Ecraid Foundation Science Meeting

Engage with Europe’s first dedicated clinical research network for infectious diseases, meet ID experts and foster collaboration.

About this Event

Join the Ecraid Foundation Science Meeting, an academic event designed to engage with Europe’s first dedicated clinical research network for infectious diseases. This two-day meeting brings together infectious disease experts from academia, private, and public sectors to foster collaboration.

This edition follows a successful meeting in 2025 and will provide you with the opportunity to:

• Engage with opinion leaders in the field of infectious diseases
• Attend presentations from top experts
• Connect with the Ecraid team on ongoing or new potential projects
• Meet other stakeholders across the Ecraid network and learn from their experiences and services

Accreditation for the Scientific Programme has been requested from ABIC and NVNM for healthcare professionals holding a Dutch BIG registration. We will update the event page once accreditation has been granted.

Ecraid is a not-for-profit foundation, ticket sales cover the administrative costs of this academic event.

The agenda and key topics are outlined below. Exact times and more information will be provided on this page as they become availabile.

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Participant learning outcomes:

1. Evaluate and debate adaptive trial methodologies. Participants will be able to critically evaluate the design, benefits, and challenges of adaptive platform trials (e.g., ECRAID-Prime, SNAP, TREAT-GNB, REMAP-CAP) and discuss their role in accelerating the discovery of effective therapeutics for severe bacterial and respiratory infections
2. Appraise the role of Perpetual Observational Studies (POS) in preparedness. Attendees will gain an understanding of how Ecraid's POS in both acute and primary care (ARI, cUTI, VAP) generate crucial, real-time participant-level data, and how this data informs clinical strategies and future ARI preparedness across Europe.
3. Translate data-driven epidemiology into policy action. Participants will learn practical applications for leveraging large-scale epidemiological tools, such as EPI-Net and the Emerging Resistance Index (ERI), to support evidence-based antibiotic policy and enhance infectious disease preparedness efforts.
4. Identify critical evidence gaps in ICU and primary care settings. Attendees will be able to identify and debate the current key clinical research gaps in high-acuity settings (e.g., needed steroid and antifungal trials in the ICU) and understand strategies for integrating complex clinical trials into the primary care setting.
5. Synthesise strategies for combating AMR and sepsis. Participants will synthesise high-level strategic insights regarding the prediction of sepsis outcomes and the use of antimicrobial resistance and antibiotic-use surveillance data to inform coordinated public health policies across Europe.

Agenda


🕑: 10:00 AM - 11:30 AM
Monday 2 February - Track 1: Acute Respiratory Infections (Acute Care)
Host: Jake Dunning, Oxford University, United Kingdom

Info: This track delves into the current landscape and pressing challenges of Acute Respiratory Infections (ARI) across Europe. Join us for crucial discussions on large-scale clinical research, featuring the PNEUMO and RECOVERY-EU international observational and interventional trials. We will also showcase how Ecraid’s Perpetual Observational Study (POS) generates the essential, real-time data needed to inform acute care strategies. Discover how these studies are laying the groundwork for future ARI preparedness.

🕑: 11:30 AM - 01:30 PM
Monday 2 February - Industry Lunch Symposium

Info: Separate from the core scientific programme, we are pleased to offer an industry-led lunch session. These lectures will cover the latest developments in pneumococcal vaccines, the future pipeline of prophylactic vaccines, and the exciting potential of bacteriophages in action. Don't miss this opportunity to engage with our industry partners.

🕑: 01:30 PM - 03:00 PM
Monday 2 February - Track 2: Acute Respiratory Infections (Primary Care)
Host: Chris Butler, Oxford University, United Kingdom

Info: Explore the forefront of ARI research within the community setting. This session highlights innovative, patient-centric approaches, including ECRAID-Prime - Europe’s first adaptive platform trial on COVID-19 therapeutics in primary care. We will examine cutting-edge strategies for integrating research into general practice, discussing how to effectively bring complex clinical trials to the general public and welcome primary care research into the 21st century. A must-attend for those focused on infectious disease research outside the hospital walls.

🕑: 03:30 PM - 05:30 PM
Monday 2 February - Track 3: Bacterial Infections
Host: Jesús Rodríguez-Baño, University of Seville, Spain

Info: Take a detailed look at ground-breaking adaptive platform trials targeting severe bacterial infections. We will feature the latest updates from SNAP (investigating treatments for S. aureus bloodstream infections) and TREAT-GNB (expediting the evaluation of multidrug-resistant Gram-negative bacterial infections). The session will also explore our Perpetual Observational Studies on complicated Urinary Tract Infections (POS-cUTI) and debate the critical question: Which interventional trials are truly needed to drive evidence forward in cUTI?

🕑: 05:30 PM - 06:30 PM
Monday 2 February - Networking/Drinks

Info: Meet and connect with attendees and speakers.

🕑: 10:00 AM - 12:00 PM
Tuesday 3 February - Track 4: Epidemiology and Data
Host: Evelina Tacconelli, Ecraid CSO / University of Verona

Info: Dive into the power of data-driven epidemiology to support effective antibiotic policy. This essential track explores the latest insights from EPI-Net and introduces the Emerging Resistance Index (ERI). Learn practical applications for integrating longitudinal cohort data from observational studies with clinical trial findings, enhancing our collective capacity for infectious disease preparedness. Gain crucial insights into translating complex data into policy action.

🕑: 12:00 PM - 01:00 PM
Tuesday 3 February - Lunch

Info: Meet and connect with attendees and speakers.

Tuesday 3 February - Keynote Lectures

Info: Delivered by key experts from leading European organisations, our two keynote presentations will provide high-level insights into predicting outcomes of sepsis and the strategic use of AMR & antibiotic-use surveillance data to inform policy action across Europe.

🕑: 02:00 PM - 04:00 PM
Tuesday 3 February - Track 5: Intensive Care Unit (ICU)
Host: Lennie Derde, Ecraid CEO / UMC Utrecht, the Netherlands

Info: Uncover the critical evidence gaps and future research priorities within the ICU setting. We will debate key questions, such as the required steroid trials for Community-Acquired Pneumonia (CAP) and the necessary antifungal studies in the ICU. The session includes dedicated discussions on the REMPAP-CAP platform trial and Ecraid’s vital Perpetual Observational Study on Ventilator-Associated Pneumonia (POS-VAP). Join the discussion that shapes future ICU trial design.

🕑: 04:00 PM - 04:30 PM
Tuesday 3 February - Closing & Coffee

Info: Meet and connect with attendees and speakers.

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