The European Patients Academy on Therapeutic Innovation (EUPATI) has launched ‘EUPATIConnect’, a new platform connecting EUPATI Patient Experts
(EUPATI Fellows* and EUPATI Open Classroom learners**) with researchers looking to involve patients in their projects such as protocol reviews, focus groups,
speaking opportunities, patient advisory boards, ethical committees or regulatory processes.
EUPATIConnect is a place where both EUPATI Patient Experts and researchers can build new connections, create synergies and mutually beneficial opportunities to enhance patient engagement.
How does it work?
On the platform, EUPATI Patient Experts indicate their availability to participate in various projects while researchers submit their requests to find patient partners for their projects. The EUPATI Secretariat, via EUPATIConnect, connects both parties. The platform operates as a fee-for-service tool, contributing to the sustainability of EUPATI. The service is free for EUPATI Patient Experts or EUPATI partner organisations from academia, while there will be a charge for industry partners and external organisations depending on the level of support required.
The platform uses a matching algorithm where researchers can submit their project requests online and EUPATI Patient Experts can log in to view and edit their profiles. Only the EUPATI Secretariat has access to the profiles and projects as it provides the matching service and remains involved to facilitate the matchmaking request. In the future, EUPATI may move towards more of a self-service model, i.e. an external platform for both parties to interact and expand EUPATIConnect tool facilities.
*EUPATI Fellows: EUPATI Fellows have completed all learning modules from EUPATI Open Classroom and attended 2 training events.
**EUPATI Classroom Learners: Patients/Patient representatives who have completed one or several Modules of the Open Classroom content in medicine
R&D (Non-clinical Development, Clinical Development, Regulatory Affairs or/and Health Technology Assessment).
