Better Methods course participants reflect on their Belgrade adventure
We reached out to participants in the 2024 edition of our Better Methods postgrad course to ask them about memorable sessions and lasting impressions from their three-day learning adventure in Belgrade.
The 2024 edition of the Ecraid x ESCMID postgraduate education course Better Methods for Clinical Studies in Infectious Diseases and Clinical Microbiology took place from 22 to 24 October in Belgrade, Serbia. This annual initiative is part of Ecraid’s commitment to equipping young investigators with the essential knowledge and skills to conduct cutting-edge clinical research in infectious diseases.
Over three days, 36 participants engaged in a dynamic blend of insightful lectures, interactive workshops and peer-to-peer interactions. These opportunities ensured that our young researchers walked away with a comprehensive understanding of the latest developments in the field.
After the event, we reached out to participants for feedback to help enhance our future educational initiatives. In addition to our questionnaires, we interviewed three participants about their favourite moments, sessions, and lasting impressions from the course, which we are excited to share below.
Cutting-edge knowledge from top experts
Participants commended the course’s engaging atmosphere, noting the well-balanced mix of lectures, practical sessions and inspiring interactions with peers and experts in the field of infectious diseases from all over Europe.
Adonis Sotoodeh (right), a 25-year-old PhD student at the Karolinska Institute in Stockholm, found the programme particularly valuable, stating, “Each lecturer shared exceptional knowledge and expertise from their respective fields, and the unique opportunity to discuss my research with fellow participants and faculty experts was invaluable. This well-rounded approach deepened my knowledge and facilitated the formation of meaningful professional connections.”
Jean-Pierre Gnimatin, a 25-year-old PhD Student at the University of Freiburg in Germany, highlighted the course’s enriching insights into advanced methodologies and the importance of collaborative efforts: “I gained a deeper understanding of methodological challenges surrounding predictive AI in healthcare and learned practical approaches to navigating large national databases – especially recognising potential pitfalls and how to apply these insights effectively in clinical research.”
Highly rewarding exchanges
The afternoon workshops received high praise from our participants. Jean-Pierre (left) shared, “Having the opportunity to present our own research projects and serve as peer reviewers for fellow participants created a unique and enriching exchange. It was a valuable learning experience from both perspectives, fostering constructive feedback and shared learning.”
Adonis particularly enjoyed the workshops on “Survival analysis” and “Design of randomised controlled trials”, presented by Jesús Rodríguez-Baño, appreciating the clear and structured teaching style. He said, “His engaging, clear and structured teaching style, combined with effective visualisations and interactive discussions, made the sessions highly rewarding.”
This sentiment was echoed by Giulia Zumbo, 35, an external resident at University Hospital Virgen Macarena in Seville, Spain. She says, “I found Prof. Rodríguez-Baño's session incredibly useful in strengthening my investigation and statistics knowledge with a clinical and practical approach. Great session!”
Engaging with peers from around the world
Beyond the educational experience, participants had the opportunity to explore Belgrade, with its rich history and vibrant culture, adding a unique dimension to the event.
Adonis shared his appreciation for the city, saying, “Belgrade is truly impressive with its rich history and vibrant culture. The architectural blend – from the historic Kalemegdan fortress to the modern sections of the city – creates a unique charm. A highlight was the view from Kalemegdan park, overlooking the striking convergence of the Sava and Danube rivers. Additionally, Belgrade's lively social scene and charming old town made my stay thoroughly enjoyable.”
Giulia (right) was equally delighted by the city, saying, “Belgrade was a charming surprise. I want to thank the organisation for allowing me to discover this beautiful city.”
For Jean-Pierre, a highlight was exploring Belgrade in the evenings with fellow course mates. He shared, “We enjoyed visiting the stunning Saint Sava Church and sampling authentic Serbian cuisine – an experience that added warmth and connection to our time in the city.”
A huge thank you to everyone for making this post-graduate course such a tremendous success!
This posgradate course is a collaboration of Ecraid and ESCMID and is supported by the EU-funded ECRAID-Base consortium, which has received funding from the European Union’s Horizon 2020 research and innovation programme under Grant Agreement No. 965313.
If you would like to be notified about next year’s postgraduate course and our educational events, sign up for our Ecraid Learning newsletter here, or visit our education webpage.