Research activity and capability in the European reference network MetabERN
Abstract Background MetabERN is one of the 24 European Reference Networks created according to the European Union directive 2011/24/EU on patient’s rights in cross border healthcare. MetabERN associates 69 centres in 18 countries, which provide care for patients with Hereditary Metabolic Diseases, a...
| Main Authors: | , , , , |
|---|---|
| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
BMC
2019-05-01
|
| Series: | Orphanet Journal of Rare Diseases |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | http://link.springer.com/article/10.1186/s13023-019-1091-8 |
| _version_ | 1811324042576134144 |
|---|---|
| author | Jean-Michel Heard Cinzia Bellettato Corine van Lingen Maurizio Scarpa the MetabERN collaboration group |
| author_facet | Jean-Michel Heard Cinzia Bellettato Corine van Lingen Maurizio Scarpa the MetabERN collaboration group |
| author_sort | Jean-Michel Heard |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Abstract Background MetabERN is one of the 24 European Reference Networks created according to the European Union directive 2011/24/EU on patient’s rights in cross border healthcare. MetabERN associates 69 centres in 18 countries, which provide care for patients with Hereditary Metabolic Diseases, and have the mission to reinforce research and provide training for health professionals in this field. MetabERN performed a survey in December 2017 with the aim to produce an overview documenting research activities and potentials within the network. As the centres are multidisciplinary, separated questionnaires were sent to the clinical, university and laboratory teams. Answers were received from 52 out of the 69 centres of the network, covering 16 countries. A descriptive analysis of the information collected is presented. Results The answers indicate a marked interest of the respondents for research, who expressed high motivation and commitment, and estimated that the conditions to do research in their institution were mostly satisfactory. They are active in research, which according to several indicators, is competitive and satisfies standards of excellence, as well as the education programs offered in the respondent’s universities. Research in the centres is primarily performed in genetics, pathophysiology, and epidemiology, and focuses on issues related to diagnosis. Few respondents declared having activity in human and social sciences, including research on patient’s quality of life, patient’s awareness, or methods for social support. Infrastructures offering services for medical research were rarely known and used by respondents, including national and international biobanking platforms. In contrast, respondents often participate to patient registries, even beyond their specific field of interest. Conclusions Taken as a whole, these results provide an encouraging picture of the research capacities and activities in the MetabERN network, which, with respect to the number and representativeness of the investigated centres, gives a comprehensive picture of research on Hereditary Metabolic Diseases in Europe, as well as the priorities for future actions. Marginal activity in human and social sciences points out the limited multidisciplinary constitution of the responding teams with possible consequences on their current capability to participate to patient’s empowerment programs and efficiently collaborate with patient’s advocacy groups. |
| first_indexed | 2024-04-13T14:07:13Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-0950923f7ae2431b88d9f0f6dd771e68 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 1750-1172 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-04-13T14:07:13Z |
| publishDate | 2019-05-01 |
| publisher | BMC |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Orphanet Journal of Rare Diseases |
| spelling | doaj.art-0950923f7ae2431b88d9f0f6dd771e682022-12-22T02:43:52ZengBMCOrphanet Journal of Rare Diseases1750-11722019-05-011411910.1186/s13023-019-1091-8Research activity and capability in the European reference network MetabERNJean-Michel Heard0Cinzia Bellettato1Corine van Lingen2Maurizio Scarpa3the MetabERN collaboration groupMetabERN, Regional Coordinating Center for Rare Diseases, Udine University HospitalCinzia Bellettato, MetabERNCorine van Lingen, MetabERNMaurizio Scarpa, MetabERNAbstract Background MetabERN is one of the 24 European Reference Networks created according to the European Union directive 2011/24/EU on patient’s rights in cross border healthcare. MetabERN associates 69 centres in 18 countries, which provide care for patients with Hereditary Metabolic Diseases, and have the mission to reinforce research and provide training for health professionals in this field. MetabERN performed a survey in December 2017 with the aim to produce an overview documenting research activities and potentials within the network. As the centres are multidisciplinary, separated questionnaires were sent to the clinical, university and laboratory teams. Answers were received from 52 out of the 69 centres of the network, covering 16 countries. A descriptive analysis of the information collected is presented. Results The answers indicate a marked interest of the respondents for research, who expressed high motivation and commitment, and estimated that the conditions to do research in their institution were mostly satisfactory. They are active in research, which according to several indicators, is competitive and satisfies standards of excellence, as well as the education programs offered in the respondent’s universities. Research in the centres is primarily performed in genetics, pathophysiology, and epidemiology, and focuses on issues related to diagnosis. Few respondents declared having activity in human and social sciences, including research on patient’s quality of life, patient’s awareness, or methods for social support. Infrastructures offering services for medical research were rarely known and used by respondents, including national and international biobanking platforms. In contrast, respondents often participate to patient registries, even beyond their specific field of interest. Conclusions Taken as a whole, these results provide an encouraging picture of the research capacities and activities in the MetabERN network, which, with respect to the number and representativeness of the investigated centres, gives a comprehensive picture of research on Hereditary Metabolic Diseases in Europe, as well as the priorities for future actions. Marginal activity in human and social sciences points out the limited multidisciplinary constitution of the responding teams with possible consequences on their current capability to participate to patient’s empowerment programs and efficiently collaborate with patient’s advocacy groups.http://link.springer.com/article/10.1186/s13023-019-1091-8European reference CentresHereditary metabolic diseasesMedical research activityMultidisciplinary research |
| spellingShingle | Jean-Michel Heard Cinzia Bellettato Corine van Lingen Maurizio Scarpa the MetabERN collaboration group Research activity and capability in the European reference network MetabERN Orphanet Journal of Rare Diseases European reference Centres Hereditary metabolic diseases Medical research activity Multidisciplinary research |
| title | Research activity and capability in the European reference network MetabERN |
| title_full | Research activity and capability in the European reference network MetabERN |
| title_fullStr | Research activity and capability in the European reference network MetabERN |
| title_full_unstemmed | Research activity and capability in the European reference network MetabERN |
| title_short | Research activity and capability in the European reference network MetabERN |
| title_sort | research activity and capability in the european reference network metabern |
| topic | European reference Centres Hereditary metabolic diseases Medical research activity Multidisciplinary research |
| url | http://link.springer.com/article/10.1186/s13023-019-1091-8 |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT jeanmichelheard researchactivityandcapabilityintheeuropeanreferencenetworkmetabern AT cinziabellettato researchactivityandcapabilityintheeuropeanreferencenetworkmetabern AT corinevanlingen researchactivityandcapabilityintheeuropeanreferencenetworkmetabern AT maurizioscarpa researchactivityandcapabilityintheeuropeanreferencenetworkmetabern AT themetaberncollaborationgroup researchactivityandcapabilityintheeuropeanreferencenetworkmetabern |