The 2023 edition of the Open Academy Schools will take place in-person from 19-23 June in Barcelona. Schools are delivered in English in a blended format, comprising e-learning modules, pre-training webinars and face-to-face intensive days. Following a review of our training offerings, we are excited to announce a new format for our in-person training.

 

From 2023, the face-to-face intensive week of the Open Academy School on Medicines Research & Development (formerly EURORDIS Summer School) and the Open Academy School on Scientific Innovation & Translational Research (formerly EURORDIS Winter School) will take place during the same week, incorporating three days of parallel sessions and two days of joint sessions focusing on patient engagement across the whole life-cycle of a medicine. Greater knowledge sharing and networking opportunities will be fostered with both sets of trainees together during the week.

 

The new format will include off-site visits to research facilities, greater contact time with faculty and EURORDIS staff and the chance to network with fellow patient advocates, supporting each other in learning and practice during the training and beyond.

 

Open Academy School on Medicines Research & Development

  • The training is open to both patient advocates and researchers wanting to become experts in rare disease medicines research and development. 
  • Previous alumni from the Summer School have used the expert knowledge and skills gained through the training to go on to advocate at forums including the European Medicines Agency and European Network of HTA agencies
  • Topics covered at the EURORDIS Summer School include clinical trials methodology, clinical research, ethics in medicines development, regulatory affairs, health technology assessment and marketing authorisation.

Open Academy School on Scientific Innovation & Translational Research

  • The programme is reserved for rare disease patient advocates whose patient organisations are based in Europe.
  • EURORDIS launched the training with the aim of deepening patient representatives’ understanding of how pre-clinical research translates into real benefits for rare disease patients. 
  • The training equips participants with knowledge and skills so they are empowered to effectively participate in discussions with the researchers, policy makers and companies responsible for research or research infrastructures.