The International Neonatal Screening Day is born!
IPOPI, in partnership with ISNS and the ESID, announces the launch of the first International Neonatal Screening Day on June 28, 2021.
SAFE Task Force releases two position statements
The Supply and Access for Everyone (SAFE) Task Force and IPOPI are happy to share with IPOPI’s members two position statements on 2 key topics of relevance to patients with PIDs worldwide:
- Patients with PID need sustained & continued access to their Ig therapies!
- Managing demand for immunoglobulins: PIDs are a priority indication at all times
These two papers aim at being used by NMO representatives in their advocacy work on access to immunoglobulin replacement therapies.
The SAFE Task Force, was launched by IPOPI in 2020 to monitor plasma collection and the availability of immunoglobulin replacement therapies for patients with PIDs worldwide, as well as provide guidance and support to patients with PIDs in their access to live-saving immunoglobulin therapies.
The taskforce is composed of experts from different parts of the world and IPOPI staff (in alphabetical order): Ms Roberta Anido de Pena, Ms Jose Drabwell, Dr Nahla Ewra, Prof Stephen Jolles, Dr Nizar Mahlaoui, Ms Martine Pergent, Mr Johan Prevot, Prof John Seymour, Prof Surjit Singh, Ms Leire Solis.
Screen4Rare organises two milestone meetings
February 2021 was a very busy month for the coalition Screen4Rare (S4R), with the celebration of 2 high-level meetings.
On February 11, S4R convened a round table to discuss newborn screening for rare diseases and how the European Reference Networks (ERN) could contribute to a EU-wide approach to newborn screening. The meeting was facilitated by the European Commission and led by Screen4Rare alongside with representatives from ERN-Rita and MetabERN. The meeting started with the revision of the Screen4Rare campaign and an agreement was reached to develop an ERN initiative on newborn screening for rare diseases that could coordinate future ERN action on the topic.
On February 24, a political meeting, organised by Screen4Rare and co-hosted by MEP Manuel Pizarro (S&D, Portugal) and MEP Sirpa Pietikäinen (EPP, Finland) gathered representatives from the European Commission, EU Member States, Members of the European Parliament, European References Networks (ERNs) and patient organisations. The meeting aimed at discussing the practical implementation of a European approach to newborn screening for rare diseases through an in-depth discussion regarding the various calls contained within Screen4Rare’s Call to Action. Several agreements were reached on how to proceed in the next steps, covering: funding opportunities, the possibility of creating a European Standing Committee on newborn screening for rare diseases and its debate by Member States and the Commission (at the Steering Group for Health Promotion and Prevention (SGPP)).
All in all, February was a very active month for the initiative that brings together the International Patient Organisation for Primary Immunodeficiencies (IPOPI), the International Society for Neonatal Screening (ISNS), and the European Society for Immunodeficiencies (ESID) aiming to exchange knowledge and best practices on NBS for rare diseases. The group’s ultimate objective is to ensure that all babies born in the EU can have equal access to newborn screening. Since February, the coalition has pursued its activities of introducing the initiative to European Member States and enlarge its pool of supporters at European level.
PIDs and autoinflammation mini documentary
Mini documentary dedicated to the crossover of primary immunodeficiencies (PID) and autoinflammatory and rheumatological manifestations
IPIC has moved!
IPOPI is delighted to invite you all to participate in the next International Primary Immunodeficiencies Congress – IPIC 5th Edition – which will be held in Vilamoura (Algarve), Portugal, on 27-29 April 2022!
IPIC was initially planned to take place in Germany in November 2021.
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