ERS postgrad course harnesses Ecraid’s experience to inspire respiratory research
In a bid to unravel the key to achieving successful European projects in respiratory infections, the ERS International Congress 2023 is set to host a postgraduate course focusing on Ecraid’s work in this area. Experts will dissect Ecraid-affiliated studies, lead discussions, and facilitate an exciting group assignment.
Attendees at this year’s European Respiratory Society (ERS) International Congress, taking place from 9 to 13 September in Milan, Italy, can join a unique Ecraid-centred postgraduate course. Chaired by Eva Polverino (Barcelona, Spain) and Maurizio Sanguinetti (Rome, Italy), the educational event will take place from 14:00 on 9 September. Due to limited capacity, those willing to attend need to register in advance.
The half-day event seeks to condense the rich experience generated within Ecraid’s projects and studies and offer it as inspiration for future clinical research endeavours. Aspiring researchers, clinicians, scientists, and medical professionals will have the opportunity to delve into our journey, exploring the key factors that contributed to securing continued support from the European Union. The course aims to equip them with valuable insights and practical knowledge to develop large-scale collaborative projects in the realm of respiratory infections. You can read the full programme here.
Spotlight on select studies
The course's agenda boasts a compelling line-up of influential studies that have, or have the potential to, significantly impact respiratory research. The three studies, which are running under the EU-funded project ECRAID-Base, will be presented by experts with deep knowledge of the subject matter.
REMAP-CAP
Led by Lennie Derde (Utrecht, the Netherlands), this session will spotlight the Randomized, Embedded, Multifactorial Adaptive Platform trial for Community-Acquired Pneumonia (REMAP-CAP) whose European arm is managed by Ecraid. This ground-breaking global trial is embedded in clinical care, and allows multiple therapies to be evaluated simultaneously, resulting in rapid accumulation of knowledge during outbreaks and pandemics. Attendees will gain invaluable insights into the trial's methodology, outcomes, and its transformative effect on clinical practice.
POS-VAP
Ana C. Hernandez (Limoges, France) will present the Perpetual Observational Study on Ventilator-Associated Pneumonia (POS-VAP). The primary objective of the study is to set up an infrastructure capable of rapidly implementing clinical trials related to the prevention, diagnosis or treatment of VAP in ICUs. The session will offer participants a glimpse into designing such an adaptable infrastructure and the lessons learned so far.
POS-ARI-PC
Chris Butler (Oxford, UK) will dive into the intricacies of ECRAID-Base’s POS on Acute Respiratory Infection in Primary Care (POS-ARI-PC). ARI are the most common reason for consultations in community care. This study aims to provide critically important benchmark descriptive data on the presentation and management of ARI, and a research-ready infrastructure for studies related to the treatment, diagnosis, and prevention of ARI in the primary care setting.
Lessons learned from the pandemic
The COVID-19 pandemic was hugely disruptive to societies around the world. It also provided scientists with an opportunity to learn how to help tackle future infectious disease threats faster and more effectively.
During the course, Ecraid co-founder and Strategic Alliances adviser Herman Goossens (Edegem, Belgium) will deliver an enlightening session on the lessons learned from the pandemic. His presentation will emphasize the importance of preparedness for future infectious disease outbreaks.
An interactive experience
The course will offer a rich and interactive learning experience. After each session, participants will be invited to engage in fruitful discussions and Q&A sessions with the distinguished speakers. By fostering a dynamic learning environment, the course endeavours to facilitate cross-disciplinary collaboration and the exchange of ideas among participants.
As the day reaches its culmination, attendees will be invited to participate in a group assignment led by the experts themselves. They will encourage participants to work collaboratively, pooling their expertise to develop strategies for successfully executing a European project on respiratory infections. The group assignment is designed to foster networking and knowledge-sharing among professionals with diverse backgrounds.