Advancing well-being together: first EUniWell Champions start their six-month period


27/01/2026 | by Janina Baumann


The first of the eight senior researchers selected as EUniWell ambassadors are beginning their six-month term, advancing sustainable well-being through interdisciplinary collaboration across Europe.

The EUniWell Champions Scheme is a flagship initiative that empowers senior researchers to act as ambassadors for the Alliance’s mission and values. The first cohort comprises eight Champions from across the alliance who advance sustainable well-being through research, education and societal engagement. Each Champion is supported with funding of up to €15,000 over a six-month period.

By developing collaborative projects and strengthening interdisciplinary networks, the Champions connect research, education, public engagement and policy-relevant perspectives. In doing so, they reinforce links within their home institutions, across EUniWell partner universities and associated partners, and with civil society and policymakers in Europe and beyond. Acting as ambassadors, the Champions enhance the visibility and impact of EUniWell’s contribution to sustainable well-being and strengthen the Alliance’s role within the European higher education and research landscape.

The Champions’ projects address key societal challenges, ranging from antimicrobial resistance and digital well-being to multilingualism, social health and climate-related risks. Reflecting the diversity of EUniWell’s academic landscape, these initiatives contribute to the alliance’s long-term objective of advancing sustainable well-being in Europe and beyond.

Discover the first Champions and their projects:

1. Dr. Andreas Guidi
Associate Professor of History at Inalco

Dr. Guidi is a historian of the Balkans and the Mediterranean in the 20th century. His research focuses on empires, fascism, colonialism, youth, generations, and migration. "I strongly believe that well-being requires a critical understanding of our past and present. Current environmental crises, social and economic inequality, attacks against democratic institutions, and intolerance can better be studied and addressed by centering the contributions of historians in public debates. For these reasons, I am thrilled to represent Inalco in the first cohort of EUniWell Champions and look forward to enriching conversations with our partner institutions!"

3. Prof. Azucena Mora Gutiérrez
Full Professor of Microbiology at Universidade de Santiago de Compostela

Prof. Gutiérrez's Champions project focuses on strengthening One Health strategies to tackle antimicrobial resistance (AMR) and improve food safety and well-being. Building on her international expertise and collaborations with the Spanish Agency for Food Safety and Nutrition (AESAN), the Spanish National AMR Plan (PRAN–AEMPS), the European Society of Clinical Microbiology and Infectious Diseases (ESCMID), and the Academy of Veterinary Sciences of Galicia, she aims to advance integrated AMR surveillance and promote evidence-based actions that contribute to the SDGs and a healthier, safer future for all.

5. Prof. Hamza Bennani
Professor of Economics at Nantes Université

Prof. Bennani joined the Champions Scheme to share and develop his research into how economic policies, social inequalities, and climate change affect health. Specialising in macroeconomics and climate economics, he studies the impact of heat on vulnerable populations using economic, hospital, and environmental data. Through EUniWell’s Health and Environment arenas, he aims to broaden the scope of his work and inform public policy to prevent heat-related health risks at the European level.

7. Prof. Theodoros Marinis
Professor of Multilingualism at the University of Konstanz

As an EUniWell Champion, Prof. Marinis will foster sustainable collaborations on multilingualism and well-being by building a research and student network and creating new academic opportunities within EUniWell. He will also promote public awareness for the topic of multilingualism and related good practices in education and health.

2. Prof. Anna Maria Papini
Full Professor of Bioorganic Chemistry at the University of Florence

Prof. Papini's project proposes a multidisciplinary initiative to train the next generation of scientists in peptide science, a key field for innovative drugs, diagnostics, and cosmetics. It aims to fill the educational gap in the wellness industry, focusing on young researchers and entrepreneurial skills. Through actions involving research, training, industry, and policy, it will strengthen EUniWell’s visibility and collaboration, promoting “Peptides 4 Wellness” while addressing sustainability in bioactive peptide production.
 

4. Dr. Beáta Pethesné Dávid 
Professor and Director of the Institute of Mental Health at Semmelweis University

Dr. Dávid is the Dean of the Faculty of Health and Public Administration and Director of the Institute of Mental Health at Semmelweis University. "As a sociologist, my work focuses on researching personal relationships and exploring the concept of social health and its three pillars: physical, mental and social health in the context of well-being. I believe that when health is examined not only from a biological, but also from a social, cultural, and mental perspective, we can better understand public health matters.”

 

6. Prof. María del Mar Grandío Pérez
Associate Professor of Communication at the University of Murcia

Prof. Grandío Pérez's project focuses on digital wellbeing and the impact of technology on health and balance. Through research and outreach, she aims to promote healthy technology use, digital disconnection, and ethical AI practices, fostering a more conscious and responsible relationship with the digital world.

 

 

8. Dr. Yue Zhao
Senior Scientist in translational oncology and well-being sciences at the University of Cologne

As a senior researcher at the University of Cologne, Dr. Zhao works at the interface of translational oncology, aging research, and well-being sciences. Through the EUniWell Onco-Aging project, she promotes interdisciplinary collaboration, education, and public engagement, with a focus on biological age, precision oncology, and sustainable well-being strategies for aging populations.

Together, the first EUniWell Champions represent the diversity and strength of the Alliance. Over the coming months, their projects will contribute to deeper collaboration, greater visibility and concrete progress towards EUniWell’s shared vision of sustainable well-being.

 

Further information on the EUniWell Champions Scheme

https://www.euniwell.eu/what-we-offer/euniwell-champions-scheme 

Contact

If you have any questions, please contact Juan Antonio Corrales or Alma González Rodríguez at euniwell.wp8[at]usc.gal.


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