On September 12, 2024, María Torres, President of the European Academy of Allergy and Clinical Immunology (EAACI), was the main speaker at the CAC Porto Conference held at the Aula Magna of the Faculty of Medicine of the University of Porto (FMUP). Her keynote address was “Cutting-Edge Approaches in Drug Allergy: From Diagnosis to Management,” emphasizing the crucial role of accurate diagnosis and risk stratification in drug allergy. This underscored the benefits for patient outcomes and healthcare systems.

During a meeting at FMUP, Maria Torres, EAACI’s Secretary-General Mohamed Shamji, and EAACI Vice-President of Congresses André Moreira, who is also a professor at FMUP and a doctor at ULS São João, spoke to Clinical Immunology students from FMUP’s Integrated Master’s in Medicine. They were joined by members of the EAACI Board of Officers, including Patrizia Bonadonna, Jolanta Walusiak-Skorupa, Oliver Pfaar, Óscar Palomares, and Stefano Del Giacco. This meeting followed a strategic meeting earlier in the day.

María Torres emphasised the significance of taking a thorough patient history in diagnosing drug allergies, especially in relation to biologicals, antibiotics, and chemotherapy treatments. She stressed that no blood test can replace the information provided directly by the patient. According to her, this clinical data is crucial for saving lives and addressing the global increase in drug allergies, which has a substantial impact on healthcare expenses and patient safety.

She emphasized the importance of reviewing drug allergy labels, especially for penicillin, in order to decrease antimicrobial resistance and the related healthcare expenses. Professor Torres also highlighted the potential of artificial intelligence in creating predictive models for personalized medicine, which is a major area of focus for EAACI’s innovative initiatives.

During his impactful speech, Mohamed Shamji emphasized the global prevalence of allergies, which affect one in four people. He urged the audience to support EAACI’s mission to advance research, education, and care for individuals with allergic diseases, highlighting EAACI’s extensive network of over 16,000 members from over 120 countries.

The conference showcased EAACI’s ongoing dedication to promoting collaboration and innovation in allergy research and clinical practice. As EAACI continues to pursue its mission, it remains dedicated to enhancing the lives of patients worldwide by advancing knowledge and leading the way in the development of state-of-the-art, personalised treatment strategies for allergic diseases.The conference showcased EAACI’s ongoing commitment to promoting collaboration and innovation in allergy research and clinical practice. As EAACI moves forward with its mission, it remains dedicated to enhancing the lives of patients globally by advancing knowledge and spearheading the development of state-of-the-art personalised treatment approaches for allergic diseases.