Interview with Medical Delta professor AnneLoes van Staa about the completion of Vitale Delta

The finish line for Vitale Delta is in sight. The research program brought together universities of applied sciences and partners in the field to work on vitality and health in the Rotterdam-The Hague-Leiden region. Besides research results, it also resulted in strong new collaborations. This is only successful if equality is at the core, observes Medical Delta professor Dr. AnneLoes van Staa.

Profielen, the independent publication of Rotterdam University of Applied Sciences, asked Medical Delta professor dr. AnneLoes van Staa for her reflections on this.

The program's end date is in sight. Are you already wrapping things up?

"Vitale Delta isn't quite finished yet, but we've already held the final symposium, so we're already feeling a bit of a sense of closure. The good news is: it's not over yet. After much effort, we've managed to preserve the network, and the Zuid-Holland Impact Alliance (ZHIA, ed.) will provide support. We wanted Vitale Delta to become a Center of Expertise, but unfortunately, that was a bridge too far. But this is also very positive: the network will at least continue to exist."

What was the idea behind Vitale Delta?

"The main goal was to form a strong, collaborative, practice-oriented research group. Initially, universities of applied sciences played a minor role in Medical Delta: initially, it was a collaboration in the field of medical technology between Erasmus University, Leiden University, and Delft University of Technology. Medical Delta has evolved into a broad collaboration where implementation became increasingly important: better connecting technology and innovations to practice. These are principles that are self-evident in practice-oriented research."

What has Vitale Delta brought to HR?

"Vitale Delta was the first Medical Delta program for universities of applied sciences. Since then, many living labs have been led by universities of applied sciences, but we now also participate in eight or nine scientific programs, with varying degrees of importance, for example, on nutrition and a healthy living environment. Many new collaborations have emerged for Rotterdam University of Applied Sciences, with other universities of applied sciences in the region, as well as with other knowledge and practice partners."

When you connect healthcare, well-being and technology, you achieve surprising resultsRead the full interview here on the Profielen website