The main objective of the V&GA subcommittee is to enhance global awareness of EMEUNET as an organisation and the projects we undertake.
The goals of the subcommittee include:
- Increasing EMEUNET visibility among young rheumatologists and researchers within the rheumatology community: This objective is primarily addressed by organizing networking events during ACR and EULAR annual meetings and disseminating information about EMEUNET at our booth during the EULAR congress. For instance, EMEUNET hosted two highly praised networking events: a Waltz dance course in Vienna during the EULAR congress in June 2024 and an axe-throwing activity in Washington during the ACR congress in November 2024. Exciting updates will be forthcoming about the networking event at EULAR 2025 in Barcelona, along with numerous networking opportunities and activities.
- Promoting EMEUNET and collaborating with young associations worldwide: Over the years, we have expanded our activities and scientific events, engaging with other young organizations.
- Interacting and collaborating with PARE and Young PARE: Understanding the perspectives and needs of persons living with an RMD is crucial for our mission.
- Interacting and collaborating on projects with other EMEUNET subcommittees such as the Newsletter, Education, Country Liaison, and Social Media subcommittees.
We are committed to advancing these objectives and furthering the impact of EMEUNET on a global scale.
Activities
The EMEUNET networking event at the EULAR 2025 congress in Barcelona where EMEUNET members reunited during a memorable boat trip.
The V&GA subcommittee is highly committed to promoting and maintaining the sense of community that features EULAR. Our live EMEUNET networking events are unmissable appointments for young rheumatologists to interact, establish new collaborations, and maintain fruitful interactions without borders. While these events remain a cornerstone, the V&GA subcommittee has also put considerable effort into creating year-round interaction opportunities.
The EMEUNET networking event at the ACR 2025 congress in Chicago.
The Visibility & Global Affairs Subcommittee also endorsed a joint meeting, “EMEUNET Meets PARE”, organized in collaboration with the EULAR PARE community. This event, held during the EULAR 2025 Congress in Barcelona, was planned by Krystel Aouad and Mrinalini Dey (EMEUNET representative at PARE). Several topics were proposed to the PARE community, who then selected one of two options to explore through round-table discussions with EMEUNET researchers and rheumatologists. The aim was to collaboratively define priorities and shape a research agenda for each selected topic, fostering meaningful patient–researcher partnership.
The EMEUNET meets PARE event at the EULAR congress 2025 in Barcelona.
In recent years, EMEUNET members have convened via digital platforms for e-networking meetings and virtual reality events. Since 2023, the V&GA subcommittee has launched a series of scientific joint webinars with other young societies such as Young GRAPPA, Young PARE, AYR (young APLAR: Asia Pacific League of Associations for Rheumatology), PANLAR (Pan American League of Associations for Rheumatology), and from other specialities: Young ECCO (Young Gastroenterologists from ECCO: European Crohn´s and Colitis Organisation) and YNP (Young Nephrologists’ platform-ERA: European Renal Association). This webinar series is particularly relevant to EMEUNET V&GA as one of our tasks is collaborating with other young organisations.
The webinar in September 2025 was a EULAR endorsed webinar in collaboration with Young ECCO about
The webinar in collaboration with yGRAPPA, was held in October 2025 and focused on the applications of Artificial Intelligence in Rheumatology. At the GRAPPA meeting in Bogota (10-12 July 2025), a poster about EMEUNET was presented.
Another EULAR endorsed webinar was organised and held in November 2025 about GCA and Takayasu in collaboration with AYR.
The webinar in December 2025 was organised in collaboration with nephrologists from YNP about Lupus nephritis.
We are pleased to announce our upcoming joint webinar with PANLAR Joven on March 11 at 6 PM about How to apply for Research grants.
Lastly, our subcommittee has recently launched a new joint initiative: Podcasts with the EMEUNET and PARE community, in which topics are directly chosen by patients from the PARE community and the topics are explained by rheumatologists in lay language.
The latest episode of the EMEUNET & PARE Podcast is now live!
This podcast episode focuses on lifestyle and diet for patients with RMDs. It is hosted by Renske Meijer (Education SC member), Milena Bond (Visibility & Global Affairs SC member), and Sophia Marantidou (PARE member). The episode features Jean-Guillaume Letarouilly and Claire Daien, who discuss the important role that diet and lifestyle factors play in the management of rheumatic and musculoskeletal diseases.
Written by Krystel Aouad