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ERN-ITHACA Patients Representatives

What is an ePAG advocate?

In 2016, EURORDIS and the European rare disease community established 24 European Patient Advocacy Groups (ePAGs) aligned to the clinical scope of each ERN. Today, there are over 280 ePAG to represent the wider patient community in the development of ERNs. 

What is the role of an ePAG advocate?

The role of ePAG is to represent the voice and interests of their patient community and act as the bridge between this community and the ERN. ePAG have an official permanent mandate to represent ePAG member organisations. They liaise with these organisations to ensure true and equitable representation of the patient voice by participating in the Board and sub-clinical committees of their respective ERN. 

How to become an ePAG advocate?

Membership of ePAGs is open to all rare disease patient organisations (EURORDIS members and non-members based in the European Union). ePAGs can only benefit from the flow of ideas between a range of member organisations and advocates.

The recruitment of these advocates is ongoing to ensure that patients are fully represented in the governance of each and every ERN. Patient advocates have already been elected to numerous ERNs but additional applications are welcome for all networks. 

If you are interested in learning more about ERN-ITHACA ePAGs, please contact ERN-ITHACA Project Manager Anne (anne.hugon@ aphp.fr).

The ERN-ITHACA Patient Council & Advisory Board 

Patient Board is an elected body consisting of 5 ePAGs. It is part and parcel of ERN-ITHACA’s governance and thus participates in each Workgroup or transversal activities and is represented in both the Executive Committee (2 representatives: chair and co-chair) and the Board (5 representatives). Through this organisation, ITHACA aims to maintain a high degree of cooperation between ePAGs and other National or European lay public or patients’ organizations at all levels of decision making and to ensure that all the ERN activities include patients and their families. 

In addition, the Patient Council holds an annual face-to-face meeting and several WebEx meetings at a frequency fixed by the Council itself.  

  

Patient Board Members

Patient Council Members

  • Annalisa Scopinaro, Associazione Persone Williams Italia, UNIAMO, IT
  • Samantha Carletti: PKS Italia Aps_Pallister-Killian_IT – Pallister-Killian syndrome / Italy
  • Cristina López García : International Asociación de Afectados CDKL5 – CDKL5-deficiency disorder / Spain
  • David Ross : Rare Disease Male Mental Health Support Group ; Mental health: Cowden Syndrome / United Kingdom
  • Kelly Verbruggen: ADNP kids – HVDAS_Belgium – HVDAS, ADNP / Belgium

Patient Council’s missions:

  • Representing the voice and interests of patients and families within ERN ITHACA. 
  • Ensuring a patient-centric approach
  • Supporting the identification of ERN ITHACA strategic priorities
  • Providing advice on ethical issues
  • Supporting the Network in the dissemination of its activities and information to the wider patient community to ensure transparency