A group of Professional Healthcare Research Assistants from Centro di Riferimento Oncologico (CRO) Aviano, IRCSS, recently took part in an EATRIS-CONNECT Knowledge Exchange, visiting Instituto Ramón y Cajal de Investigación Sanitaria (IRYCIS) in Madrid, Spain. Morena, Luca, and Alessia travelled to Madrid in July 2026 to explore best practices in the integration of clinical and research information systems.
WHAT MOTIVATED YOU TO GO ON AN EXCHANGE AT IRYCIS? WHAT WERE YOU INTERESTED IN LEARNING?
The purpose of this Knowledge Exchange was to explore best practices in the integration of clinical and research information systems, with a particular focus on AI-based solutions supporting clinical studies and research data management. It provided an opportunity to gain practical knowledge on advanced digital tools, data governance practices, and institutional workflows from a leading research centre in Europe.
What was the focus of your Exchange?
The visit provided an opportunity to learn about the organisation of clinical trial activities, the management of research data, digital pathology workflows, and innovative approaches to the use of artificial intelligence in healthcare. The exchange fostered valuable discussions on data standardisation, interoperability, and future collaborative opportunities.
What did each of you take away from this experience?
“The EATRIS-CONNECT Knowledge Exchange was a valuable opportunity to share experiences and explore approaches to accelerating translational research. The discussions on digital workflows, data interoperability, artificial intelligence, and innovative approaches to clinical research provided new perspectives that will directly support the improvement of my institutional processes. I would strongly recommend this programme to researchers and professionals looking to strengthen collaborations, exchange knowledge, and build new opportunities for future research initiatives.”
– Morena Truglia, Professional Healthcare Research Assistant, ICT Area – Scientific Directorate, Centro di Riferimento Oncologico (CRO) Aviano, IRCSS.
“The EATRIS-CONNECT Knowledge Exchange offered an excellent opportunity to exchange knowledge and gain insights from a leading European institution in the field of translational research. We had the opportunity to observe their operational workflows and better understand how their activities are organised, how they work on a day-to-day basis, and how data flow across the different stages of their processes. These insights provided valuable perspectives that can contribute to the development and improvement of our own institutional workflows and processes.”
– Luca Pellizzari, Professional Healthcare Research Assistant, ICT Area – Scientific Directorate, CRO Aviano National Cancer Institute (IRCCS).
“Unlike other initiatives and events I have taken part in, the EATRIS-CONNECT Knowledge Exchange was truly focused on our interests and tailored to our specific needs, from being matched with the Ramón y Cajal Institute, facilitated by the EATRIS team, to the development of an agenda specifically designed for us. The discussions and meetings were highly relevant and productive, creating real opportunities to exchange methodologies, share ideas, and learn from one another. Every interaction with the teams at the Ramón y Cajal Institute had a clear goal: to identify common ground, understand our different approaches and explore opportunities for future collaboration. For all these reasons, I would highly recommend this programme to others, as it was a truly valuable and tailored experience for me and my team.”
– Alessia Stefenato, Professional Healthcare Research Assistant, ICT Area – Scientific Directorate, CRO Aviano National Cancer Institute (IRCCS).
What is the EATRIS-CONNECT Knowledge Exchange Programme and how can I participate?
The EATRIS-CONNECT Knowledge Exchange Programme provides up to €1K to researchers who wish to organise an exchange at an eligible research institution, with a specific focus on improving digital transformation in translational medicine.
Funds are available for both EATRIS-CONNECT partners and EATRIS organisations that are not official partners of the EATRIS-CONNECT project.
Interested in taking part in an exchange? Read more about the programme and application procedure here.
