ERN RECONNET

⏳ Just one week left to apply!

This is your opportunity to strengthen your expertise in transitional care for adolescents and young adults with rare and complex connective tissue diseases while learning from leading European specialists and patient representatives.

During the programme you will:
✅ Gain practical knowledge to improve transition pathways.
✅ Exchange experiences with an international multidisciplinary community.
✅ Participate in an onsite course in Ljubljana (22–24 October 2026) followed by a 6-week virtual learning programme with mentoring, case discussions and peer exchange.

⚠️ Places are limited and participants will be selected through a competitive application process.

📅 Application deadline: 24 August 2026

👉 Apply now and find all the information here:
https://reconnet.ern-net.eu/transition-of-care-course/

Please help us spread the word by sharing this opportunity with colleagues who may be interested!

📬 The ERN ReCONNET July 2026 Newsletter is here!

The latest edition features:
🎓 Applications for our accredited Transition of Care course
🧬 Progress on the TogethERN ReCONNET Registry
📚 Four new scientific publications
🌍 Highlights from EULAR 2026
💜 Awareness campaigns dedicated to Lupus, APS, Systemic Sclerosis and Sjögren's Disease
🤝 New collaboration and funding opportunities for the rare disease community

Take a few minutes to explore the latest news and discover how ERN ReCONNET continues to connect expertise and improve care for people living with rare and complex connective tissue and musculoskeletal diseases.

📖 Read it here: https://bit.ly/NewsJuly2026

European Commission

🧡 World Sjögren's Day – July 23, 2026 👁️

ERN ReCONNET renews its commitment to marking this important awareness day, dedicated to Sjögren's Disease (SjD).

What is it?
It is a rare systemic autoimmune disease that primarily affects the exocrine glands, particularly the lacrimal and salivary glands.
Main symptoms include:
👁️ Ocular and oral dryness (sicca syndrome)
❤️‍🩹 Widespread pain and chronic fatigue
🔴 Salivary gland swelling
🌀 Possible systemic involvement (lungs, kidneys, nervous system, joints)

SjD predominantly affects women and is often diagnosed years later, as symptoms can be underestimated or mistaken for other conditions. Early diagnosis is essential for effective disease management.

🌍 The ERN ReCONNET SjD Disease Group continues to develop and share dedicated resources for healthcare professionals, patients, and caregivers, and is led by:
· Chiara Baldini (AOU Pisana, Pisa, IT)
· Gaetane Nocturne (Assistance Publique-Hôpitaux, Hôpital Bicêtre, Paris, FR)
· Coralie Bouillot (Sjögren Europe, ePAG representative)
· Ana Vieira (Sjögren Europe, ePAG representative)

Explore our SjD resources:
🔎 Discover all dedicated content: https://reconnet.ern-net.eu/disease-ss/
🎥 Watch our informative webinars on SjD: https://bit.ly/4yDR3RG
💡 Stay updated: subscribe to our newsletter at bit.ly/44wk7La

➡️ Also worth noting: the next International Symposium on Sjögren's Disease (ISSjD 2026) will take place in Paris from September 29 to October 2, 2026.

🚨 Applications are now OPEN! 🚨

Are you a healthcare professional involved in the care of adolescents and young adults with rare and complex connective tissue diseases (rCTDs)?

Join the ERN ReCONNET Transition of Care Accredited Training and strengthen your knowledge and practical skills to support young people as they transition from paediatric to adult healthcare.

📍 Ljubljana, Slovenia
📅 22–24 October 2026
💻 Followed by a 6-week virtual learning programme with mentoring, case discussions and peer exchange.

Throughout this international, multidisciplinary course, you will:
✅ Explore the clinical, psychosocial, ethical and organisational aspects of transitional care.
✅ Learn from leading European experts and patient representatives.
✅ Develop practical tools to improve transition programmes in your own institution.
✅ Connect with colleagues from across the ERN ReCONNET network.

👩‍⚕️ Who can apply?
Paediatric and adult rheumatologists, nurses, psychologists and other healthcare professionals involved in the management of rare and complex connective tissue diseases.

📢 Applications close on 24 August 2026.

⚠️ Places are limited, and participants will be selected through a competitive application process.

👉 Learn more, read the draft programme and apply here: https://reconnet.ern-net.eu/transition-of-care-course/

European Commission

🎓 ERN ReCONNET Webinar TODAY
Undifferentiated Connective Tissue Disease (UCTD)

Don’t miss our webinar TODAY at 16 CET:
“Hydroxychloroquine in connective tissue diseases: benefits and controversial aspects”

Event Details:
• Date: TODAY, 08th June 2026
• Time: 16:00 CET
• Target Audience: patients and caregivers
• Dedicated to: Undifferentiated Connective Tissue Disease (UCTD)
• ✍️ Registration: rb.gy/fxl9jd

🎤 Speaker: Prof. Chiara Tani
🎙 Moderators: Prof. Cristina Pamfil

👉 Please note that the webinar is available with subtitles in 36 different languages.

