Executive Committee of
27 March 2012, Bywaters Rm
Agenda Item 7 – EULAR Committees
Status (PINK): This paper is for Discussion and approval.
Explanation:
The Executive had agreed to have a representative from BSR on each EULAR Committee.
The paper attached outlines what each committee does, its membership and possible BSR links. The
summary suggests the BSR representative and the Executive is asked to discuss this
Finance, Implications and Risks
The BSR will incur costs. See paper for further details
Overall Recommendations
The Trustees are asked to discuss and agree the proposals laid out in the attached paper
Deadline: n/a
Queries to: smjohnson@rheumatology.org.uk
Exec1/2012/Agenda Item 7
EULAR COMMITTEES
Additional information on each committee is available on the EULAR website in the About Us section.
www.eular.org
All committees have delegated members (from member societies) and co-opted members.
All committees meet annually at the EULAR Congress.
Epidemiology and Health Services Research
The standing committee has a number of goals:
1) Contributing towards the epidemiological and health services research content and quality of the
Annual Congress,
2) Providing statistics and figures that may be useful to strengthen the role of EULAR in Europe and in
the world,
3) Facilitating the tools and the workforce for epidemiological and clinical research,
4) Training rheumatologists in member countries in epidemiological methods both for population and
clinical based studies,
5) Undertaking collaborative studies between countries both in developing methodologies for
collaborative studies and in collecting data which can address key issues of concern.
Chair: Professor Loreto Carmona, Spain
Current activities:
European Musculoskeletal Conditions Surveillance and Information Network (EUMuscNet)
Task Force on Requirements for Observational Treatment Registers
EULAR perspectives in patient-reported outcomes
EULAR task force on "Long-term extension studies"
Potential BSR Link: Chair of Research and Registers Committee
UK- based committee members (co-opted): Will Dixon, Gary Macfarlane Suzanne Verstappen
Education and Training
It is the task of the EULAR Standing Committee on Education and Training (ESCET) to formulate and
promote education and training opportunities in rheumatology in Europe. Most of these activities are
also open for people from other areas.
The committee is responsible for training and educational activities for physicians and rheumatologists,
while the tasks pertaining to education and training of allied health professionals and patients are part
of the task of their separate standing committees.
Chair: Professor Dimitrios Boumpas, Greece
Current activities:
EMEUNET (Emerging EULAR Network)
Annual EULAR congress – advice on educational content and structure
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EULAR On-line Courses
EULAR courses
EULAR learning tools for undergraduate students and general practitioners
Bursaries / Sponsorship
Potential BSR Link: Chair of Education and Training Committee
UK- based committee members (co-opted): Maya Buch, Michael Doherty, Abhay Joshi, Arumugam
Moorthy, Katharina Sokoll, Anthony Woolf,
Clinical Affairs
The Standing Committee on Clinical Affairs (ESCCA) manages a large and exciting portfolio of projects of
primary clinical concern across the spectrum of the rheumatic diseases. The scope of ESCCA funded
projects continues to broaden and, in addition to current guideline and recommendation initiatives, will
increasingly consider applications to furnish strategic developments.
ESCCA receives proposals as a response to periodic strategic calls, but also responds to proposals
initiated by investigators. In both cases, a formal peer review process is conducted to assess specific
project applications. In the criteria and recommendation field, ESCCA also collaborates with the
Guideline Committee and the Quality of Care Committee of the American College of Rheumatology.
Outputs from these projects are primarily published in the Annals of Rheumatic Diseases, and Arthritis
and Rheumatism.
Chair: Dr. Daniel Aletaha, Austria
Current activities:
Applications for project grants
EULAR/ACR Collaborative Projects
Specialty Groups
Potential BSR Link: Chair of Clinical Affairs
UK based committee members (co-opted): Iain McInnes (Past Chair),
Investigative Rheumatology
The Standing Committee seeks to enhance the knowledge about the genetic, molecular and cellular
basis of the rheumatic diseases, aimed at developing better prevention, early detection/diagnosis and
treatment for rheumatic diseases.
The Standing Committee and its study groups strive to build an international network of excellence by
fostering European cooperation and scientific collaborations.
