As we stepped into 2022, we continue to adapt and hope for a return to a more normal way of life. Education continues to be a focal point for us, ensuring we continue to support colleagues in their professional and personal growth. Three Early Career Scientific Development Grants are available this year, offering financial support to paediatric endocrinologists and basic scientists for the purpose of gathering information and experience on a specific research issue or a laboratory technique. Application deadlines are 31 January, 31 May and 30 September, take a look at the online application form on the website.
Preliminary applications for the ESPE Research Unit are also open, a collaborative research grant which aims to support high quality research for both physicians and scientists. The application deadline is 15 February, take a look at the website for further information.
Another scientific education opportunity taking place this year is the Science Symposium on Hypothalamic dysfunction in childhood, taking place at the Princess Máxima Center, The Netherlands in October. The two day event will discuss the etiology of genetic and acquired hypothalamic dysfunction in childhood, its consequences and new ways of management to improve outcome. A focus will also be building networks and collaboration within ESPE and Europe, together with patient organization and ENDO-ERN.
The e-learning committee has continued to provide high quality content, free and globally accessible from the e-learning portal. All of the content has been created and reviewed by international experts, intended for students, teachers and health care professionals. All of the major subjects of paediatric endocrinology are represented, and is available in English, French, Spanish, Swahili and Chinese. There is also a range of information available in Russian. Further translations of our excellent selection of information booklets for patients and parents have also been added, now including English, French, Arabic and Spanish. If you would like to help to translate the patient information, particularly into Dutch or another language not yet represented, do find out more and get in touch.
The hard work and dedication of our committee members is crucial, enabling ESPE to provide the wide range of activities which are so important to all our members at every stage of their career. Be sure to take a look at the current vacancies on the website if you are interested in any of the rewarding opportunities we have upcoming.
There will of course be many more challenges ahead of us but we are hopeful that the coming months will bring many more opportunities and significant improvements to the advancement against the COVID-19 pandemic.
Wishing you all the very best,
Anita
ESPE Secretary General