IPOPI MENA PID Patients and Doctors’ Meeting

This meeting brings together patient representatives and healthcare professionals from the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region to share knowledge, experiences, and best practices in primary immunodeficiencies (PIDs), while addressing regional challenges and opportunities. The first day and a half is dedicated to healthcare professionals interested in PIDs, and the second half of the second day focuses on national member organisations (NMOs) from the region.

LOCATION

Cairo, Egypt

DATES

20 – 21 November, 2026

LANGUAGE

The official meeting language will be English.

Registration & Contact

Miriam Ferreira

IPOPI NMO Programmes Manager, Africa/Middle East

miriam@ipopi.org

DISCOVER THE PROGRAMME

20 Nov 21 Nov

Friday, 20 November

IPOPI MENA PID Patients and Doctors’ Meeting

Doctors’ Meeting

08:40 Welcome and Registration

09:00-10:30 Session 1 – Welcome Session
Moderator: Martine Pergent

09:00-09:10 Welcome remarks and introduction to IPOPI – Martine Pergent, IPOPI President
09:10-09:20 Welcome to Cairo – Prof Aisha El Marsafy, Cairo University, Egypt and Dr Nesrine Radwan, Ain Shams University, Egypt
09:20-09:30 Welcome from sponsors – Grifols, Takeda, and Kedrion
09:30-09:55 Keynote lecture 1 – PIDs state of play in MENA countries – Prof Aisha El Marsafy, Egypt
09:55-10:20 Keynote lecture 2: Ten-year perspective for the region – Prof Ahmed Aziz Bousfiha, Morocco
10:20-10:30 Question & Answers – All

10:30-11:00 COFFEE BREAK

11:00-12:30 Session 2 – Expanding the field of immunodeficiency

Moderators: Dr Nizar Mahlaoui and Prof Monia Ouederni

11:00-11:25 The role of autoinflammation and autoimmunity in primary immunodeficiency – Prof Martin van Hagen, IPOPI MAP Vice-Chair
11:25-11:50 When the SID unmasks a PID – Prof Silvia Sánchez-Ramón, IPOPI MAP Vice-Chair
11:50-12:10 The growing demand for IG therapies: Balancing regional needs and evolving therapeutic indications – Johan Prévot, IPOPI Executive Director
12:10-12:30 Group Picture

12:30-13:30 LUNCH

13:30-15:00 Session 3 – Regional perspectives on PID diagnostics and screening
Moderator: Prof Silvia Sánchez-Ramón and Dr Nermeen Galal

13:30-13:55 Specific infectious agents relevant to PID in the MENA region – Dr Carla Irani, Lebanon
13:55-14:20 Flow cytometry for diagnostics: Value, context, and sustainability – Dr Brahim Belaid, Algeria
14:20-14:40 Diagnostic landscape of PIDs: Insights from a country in the region – Dr Marilyn Rabih Karam, Saudi German Hospital, Dubai, United Arab Emirates
14:40-15:00 Tailoring newborn screening for severe combined immunodeficiency in the MENA context – Dr Rand Arnaout, Saudi Arabia

15:00-15:30 COFFEE BREAK

15:30-17:15 Session 4 – Learning from challenging PID cases
Moderator: Prof Martin van Hagen

15:30-17:10 Presentation of four interesting cases, followed by a panel discussion
17:10-17:15 Closure of the day – Martine Pergent, IPOPI President

Saturday, 21 November

IPOPI MENA PID Patients and Doctors’ Meeting

08:30 Welcome and Registration

08:50-10:00 Session 5 – PID management: the MENA context
Moderator: Johan Prévot

08:50-09:00 Welcome to the 2^nd day meeting – Martine Pergent, IPOPI President
09:00-09:20 Transition from childhood to adulthood – Dr Nizar Mahlaoui, IPOPI MAP Chair
09:20-09:40 Management of PIDs in adulthood – Dr Maryam Al-Nesf, ARAPID President, Qatar
09:40-10:00 Transplantation successes in the region – Prof Monia Ouederni, Tunisia

10:00-10:30 COFFEE BREAK

10:30-12:30 Session 6 – Empowering regional advancements

Moderators: Dr Nizar Mahlaoui and Dr Maryam Al-Nesf

10:30-11:10 Panel discussion: What is the gold standard of quality for PID patients? – Doctors: Dr Sohilla Lotfy (Egypt) and Dr Nizar Mahlaoui, Patient representatives: TBC
11:10-11:30 The role of PID registries in advancing patient outcomes
11:30-11:50 Regional innovations and initiatives in PID care – Prof Ibtihal Benhsaien, Morocco
11:50-12:00 Doctor’s meeting wrap-up – Martine Pergent, IPOPI President

