The PAIR (Parkinson Intergenerational caRe) project led by the Vall d’Hebron Research Institute (VHIR) has been recognised with an honoraty mention at the 2025 EU Prize for Citizen Science. The prize recognises outstanding initiatives that enact change, expand knowledge, and address social, political, cultural, and environmental challenges through the involvement of citizens in research and innovation. 

The Prize is awarded by the Horizon Europe project IMPETUS, as part of its work to support and give recognition to citizen science. Out of the 409 applications, three citizen science initiatives received the main prizes and 27 were recognised with honorary mentions, such as PAIR. 

The winners were selected by an independent jury of five experts. Regarding PAIR, the jury was particularly impressed with the intergenerational nature of the project and also liked the use of a range of different activities within the project, including games, creative workshops, and music, as well as physical exercise sessions, to enhance the emotional and cognitive well-being of participants.  

The PAIR project 

PAIR is an initiative coordinated by the Neurodegenerative Diseases group, the Social Impact and RRI Office and the Communications Unit at VHIR. It connects high school students and Parkinson’s patients with the aims of improving the quality of life and mental health of people affected by Parkinson's disease and, at the same time, promoting empathy, knowledge of neurodegenerative diseases and scientific vocations among adolescents. 

The initiative, which has already closed its second edition, is in the framework of the Caixa d'Eines program of the Pla de Barris of the Barcelona City Council and the Consortium of Networked Education, together with the science communication agency Eduscopi. PAIR has received funding from the European IMPETUS programme to support citizen science.