,
9747 AS Groningen,
Netherlands.
info@starseu.org