The Association of Physicians Annual Meeting (APAM) is the leading UK meeting for interdisciplinary translation medicine. The Association invites scholarship around a shared vision of the value of interdisciplinary collaboration, reaching new audiences, seeking out and promoting new ways of working and encouraging translational research leading to the advancement of internal medicine and direct benefits for patients.
UCD SVHG Translational Medicine Symposium
The UCD SVHG Translational Medicine Symposium emphasises the
overall scope of the research programme being delivered here in St.
Vincent’s Healthcare Group. The Symposium is a platform for
showcasing the excellence in science happening right here on our
campus.
Over 85 clinical, scientific and multidisciplinary staff attended – in
person and online on the day – as well as patients/interest groups who logged in for the public information session.
Prof Ursula Fearon highlighting the importance of patient engagement in translational research
Rheumatology – a patient’s perspective – Claire Kinneavy
Patient Awareness Initiative Survey
Led by Molecular Rheumatology, TCD with Arthritis Ireland, funded by the HRB. More than 1,400 patients completed surveys. Preliminary analysis suggests patients need more information on early diagnoses, drug adherence and pregnancy.
Patients Awareness Initiative Workshops
Arthritis Ireland in partnership with Trinity College Dublin have organised a series of workshops to consult people living with inflammatory arthritis. The first of 8 National workshops will take place in TBSI TCD Sept 30th, lead by the Molecular Rheumatology group, in collaboration with Arthritis Ireland and the HRB.
The aim of the workshop is to provide opportunities for people living with RA to understand the importance of early diagnosis, the different treatment strategies and how to get involved in research.
- The Workshop will be jointly facilitated by a clinician, a scientific researcher and a patient partner
- Initially attendees will be asked to complete a ‘questionnaire’ which will address patient’s understanding of their disease.
- Following this there will be three presentations which will cover:
- How the diagnosis for patients with inflammatory arthritis is made and what tests are performed, the current therapies available, including how they work, and the associated risks and side effects.
- The patients’ perspective, the patient partner, will give a presentation on their journey.
- Current research both clinical and scientific, and how patient participation in research can lead to better understanding of disease. This will also outline how patients can engage in the research programme.
Inflammatory Arthritis & You – Dublin Workshop
Our Dublin workshop was a massive success, lots of positive feedback from all patient attendees!
See details of further workshops below.
Inflammatory Arthritis & You – Virtual Workshop
Inflammatory Arthritis & You – Virtual Workshop
The “Inflammatory Arthritis & You” workshop took place virtually on November 18th 2020. The workshop was well attended and included talks from Arthritis Ireland volunteer and patient, Claire Kinneavy, consultant Rheumatologist Prof. Ronan Mullan and research fellow Dr Mary Canavan. Ms Kinneavy gave a personal and inspiring account of her journey living with arthritis and the proactive approaches she has taken to control her disease. Prof Mullan gave a detailed clinical insight into inflammatory arthritis itself and how it can be treated. This generated lots of interest from the attendees who had many questions about different elements of the disease. Finally Dr Canavan spoke about a number of ongoing scientific research projects in the laboratory in Trinity College Dublin all of which are patient focused. The projects outlined involved finding new therapeutic targets for the treatment of IA, in addition to finding approaches to identify patients early before disease develops.
Sleep, Diet and Exercise: Impact on Inflammation Symposium
Our online symposium “Sleep, diet and exercise: Impact on Inflammation” was a massive success!! Thanks to all of our speakers; Dr Mary Canavan, Dr Annie Curtis, Prof Helen Roche, Dr Fiona Wilson and Dr Viviana Marzaioli. Excellent presentations were delivered and questions asked by patient participants were real eye openers for us to understand the needs and experiences of individuals with arthritis! Thank you!
Prof Ursula Fearon delivering her welcome address for our sleep, diet and exercise in inflammation symposium 
Dr Mary Canavan discusses the results from our recent survey on patients understanding & knowledge of their disease & diagnosis. Striking results below indicate a need to improve communications between clinicians and patients. 
Why doesn’t everyone get stuck in? Fear of joint damage, pain, fatigue, sore feet, limited time, lack of motivation, mixed messages from HCPs – all among reasons, says Dr Fiona Wilson. 
Some great tips from Dr Fiona Wilson re setting goals around physical activity – inc key message of choosing activities that you like! 
Prof Helen M Roche discussing the links between diet and inflammation. 
Dr Annie Curtis describing the importance of sleep for proper immune function & the silent epidemic of sleep deprivation 
Dr Viviana Marzaioli explains how we are incorporating patient perspective into our research strategies for a truly translational and patient focused approach.
Please enjoy the presentations from all of the speakers in the below videos!
Patient Understanding of their disease, diagnosis, adherence and impact of research
Congratulations to Dr. Mary Canavan and Dr. Viviana Marzaioli, of the Molecular Rheumatology research group, who presented their patient- focused research poster at the American College of Rheumatology virtual Convergence 2020. This poster detailed the findings from their study into patients’ understanding of their disease and the role their understanding plays in research studies. This study was a collaborative survey with Arthritis Ireland and the Health Research Board Ireland.
A testimonial from one of our ICI-induced RA/cancer patients published in BMJ
First use of tofacitinib to treat an immune checkpoint inhibitor-induced arthritis
Molecular Rheumatology, Trinity College Dublin 