In developing a database of the most active research centers in Europe information is provided about
current research activities, training and funding possibilities, open positions in experimental
rheumatology and research meetings such as the annual European Workshop for Rheumatology
Research (EWRR). Specifically, the database shall also serve as basis for attracting fellows in all countries
eligible to participate in EU grants.
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Chair-elect: Prof. Georg Schett, Germany
Current activities:
Database of active research centers in Europe
Study groups
Potential BSR Link: Either the Chair of Research and Registers, or the Chair of Heberden
UK based committee members (co-opted): No co-opted members, delegated members only
Paediatric Rheumatology
The mission of the Paediatric Standing Committee of EULAR is to improve the care for children with
rheumatic diseases in Europe. The Standing Committee of Paediatric Rheumatology consists of elected
representatives of National Societies for Paediatric Rheumatology. An ongoing theme is to develop the
relationship between EULAR and the Paediatric Rheumatology European Society (PReS), to ensure
synergy between the organisations and avoid duplication of effort. The remit of the standing committee
covers several areas in paediatric rheumatology, including the clinical care of children and young people
with rheumatic disease, education and training in paediatric rheumatology and research in children and
young people of relevance to rheumatic diseases across the age spectrum.
Chair: Prof. Johannes Roth, Germany
Current activities:
Clinical care of Children and Young People with Rheumatic Disease
Education and training in paediatric rheumatology
Research and Knowledge Transfer
Potential BSR Link: either ask BSPAR for a nomination via BSR or delegate the BSPAR BSR Council
member
UK based committee members (co-opted): No co-opted members, delegated members only
Musculoskeletal Imaging
While conventional radiography has been the historic mainstay of arthritis structural assessment for
rheumatologists, the profile of ultrasonography and magnetic resonance imaging has rapidly increased
in the last decade. European clinicians have been at the forefront of guiding appropriate utilisation of
radiographic and novel imaging techniques. In recent years EULAR had established a Working Party on
Imaging in Rheumatology (chaired by Professor Walter Grassi). The EULAR Executive established a new
provisional Committee on Musculoskeletal Imaging in 2006, which was elevated to Standing Committee
status in October 2007.
For musculoskeletal conditions, this committee aims to promote pan-European:
1. Improved patient care through the appropriate use of imaging modalities
2. Education in both the understanding and application of imaging modalities
3. Research in imaging modalities to inform their clinical utility and their use in
clinical trials
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Chairman: Prof. Mikkel Østergaard, Denmark
Current activities:
Imaging in Rheumatology
EULAR-OMERACT Rheumatoid Arthritis MRI Reference Image Atlas
Potential BSR Link: Ask Chair Heberden to nominate via Exec - Heberden should have some with imaging
expertise on their committee
UK based committee members (co-opted): No co-opted members, delegated members only. Current
project leads include Philip Conaghan and Richard Wakefield
Summary
The BSR representative on each committee should be linked to the most appropriate committee role
within BSR, hence the following:
Epidemiology and Health services – Chair of Research and Registers Committee
Education and Training - Education and Training Committee
Clinical Affairs - Chair of Clinical Affairs
Investigative Rheumatology – Either the Chair of Research and Registers, or the Chair of Heberden
Paediatric - either ask BSPAR for a nomination via BSR or delegate the BSPAR BSR Council member
Musculoskeletal Imaging - Ask Chair Heberden to nominate via Exec - Heberden should have some with
imaging expertise on their committee.
Financial Implications
BSR will incur additional costs in enabling trustees to attend EULAR.
Average cost of flights/accommodation plus registration fee: £1200-£1500 per person, depending on
conference location. This could add up to £9,000 in expenditure relating to attendance at EULAR.
Pro-active role
In order that the BSR gets maximum benefit for this additional expenditure it is important that this role
is pro-active. As well as formally feeding back to the Executive Committee on a regular basis, to be
agreed by the President, the representative should also inform the President and CEO of relevant
agenda items in advance as well as pro-actively planning agenda items. Opportunities to publicise work
undertaken as part of these committees should be taken where possible to provide the BSR press office
and communication function with information.
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