Screen4Care Consortium Holds Fourth In-Person Meeting in Dublin, Ireland

The Screen4Care consortium is pleased to share key highlights from its fourth in-person meeting, held on 19–20 March 2026 in Dublin, Ireland. The event brought together leading experts and researchers in the field of rare diseases for two days of insightful discussions, knowledge exchange, and collaboration.

The meeting opened with remarks from Project Coordinator Alessandra Ferlini (University of Ferrara) and the new EFPIA Lead, Vinciane Pirard (Sanofi). They provided an overview of the project’s progress and outlined its future direction, setting the stage for productive discussions. This was followed by a welcome from the host institution, University College Dublin (UCD), delivered by UCD President Orla Feely and Professor Lizbeth Goodman, Chair of Creative Technology Innovation. They introduced the university’s innovative vision, including a virtual campus tour, and highlighted its mission and commitment to improving the lives of people living with rare diseases.

A key highlight of the programme was the Digital Omics session, featuring invited speakers from within the consortium. Professor Frauke Alves (MPI) delivered an engaging presentation titled “Introduction to Digital Omics.” Dr Jana Zschüntzsch (UMG) followed with her presentation on “Visualisation of Health Data.” The session concluded with Professor Lizbeth Goodman (UCD), who led an in-depth discussion on “Privacy by Design AI using private, patient-centred digital tools.”

Following lunch, participants joined breakout sessions to discuss work package progress and findings in greater depth. These sessions provided a valuable platform for detailed exchange, problem-solving, and strengthening collaboration. The day concluded with an interactive working session focused on the sustainability of the project’s outputs as it approaches its final phase. In the evening, participants enjoyed a traditional Irish dinner at the St Helen’s Hotel. The event offered an opportunity to experience local cuisine and live music performed by a local band, while continuing discussions in a relaxed and engaging atmosphere. The second day began with a keynote presentation by Professor James Bonham, who addressed European initiatives, collaboration within European Reference Networks (ERNs), and the future of rare disease research in the context of Screen4Care. The remainder of the day focused on work package updates, with each team presenting their latest achievements, ongoing developments, and next steps. The consortium was honoured to welcome members of its Scientific Advisory Board (SAB). Dr Hanns Lochmüller (Chair) and Dr David Bick attended in person, while Dr Francesco Muntoni and Dr Franz Schaefer joined virtually. During the SAB session, members shared their expertise in rare disease diagnostics, offering strategic guidance and valuable insights to support the project’s continued success. The meeting concluded with closing remarks from Alessandra Ferlini and Vinciane Pirard, who outlined key action points and upcoming challenges, and expressed their sincere appreciation to all participants for their dedication and contributions.

This fourth in-person meeting highlighted the strength of collaboration and shared commitment within the Screen4Care consortium. The knowledge exchanged, partnerships strengthened, and insights gained will play a crucial role in advancing the project and its mission to improve the lives of those affected by rare diseases. The consortium now looks ahead to its final meeting, with continued momentum towards achieving its goals and delivering lasting impact.