May 2018
Dear UAEMers all over Europe!
We are pleased to share with you our latest news from UAEM Europe. Email us at uaemeuropenewsletter@gmail.com for any content you'd like to see in the June issue.
Enjoy reading,
The Newsletter team -- Marie, David (Germany) and Rosie (Ireland)
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UAEM Berlin summer training camp
We are happy to announce that the 2018 training camp is now open for applications!
Time and place: Berlin, July 27th-29th
What is the training camp? The training camp is a place for UAEMers to come together to learn and practice skills that will help us in the work for access to medicines. Topics this year include facilitation and leadership skills, creative activism, communication, and transparency. The training camp is also a space to build confidence in yourself as an activist and to develop new friendships across chapters.
Who is it for? The training camp is aimed at those who already have some experience in UAEM and are motivated to use this training in their future work in UAEM.
Costs: You will be provided with accommodation and all meals for the duration of the training. However you will be required to cover your own travel costs to and from Berlin. Should you need support with your travel costs, please let us know.
Deadline for applications: 10th of May 2018
APPLY HERE
Still have some questions? Write us at emcom@uaem-europe.org
Your 2018 Training Camp team!
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Call for hosting the August European Leadership Meeting
The European Leadership Meeting (ELM) is happening from August 10th to 12th 2018. This is a unique opportunity for UAEM student leaders to get together and to set the path for UAEM’s core work for the year to come. This weekend-workshop focuses on the leadership development and programme development needs of the European Coordinating Committee (ECC), the Empowerment Committee (EmCom) and the National Coordinators (NC) of UAEM Europe. Approximately 25 to 35 people can attend the meeting.
General Information
Interested parties must provide arguments that they have the facility and capacity to organise and host a three-day meeting for 25-35 participants including:
• Easy access to the meeting venue and the capability to offer a wide range of services, such as catering, WLAN and internet services, organisation of social events, etc.
• Accommodation options
• Ability to minimise costs as much as possible through in-kind support, sponsorships etc.
NB: When necessary and based on the input provided by the local host, UAEM Europe will provide financial support to prepare and organise the meeting.
STEP 1:
Selection Process and Criteria for the Expression of Interest (please refer to Host Selection Criteria below to help you) The Expression of Interest shall be no longer than two A4 pages and shall include:
•A letter of commitment from interested Chapter indicating their interest and willingness to serve as the Host Chapter for the ELM
• A brief description of the proposed Host Chapter including information o on how the Host Chapter is accessible for participants from all over Europe;
• A confirmation of the availability of conference venues and sleeping arrangement adequate for hosting a two-to-three day conference from August 10 to 12 2018 with 25-35 attendees (Catering, audio-visual equipment/ support and access to local transportation/mobility should also be addressed)
Expressions of Interest (pdf. file format) are to be sent to priscilla@uaem.org by May 31 2018 by 6:00pm Berlin time. Earlier submissions are welcome.
STEP 2: Shortlist Decision
Once received, the Board and Executive Director will review and select the Host Chapter. This decision will be made by June 4 2018 and announced accordingly. The selected Host Chapter will provide within a month following the selection a proposal containing but not limited to
• Confirmation of the availability of space for the dates of the meeting
• Descriptions of meeting room space, rooms, rates, and amenities;
• Projected budget for conference venue expenses, catering/banquet expenses, audio/visual (A/V) expenses, accommodation arrangements, and extracurricular event costs.
Thank you for your interest and support. We look forward to hearing from you!
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An interview with DNDi
Rachel Cohen is the regional executive director of the Drugs for Neglected Diseases initiative (DNDi), a nonprofit drug research and development organization focused on diseases such as leishmaniasis and sleeping sickness. Previously, she worked with Doctors Without Borders, leading programs for treating HIV/AIDS and tuberculosis in rural settings.
Read the interview here! http://www.laskerfoundation.org/new-noteworthy/articles/focusing-neglected-patients/?ct=t(EMAIL_CAMPAIGN_4_23_2018)&mc_cid=ed86023aa2&mc_eid=1d8946d921
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Hopeful new R&D for Malaria in Pregnancy
Research for malarial treatment in pregant women poses many barriers due to toxicities, ethical challanges and higher trial costs. However, a recent article in Science Translational Medicine shows that L-arginine supplementation may be a safe and effective way of improving birth weight in malaria-infected women. A large clinical randomized trial is due to start shortly in Africa and Asia. If successful, this simple supplement could be introduced at a population level to communities that are isolated from health centers, and therefore improve birth outcomes without the need for expensive medications and treatment.
