Background Policy-making in environment and health, E&H, is a complicated process due in part to the wide range of topics and uncertainty in the scientific results. Epidemiology, with it specific status of observational science, has the possibility to take into account stakeholder perspectives, and produces knowledge to be used in policy making. It is especially true when "facts are uncertain, values in dispute, stakes high and decisions urgent", as it happens in areas with environmental pressures. Era-Envhealth project (FP7-ENV-2007-CSA-1.2.3-01) tackled the issue in a multi-disciplinary perspective. Aims To develop strategies that can help researchers, programme managers, policy-makers and other stakeholders create more interdependence, understanding the uptake mechanisms of scientific information into policy in specific E&H settings. Methods Review of scientific literature, communication strategies and tools, analysis of case studies and interviews to involved actors. Results To facilitate the understanding of the contextual elements and their influence, a framework to read possible interaction flows among stakeholders and a check-list of actions to positively bridge science and policy was produced. Specific issue are crucial to understand potential conflicts, like trust, and the role of actors.The competence of knowledge broker can be also involved, to facilitate processes and co-ordination of expertise, roles and responsibilities. Conclusions It is possible to bridge science and decision-making, involving relevant stakeholders in a transparent way. Several tools and experiences are available, as well as new competences like the knowledge broker. It is desirable that those instruments will be more and more included in epidemiological research, especially when controversial issues are under examination and urgent public policies have to be implemented.
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