12:00-13:00 LUNCH

Patients’ Meeting

13:00-15:00 Session 7 – From treatment to thriving: building better lives with PID

Moderators: Johan Prévot and Prof Ibtihal Benhsaien

13:00-13:05 Welcome remarks – Martine Pergent, IPOPI President
13:05-13:20 Latest developments on the state-of-the-art treatment in PIDs – Dr Nesrine Radwan, Egypt
13:20-13:30 Finding strength together: Mental well-being and self-empowerment in PID
13:30-13:35 Q&A – All
13:35-14:05 How to manage daily life with a PID? – All NMO representatives
14:05-14:20 Report back
14:20-14:30 Successful examples

14:30-15:00 COFFEE BREAK

15:00-17:15 Session 8 – Developing action plans to address your priorities (skills building session)
Moderator: Martine Pergent and Miriam Ferreira

15:00-15:10 Workshop introduction – Martine Pergent and Miriam Ferreira
15:10-15:40 Crafting effective action plans – All NMO representatives
15:40-15:55 Report back – NMO rapporteurs
15:55-16:00 Summary remarks – Martine Pergent, IPOPI President
16:00 Closure of the day

SPONSORED BY

SUPPORTED BY

Improving PID patients’ lives. Worldwide.

IPOPI MENA PID Patients and Doctors’ Meeting

LOCATION

DATES

LANGUAGE

Registration & Contact

DISCOVER THE PROGRAMME

Friday, 20 November

Doctors’ Meeting

08:40 Welcome and Registration

09:00-10:30 Session 1 – Welcome Session
Moderator: Martine Pergent

11:00-12:30 Session 2 – Expanding the field of immunodeficiency

Moderators: Dr Nizar Mahlaoui and Prof Monia Ouederni

13:30-15:00 Session 3 – Regional perspectives on PID diagnostics and screening
Moderator: Prof Silvia Sánchez-Ramón and Dr Nermeen Galal

15:30-17:15 Session 4 – Learning from challenging PID cases
Moderator: Prof Martin van Hagen

Saturday, 21 November

08:30 Welcome and Registration

08:50-10:00 Session 5 – PID management: the MENA context
Moderator: Johan Prévot

10:30-12:30 Session 6 – Empowering regional advancements

Moderators: Dr Nizar Mahlaoui and Dr Maryam Al-Nesf

Patients’ Meeting

13:00-15:00 Session 7 – From treatment to thriving: building better lives with PID

Moderators: Johan Prévot and Prof Ibtihal Benhsaien

15:00-17:15 Session 8 – Developing action plans to address your priorities (skills building session)
Moderator: Martine Pergent and Miriam Ferreira

Contact us

Social Media

Website sponsors

IPOPI MENA PID Patients and Doctors’ Meeting

DISCOVER THE PROGRAMME

Friday, 20 November

Doctors’ Meeting

08:40 Welcome and Registration

09:00-10:30 Session 1 – Welcome Session Moderator: Martine Pergent

11:00-12:30 Session 2 – Expanding the field of immunodeficiency

Moderators: Dr Nizar Mahlaoui and Prof Monia Ouederni

13:30-15:00 Session 3 – Regional perspectives on PID diagnostics and screening Moderator: Prof Silvia Sánchez-Ramón and Dr Nermeen Galal

15:30-17:15 Session 4 – Learning from challenging PID cases Moderator: Prof Martin van Hagen

Saturday, 21 November

08:30 Welcome and Registration

08:50-10:00 Session 5 – PID management: the MENA context Moderator: Johan Prévot

10:30-12:30 Session 6 – Empowering regional advancements

Moderators: Dr Nizar Mahlaoui and Dr Maryam Al-Nesf

Patients’ Meeting

13:00-15:00 Session 7 – From treatment to thriving: building better lives with PID

Moderators: Johan Prévot and Prof Ibtihal Benhsaien

15:00-17:15 Session 8 – Developing action plans to address your priorities (skills building session) Moderator: Martine Pergent and Miriam Ferreira

Contact us

Social Media

Website sponsors

09:00-10:30 Session 1 – Welcome Session
Moderator: Martine Pergent

13:30-15:00 Session 3 – Regional perspectives on PID diagnostics and screening
Moderator: Prof Silvia Sánchez-Ramón and Dr Nermeen Galal

15:30-17:15 Session 4 – Learning from challenging PID cases
Moderator: Prof Martin van Hagen

08:50-10:00 Session 5 – PID management: the MENA context
Moderator: Johan Prévot

15:00-17:15 Session 8 – Developing action plans to address your priorities (skills building session)
Moderator: Martine Pergent and Miriam Ferreira