Highlights of the BPCRN Kick-Off Meeting
BPCRN Kick-Off Meeting: A Resounding Success!
10/09/2024 - 11:19
On Friday, September 6, the fully booked BPCRN Kick-off meeting took place at the UZ Gent campus. The event brought together pediatricians, study coordinators and nurses, industry and governmental representatives, and leading experts to discuss the future of pediatric clinical research in Belgium and Europe.
The morning session for study coordinators and study nurses provided a valuable platform for networking and collaboration among clinical research professionals in the field of pediatrics. Subsequently, the business plan was presented during the BPCRN Advisory Board meeting, concluded by critical discussions on the network's strategic direction.
The afternoon featured a series of insightful lectures under the theme "Joining Forces for Research Networks in Europe" Dr. Levi Hoste kicked off the session with an overview of the development of BPCRN, followed by Prof. Dr. Ann De Guchtenaere, who shared perspectives on advancing pediatric research in Belgium. Other highlights included Prof. Dr. Régis Hankard's talk on the Pedstart initiative, and Prof. Dr. Mark Turner’s insights on the future of Conect4children Stichting. The session concluded with a thought-provoking presentation by Prof. Dr. Karel Allegaert on the current pediatric medical device landscape and Dr. Frank Tennigkeit’s industry perspective on the future of pediatric clinical trials.
In the evening, BPCRN core member Dr. Eva Degraeuwe successfully defended her PhD on "Pathways to Optimize Clinical Trials in Pediatric Settings", marking an important achievement in advancing pediatric clinical research.
The BPCRN Kick-off meeting was a significant milestone in fostering collaboration and innovation in pediatric clinical research across Belgium and Europe. A huge thank you to all the participants, speakers, and team members who contributed to this event. Your enthusiasm, insights, and commitment have laid a strong foundation for our journey ahead.
We're excited to continue building on this momentum and work together to make a real difference in patient-centered research. Here's to the start of something truly impactful!
