1. EULAR Study Group on Systemic Lupus Erythematosus (SLE) Dimitrios T
EULAR Study Group on Systemic Lupus Erythematosus (SLE) Dimitrios T. Boumpas (leader), George Bertsias (facilitator), on behalf of the Study Group members
The EULAR study Group on SLE was established in 2011 and has the following objectives:
Network clinicians and researchers interested in SLE and increase the pool of younger people interested in the disease
Inform and coordinate educational activities for fellows, nurses and patients
Develop and disseminate management recommendations for SLE by encouraging also the participation of new people both willing and able to support such activities
Update on research initiatives at the translational and clinical level
Discuss topics that we wish to propose for the annual EULAR meeting scientific meeting
Summary of the work and achievements of the study group
The Study Group has regular (annual) meetings which take place during the EULAR meeting
To date, more than 120 individuals (including trainees, rheumatologists, clinical immunologists) have joined the study group and have actively participated in the meetings
The work of the study group includes:
Reports by the members of the lupus meetings and congresses they have organized (e.g. European Lupus Meeting)
Educational issues such as SLE training sites, undergraduate student curricula, slides collection
Basic/translational and clinical research initiatives have been presented and discussed such as: development of a European SLE registry, biologics registry, CNS lupus project, hematological SLE study, investigator-initiated controlled studies (lupus nephritis, mesenchymal stem cells), Horizon 2020 projects
Patients’ perspective and initiatives (e.g. the role of lupus groups in enhancing the clinical setting and supporting the scientific advancements in the disease
Proposals for EULAR-endorsed recommendations on lupus aspects (e.g. laboratory diagnostic tests in SLE, diagnosis and management of Cutaneous Lupus, Pregnancy/Contraception/Fertilization in women with SLE, new EULAR/ARC SLE classification criteria)
Ongoing and pending proposals for research grants (H2020, IMI, FOREUM etc.) have also been presented, followed by discussions for possible collaborations
Miscellaneous administrative issues
Conclusion
The EULAR Task Force on SLE has an important role to increase awareness for lupus and facilitate collaborations
There is strong support for international participation and inclusiveness