Florence Horicks shares insights from hosting the Symposium for More Patient Value

By Symphony of Us

Last week the Symphony of Us participated in the second Citizen Science 4 Health conference in Zürich!

Two days that brought together 150 academics, care professionals and citizens scientists.

Inspiring to see how worldwide collaborative, transdisciplinary projects guided by the values of patients are rising!

Florence Horicks shares insights from hosting the Symposium for More Patient Value

By Symphony of Us

Yesterday, our team had the pleasure of hosting the Symposium for More Patient Value bringing together patients, healthcare professionals, researchers and artists.

Throughout the day, we explored how patient value can be created across the levels of the healthcare ecosystem:

• Micro level: improving the patient experience in everyday care
• Meso level: transforming practices and organizational models to better serve patient needs
• Macro level: securing health data (re)use, shaping policies and system-wide strategies that enable meaningful impact

The contributions of patient were particularly powerful, reminding us that co-creation is essential if we want to design solutions that truly resonate with their needs.

Thank you to all participants, speakers, and partners for your insights and your commitment to advancing patient value. We are deeply grateful to our patient-researchers for their trust and their commitment.

This was the closing event of our wonderful project The Symphony of Us. Looking forward for the next steps to creating value for patients at every level of the system.

Symposium Patient Value in Oncology Research & Care
United for Change: Transdisciplinary Paths to Patient Value in Oncology

By Symphony of Us

Join the Symphony of Us Team for a unique gathering of minds committed to advancing patient value in oncology.

This one-day symposium will bring together researchers, healthcare professionals, patient representatives, policymakers, NGOs, and others working at the intersection of science, care, and societal impact.

As a closure event, it will be the occasion to share what we have learned during the Symphony of Us project and to bridge our findings and experiences with yours. Let’s further explore, discuss, and inspire new ways of putting patient value at the heart of oncology research and practice together!

November 25th 2025
USquare Brussels, Kroonlaan 227, 1050 Elsene
Register here: https://forms.office.com/e/Qqsfg7vv1k

Are you also driven by Patient Value in oncology, share what you do by submitting an abstract!

Abstract Submission is Open
Deadline: 01/09/2025
Submission: Symposium for more Patient Value – The Symphony of Us

Hope to see you there!

Getting Ready for Trouble

How can we communicate better for evidence-informed policy-making in crisis management?

Join us in Brussels for a 2-day symposium & workshop bringing together policymakers, stakeholders, and leading researchers to explore communication challenges in pandemic preparedness and response.

Societal participation in the development of orphan drugs: a systematic review

The development of orphan drugs (ODs) remains constrained by structural barriers, including limited scientific knowledge, high clinical uncertainty, and fragile commercial incentives. In parallel, an alternative ecosystem has emerged in which non-commercial societal actors (patients, advocacy groups, and philanthropic entities) contribute to the design, evaluation, and dissemination of therapies for rare diseases. This systematic review provides the first structured synthesis of empirical evidence on societal participation in OD development, with a specific focus on neuromuscular and neurodegenerative disorders. Twenty-one peer-reviewed studies were included, spanning a range of designs from case reports to stakeholder surveys.

Michel Goldman: A Teacher Until the End

In a quiet Brussels morning, we sat down with Dr. Michel Goldman, 70, a world-renowned immunologist, the founding president of the Institute for Interdisciplinary Innovation in Healthcare (I3h), and former executive director of the €2 billion Innovative Medicines Initiative. But his story is not just one of science and leadership; it is also personal. Goldman is a lymphoma patient. A scientist who spent decades studying lymphocytes, cells that one day had turned against him.

https://cancerworld.net/michel-goldman-a-teacher-until-the-end/

TMex (Translational Medicine explained) 2025 course announcement

By EATRIS

Want to learn how your research is translated into patients benefit?
Join EATRIS in Barcelona for the Translational Medicine Explained Tmex 2025 course!

Dates: 11-14 November 2025
Place: Barcelona, Spain

Turn science into solutions
The translation of biomedical discoveries into products which provide patient benefit requires a truly multidisciplinary effort. Along the development path, academic / clinical researchers, lawyers, business developers, funders, regulators and patients need to work hand-in hand to allow for a fast and cost-effective process. Many researchers, however, do not have the opportunity to examine the process in more detail and may as a result be missing out on opportunities to take their work further, or work in a less efficient manner.

TMex is an interactive 4-day course, taught by experts who focus on different aspects of the translational path. The course aims to provide hands-on learning, where participants have the opportunity to apply key knowledge and skills to real-life scenarios as they learn them. Open to anyone with an interest in learning more about Translational research and applying it to their own work and research, the course is further enhanced by a series of short e-learning modules which are completed at your own pace prior to attending the face-to-face course.

At the end of the course, participants will be able to:
· Describe the key steps and questions to be addressed in translating scientific discoveries into medical products
· Define the multidisciplinary stakeholders involved in translation and the importance of strong partnerships in improving the pathway
· Recognise the importance of interacting with patients from their viewpoint and demonstrate strategies for engagement
· Examine key translational medicine bottlenecks and opportunities

Additionally, the course will provide participants with the chance to develop their individual professional skills. These will include opportunities to develop their teamwork and communication skills during interactive workshop sessions, through to building their network across all course members and learning more about career options open to them in Translational research.

“The TMex course has given me essential insights about my current research projects, the direction I need to take the research in and also about my future career. I would definitely recommend this course for anyone interested in Translational Medicine!” Rebecca Andersson, IDIBELL, Barcelona, Spain

Bridging science, business & innovation

The Advanced Master in Biotech & MedTech Ventures is where leadership meets life science innovation. Whether you come from a science, engineering, or business background, this programme equips you with venture creation skills, market strategy expertise, and deep industry insights to assume a C-suite position at an early-stage Biotech or MedTech company.

Work on real challenges, connect with industry leaders and take the next step in shaping the future of life sciences.

Applications are open – start your journey today! https://bit.ly/3XWBl33

Competition-friendly industrial policy

By Philippe Aghion, Mathias Dewatripont & Patrick Legros

Industrial policy, essential for addressing market failures, encounters concerns regarding protecting inefficient firms. We advocate for competition-friendly industrial policies, underscoring the complementary relationship between industrial and competition policies and the benefits of targeted sector-specific subsidies. We emphasize the significance of market competitiveness for sustainable industrial development, drawing from theoretical models and empirical evidence from China.

Implementing an integrative oncology pathway in a comprehensive cancer center: expert insights and perspectives

Integrative oncology (IO) has evolved into an evidence-informed discipline endorsed by major oncology organizations. However, integrating IO into standard oncology care remains a challenge, often dependent on institutional culture and provider attitudes. This exploratory pilot study aimed to assess healthcare professionals’ (HCPs) knowledge, communication practices, perceived needs, and perspectives regarding IO in a Belgian Comprehensive Cancer Center with no preexisting IO pathway.

Donner voix aux patients en oncologie

Florence Horicks of I3h talks about patient advocacy in Esprit Libre