On the occasion of the EUHA Members’ Assembly – Autumn 2024, IRCCS Ospedale San Raffaele and Vita-Salute San Raffaele University hosted a series of EUHA meetings and activities from November 11th – 14th. The events brought together numerous EUHA colleagues to engage in ongoing projects and collaborative activities aimed at exploring potential solutions to the pressing challenges facing healthcare systems. Key highlights included the EUHA Symposium “European academia at the forefront of Advanced Therapies Medicinal Products development”, EUHA Working Group and Network meetings, JOIN4ATMP Annual meeting and the EUHA Members’ Assembly. The assembly concluded with IRCCS San Raffaele Hospital handing over the EUHA Presidency to Erasmus MC University Medical Centre in Rotterdam.
At the half-yearly EUHA Members’ Assembly in November 2024, EUHA, in partnership with IRCCS San Raffaele Hospital, hosted an engaging four-day programme filled with meetings, discussions, and networking activities for EUHA members. Key highlights included EUHA Working Group and Network meetings, the symposium “European Academia at the Forefront of Advanced Therapies Medicinal Products Development,” and the EUHA Members’ Assembly itself. This event provided an exceptional platform for fostering collaboration, sharing knowledge, and advancing strategic planning among EUHA colleagues
(Academic) Development of Advanced Therapy Medicinal Products
Access to advanced therapies is increasingly compromised by outdated regulatory frameworks that fail to accommodate the unique nature of Advanced Therapy Medicinal Products (ATMPs). As an alliance of Europe’s leading university hospitals, EUHA recognises the crucial role our institutions play in the development of these groundbreaking therapies, which have the potential to revolutionise the treatment of many diseases. Despite the significant contributions of European academia, current regulations hinder the safe, efficient, and equitable delivery of ATMPs, jeopardising not only patient access but also the long-term sustainability of healthcare systems across Europe. Several events across the four-day programme focused on advancing ATMPs within the European healthcare landscape.
The EUCCAT Working Group (European Centre for Gene & Cellular Therapies) reviewed progress on its decentralised cross-border ATMP clinical trial, now nearing the end of its first phase. If successful, the next phase will see Erasmus MC-produced ATMPs distributed to patients at other EUHA hospitals. Trial coordinator Reno Debets from Erasmus MC noted, “With this trial, EUCCAT can create a real-world example of a cross-national decentralized study.” The group also discussed expanding future trials to include rare diseases, like sickle-cell beta-thalassemia, as potential candidates for ATMPs in subsequent studies. This initiative marks a key step toward inclusive, cross-border research to bring advanced treatments to patients throughout Europe.
The JOIN4ATMP project, which brings together all EUHA member institutions as partners, recently held its first annual meeting to discuss key progress and future objectives. EUHA’s Secretary-General underscored the project’s mission: “JOIN4ATMP aims to develop adapted pathways to market authorizations to help academic institutions bring groundbreaking therapies to market. Academia has driven ATMP development, yet we need to adjust regulatory frameworks and clinical trial governance to make these therapies more accessible and affordable.” The meeting reaffirmed the project’s dedication to reducing regulatory barriers, empowering academic research in ATMPs, and accelerating patient access to innovative treatments across Europe.
A final event around the topic on ATMPs was the EUHA Symposium “European Academia at the Forefront of Advanced Therapies Medicinal Products Development”, which explored collaborative EU-wide solutions to align ATMPs with regulatory standards, underscoring the urgency of accessibility and affordability for patients across Europe.
EUHA Nursing: From Focus Visits to Strategy
The Nursing Network meeting brought together experts in nursing research, Chief Nursing Officers, and a delegation of nurses from each EUHA member institution for an in-depth visit focused on fall and delirium management in the wards of IRCCS Ospedale San Raffaele.
EUHA Members’ Assembly and EUHA Presidency
The Members’ Assembly gathered the senior executives of all EUHA members to discuss the shared challenges and opportunities for academic medicine and EUHA’s agenda and long-term strategy.
The 4-day programme concluded with the handover of the EUHA Presidency from IRCCS San Raffaele Hospital to Erasmus MC University Medical Centre, which will assume the presidency until June 25th.