An exerpt from the text summarizes the challenges of malaria R&D: "...the limited inclusion of pregnant women in clinical trials and the poverty of R&D on maternal health therapies also raise ethical issues. It is important for pregnant women to be appropriately included and represented in clinical trials and therapeutic development, given the compelling health and social needs. Recently, public-private partnerships have had some successes in progressing R&D for neglected diseases, malaria, and tuberculosis and may be effective models for specifically advancing therapeutics for maternal health."
Read the full text here!
Science Translational Medicine 07 Mar 2018:
Vol. 10, Issue 431, eaat1506
DOI: 10.1126/scitranslmed.aat1506
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Visions for Affordable and Better Medicines
UAEM Copenhagen is holding a great lecture in Christianborg Palace on May 17th!
Our current patent-based research and development system has shown difficulty to deliver adequate, most needed and affordable medicines. We need to have a conversation about alternative research and development approaches to safeguard the affordability of new medicines and ensure innovative medicines meeting patient needs.
Enhedslisten, SF and Alternativet in collaboration with UAEM arranged a conference to start this conversation. It will take place in the Danish Parliament, Fællessalen. It's free and open to everybody with an interest in healthcare, medical research and health politics. A public panel discussion served as a forum for health policy-makers from different Danish political parties and decision-making levels to discuss how to ensure that patients have access to the medicines they need.
The Panel:
Medecins sans Frontieres, Grania Brigden, MBChB, MRCP. TB Advisor for MSF’s Access Campaign.
Universities Allied for Essential Medicines
European Public Health Alliance, Yannis Natsis. Policy Manager for Universal Access and Affordable Medicines, European Public Health Alliance (EPHA)
Leo Pharma
Danish Cancer Society, Jes Søgaard. Professor i sundhedsøkonomi. Afdelingschef i Kræftens Bekæmpelse
Danish Medical Council, Steen Werner Hansen, Deputy Managing Director at Herlev Hospital. Chairman of the Medicines Council and affiliated with the European Medicines Agency (EMA).
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Are you attending AIDS Conference 2018?
The International AIDS Conference is the largest conference on any global health or development issues in the world. First convened during the peak of the epidemic in 1985, it continues to provide a unique forum for the intersection of science, advocacy, and human rights
WHEN: July 22-28th,2018
WHERE: RAI Amsterdam
https://www.aids2018.org/
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A2M conference in Dublin
On May 2nd 2018, the Royal College of Surgeons Ireland (RCSI) in Dublin will host a panel discussion on access to high priced medicines. The speakers are renowned experts from across Europe.
UAEM veteran Dr Ciara Conlan and newsletter editor Rosie James will be present to inspire student attendees.
Lookout for photos and an update in our next newsletter!
Read about the event here
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Snakebites and antivenoms
In 2017, the WHO classified snakebite envenoming as a Neglected Tropical Disease. Have you seen the documentary yet? Consider screening it at your university to raise awareness and discuss the new R&D ventures happening around the world, like this team in Liverpool!
http://minutestodie.com/
For a limited time, UAEMers can stream Minutes to Die for free, from anywhere with an Internet connection. The film stream is available until 23:59pm EST Thursday, May 31.
This is an excellent opportunity for a chapter-based event on your campus! The documentary aligns closely with UAEM's focus on NTDs and the need for a new R&D system. With snakebite on the agenda at the 71st World Health Assembly this summer, this is an important moment for advocacy around this issue. There is even a university lab featured - could it be yours?
Go to http://minutestodie.com/uaem/ for a free streaming using the password below
Password: UAEM (case sensitive)
UAEM chapters that express interest in holding your own screening can be provided the additional materials directly through contacting:
minutestodie@prosocialconsulting.com.
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Quote of the month
Regarding snakebite treatment:
"This is the time for the whole world to wake up to this important problem that has lingered for many years with no interest."
ABDUL HABIB, PROFESSOR OF INFECTIOUS & TROPICAL DISEASES
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