From the 9th to the 11th of June EFA representatives attended the annual congress of the European Academy of Allergy and Clinical Immunology (EAACI) in Hamburg, Germany.
The Congress brings together scientists, healthcare professionals and other stakeholders involved in Allergy and Clinical Immunology from all around the world, to showcase the most recent innovations in precision medicine, food allergy, allergen immunotherapy, biologicals, Immune modulators, prevention of allergic diseases, novel treatment in allergy and asthma and global health. The theme of this year edition was “Pathways from precision medicine to personalised health care”, highlighting the renewed focus to deliver healthcare solutions which are individually tailored to improve patients’ lives.
More than 120 scientific sessions took place during the three days of Congress. EFA’s Director, Susanna Palkonen, participated as a speaker in the “Benefits of engaging with patients in clinical trials and decision-making” session, organised by the EAACI Patients Organisations Committee (POC) and chaired by Ozlem Ceylan from Alerji ile Yasam Dernegi association (EFA member). The speakers of the session, representing patients, healthcare professionals and Regulators, presented the importance of involving patients and patients’ organisations since the very initial phases of clinical trials. EFA's Director presented the evidence that patient involvement in all stages of trials has benefits for trial on many aspects: more relevant results, economic efficiency, increased satisfaction of trial participants. The session ended with the exhortation to the audience to always involve patients in trials and to collaborate in finding the best ways.