Research & Outreach Committee

Allergy, asthma and clinical immunology research has many challenges, including complex European regulations, funding opportunities, data gathering and overall quality control. To address these unmet needs, the newly formed EAACI Research and Outreach Committee (EAACI ROC) will develop an innovative research and knowledge exchange network, which will ensure the position of the EAACI as the global leader in promoting and supporting Research and Development.

The Research & Outreach Committee

    • List of people image
      Ioana Agache

2024-2026 elections are now taking place and the newly elected members of the Committee will be announced very soon.

About

Allergy, asthma and clinical immunology research has many challenges, including complex European regulations, funding opportunities, data gathering and overall quality control. To address these unmet needs, the newly formed EAACI Research and Outreach Committee (EAACI ROC) will develop an innovative research and knowledge exchange network, which will ensure the position of the EAACI as the global leader in promoting and supporting Research and Development.

Aims

  • Facilitate allergy, asthma and clinical immunology research through the coordination and support of the research community.
  • Support high quality and reproducible data by leveraging resources into a joint information exchange network while boosting top-notch experimental research through multicenter collaborations and strengthen the validity of the experimental medicine results.
  • Deliver new forms of translation of key research findings, to better meet the needs of clinicians and more quickly develop precision approaches to improve and cure allergic disease and asthma.
  • Facilitate basic and clinical research career development by expanding the funding opportunities for EAACI fellowships, develop educational and training programmes on cutting edge research methodologies,
  • Facilitate access of EAACI members to research funding opportunities
  • Inform public policy on research priorities in allergic diseases and asthma via public engagement and outreach activities.
  • Build an infrastructure that will monitor, analyse and interpret science and research data to identify trends, barriers and opportunities, and strategic imperatives, forecast needs and directions.

Research Agenda 2022-2023

We propose the following strategic research direction to be prioritised for EAACI funding and support:

1. Environmental science/Planetary Health
2. Real World Evidence. Registries. Health Economics
3. Multidisciplinary approach to patient care from pediatric to adulthood
4. Prevention of allergic diseases and asthma
5. Translational research. Applied clinical research (patient-oriented).
6. Omics. Big data. Artificial Intelligence
7. Vaccinology and immunotherapies
8. Mobile Health. Telemedicine
9. Quality assessment

Publications

Shamji et al. EAACI Research and Outreach Committee: Improving standards and facilitating global collaboration through a Research Excellence Network
doi:10.1111/all.14340

Paoletti G, DiBona D, Chu DK, Firinu D, Heffler E, Agache I, Jutel M, Klimek L, Pfaar O, Mösges R, Dunn Galvin A, Genuneit J, Hoffmann HJ, Canonica GW. Allergen Immunotherapy: the growing role of observational and randomised trial “Real-World Evidence”. Allergy. 2021 Feb 14. doi:10.1111/all.14773. Epub ahead of print

Sokolowska M, Eiwegger T, Ollert M, Torres MJ, Barber D, Del Giacco S, Jutel M, Nadeau KC, Palomares O, Rabin RL, Riggioni C, Vieths S, Agache I, Shamji MH. EAACI statement on the diagnosis, management and prevention of severe allergic reactions to COVID-19 vaccines. Allergy. 2021 Jan 16. doi:10.1111/all.14739. Epub ahead of print

 

EAACI Research Network (ERN) Platform

The EAACI Research and Outreach Committee is currently working on the development of an Open Access EAACI Scientific Network (ESN) Platform. The ESN Platform aims to be a facilitator for communication between members and centers providing information on research facilities, capacities, accreditations/certifications/research protocols across EU.

Pan European Health Economics Registry for Allergic Diseases (HEAD)

EAACI, in cooperation with the NAS, is building the first European Registry for the Health Economics of Allergic Diseases. The project is meant to facilitate standardised data collection across different European countries in order to facilitate the in-depth understanding of the burden of allergic diseases and asthma.

Scientific collaborations

BioMed Alliance In vitro Diagnosis Working Group
The EAACI ROC is part of the BioMed Alliance In Vitro Diagnosis Working Group which was established based on decisions in the BioMed Alliance Taskforce on Regulatory Affairs and Medical Devices in 2019. Since a new EU regulation on In Vitro Diagnostics will come into effect in 2022 and will have a major impact on the evaluation and approval process of IVDs, this Working Group has been formed to facilitate member society cooperation on the regulatory aspects of in vitro diagnostics.

BioMed Alliance Academic Clinical Trials Task Force
This task force exists to provide a platform for discussions on academic clinical trials. It facilitates an exchange of best practices and pinpoints the challenges that researchers face in this field. It also aims to better communicate the value of researchers’ work in society and the value of academic clinical trials. It is committed to providing recommendations to reduce inconsistencies in the regulatory framework and advocates for adequate funding.
The EAACI ROC is proudly participating in those activities by being a member of the Task Force.

Moving forward from drug-centered to patient-centered clinical research
https://www.biomedeurope.org/images/eu-policy/Moving_forward_from_drug-centred_to_patient-centred_clinical_research_final.pdf