⚙️ ERN ReCONNET resources on UCTD are freely available and can be consulted here: https://reconnet.ern-net.eu/disease-uctd/
🗞 Newsletter subscription: https://bit.ly/48dO86Q
💻 All webinars can be seen here: https://reconnet.ern-net.eu/webinar/

🎓 ERN ReCONNET Webinar | Undifferentiated Connective Tissue Disease (UCTD)

We are pleased to announce the upcoming ERN ReCONNET webinar:
“Hydroxychloroquine in connective tissue diseases: benefits and controversial aspects”

Is hydroxychloroquine still the unsung hero of connective tissue disease care? Join our webinar exploring its efficacy, safety, and the controversies shaping UCTD treatment.

👉 Please note that the webinar is available with subtitles in 36 different languages.

Event Details:
• Date: 08th July 2026
• Time: 16:00 CET
• Target Audience: patients and caregivers
• Dedicated to: Undifferentiated Connective Tissue Disease (UCTD)
• ✍️ Registration: rb.gy/fxl9jd

🎤 Speaker: Prof. Chiara Tani
🎙 Moderator: Prof. Cristina Pamfil

⚙️ ERN ReCONNET UCTD Resources: https://reconnet.ern-net.eu/disease-uctd/
🗞 Newsletter subscription: bit.ly/44wk7La
💻 Webinar Archive: https://reconnet.ern-net.eu/webinar/

🧡 World Systemic Sclerosis Day 2026 — ERN ReCONNET is here. 🌻

Today we stand with the global community to shine a light on Systemic Sclerosis (SSc): a rare connective tissue disease that affects the skin, internal organs and vascular system — one of the most severe rare diseases known, with no cure yet and a profound impact on patients' quality of life.

🔬 Research moves forward. European network keeps working.
💡 The ERN ReCONNET SSc Disease Group brings together leading clinical experts and patient representatives:

• Prof. Vanessa Smith — Ghent University Hospital
• Prof. Marco Matucci Cerinic — San Raffaele Hospital, Milan
• Mrs. Ilaria Galetti — ePAG, FESCA / GILS
• Mrs. Sue Farrington — ePAG, FESCA / SRUK

Together with the European experts, they develop concrete tools and resources for clinicians and patients across Europe.

📚 Explore SSc resources: https://reconnet.ern-net.eu/disease-ssc/
▶️ Watch our SSc webinars: https://bit.ly/SScWebinars
🗞️ Subscribe to our newsletter: https://bit.ly/44wk7La

🎓 ERN ReCONNET Webinar TODAY | Sjögren’s Disease (SjD)

Don’t miss our webinar TODAY at 16 CET:
“Kidney involvement in Sjögren’s Disease (SjD)”
Event Details:
• Date: TODAY, 24th June 2026
• Time: 16:00 CET
• Target Audience: healthcare professionals
• Dedicated to: Sjögren’s Disease (SjD)
• ✍️ Registration: rb.gy/s5r449

🎤 Speaker: Dr. Andreas Goules
🎙 Moderators: Prof. Gaetane Nocturne and the ePAG Ana Vieira

👉 Please note that the webinar is available with subtitles in 36 different languages.

⚙️ ERN ReCONNET resources on SjD are freely available and can be consulted here: https://reconnet.ern-net.eu/disease-ss/
🗞 Newsletter subscription: https://bit.ly/48dO86Q
💻 All webinars can be seen here: https://reconnet.ern-net.eu/webinar/

🎓 ERN ReCONNET Webinar | Sjögren’s Disease (SjD)

We are pleased to announce the upcoming ERN ReCONNET webinar:
“Kidney involvement in Sjögren’s Disease (SjD)”

Did you know that kidney involvement in Sjögren's Disease can show up in surprisingly different ways and demand very different treatment approaches? And how do you tell SjD-related glomerulonephritis apart from lupus nephritis?
Join us for a deep dive into renal involvement in Sjögren's Disease, from interstitial nephritis and renal tubular acidosis to immune-complex mediated glomerulonephritis driven by type II IgMk cryoglobulins. We'll cover the underlying immunopathology, key diagnostic clues, therapeutic strategies, and the link with lymphoma.

👉 Please note that the webinar is available with subtitles in 36 different languages.

Event Details:
• Date: 24th June 2026
• Time: 16:00 CET
• Target Audience: healthcare professionals
• Dedicated to: Sjögren’s Disease (SjD)
• ✍️ Registration: rb.gy/s5r449

🎤 Speaker: Dr. Andreas Goules
🎙 Moderators: Prof. Gaetane Nocturne and the ePAG Ana Vieira

⚙️ ERN ReCONNET SjD Resources: https://reconnet.ern-net.eu/disease-ss/
🗞 Newsletter subscription: bit.ly/44wk7La
💻 Webinar Archive: https://reconnet.ern-net.eu/webinar/

Dr. Mojca Zajc Avramovič (Ljubljana, Slovenia) delivered an oral presentation at the EULAR 2026 Congress in London, presenting the work of the ERN ReCONNET Transition of Care Task Force "Consensus Development of the ERN ReCONNET Training Framework for Pediatric-to-Adult Healthcare Transition for Rare Connective Tissue Diseases", highlighting a collaborative effort led by Prof. Tadej Avčin and Prof. Gabriele Simonini to develop the first accredited educational course on Transition of Care in rare connective tissue diseases (rCTDs).

A significant milestone for ERN ReCONNET and an important step towards improving transition pathways for young people living with rCTDs across Europe.

Stay tuned—more information on the course launch will be available soon!

European Commission EULAR