President update, June 2026

Earlier this month, I attended a landmark event at the European Parliament in Brussels, co-organised by ESPE together with four other major paediatric organisations. Policymakers, clinicians and researchers came together to address the urgent need for a more coordinated and ambitious approach to paediatric research across Europe. The discussions reinforced a clear message: we must move beyond fragmented efforts and ensure children are placed at the centre of EU health policy, with dedicated investment in prevention, early-life interventions and child-specific innovation. It was encouraging to see strong alignment among stakeholders and a shared commitment to develop a roadmap for FP10 that prioritises child and adolescent health, helping to ensure that Europe’s 80 million young people benefit fully from scientific progress. Watch this space for further updates on the event.

The early bird registration deadline for ESPE 2026 is approaching; make sure to register your place before the 6th July to take advantage of the reduced rate. If you have already registered, do take a look at the scientific programme to start planning your visit.

We are delighted to announce that Hormone Research in Paediatrics (HRP) has achieved a new impact factor of 3.8 – a reflection of the high quality and influence of research published in the journal. Read more about this fantastic milestone on the website.

Our brand-new ESPE Leadership Academy is open for applications and I encourage early to mid-career professionals to apply. Launching this November in Cairo, the Academy will offer an intensive leadership experience for early to mid-career professionals ready to step into influential roles across science, policy, and clinical care. You can find full details on the website.

The 6th ESPE Science Symposium will this year be held in Athens, Greece and will bring together clinical and basic science researchers to offer their expertise on the topic of growth disorders in childhood and adolescence. Across two days, the Symposium will provide an overview of the pathophysiology, etiology and metabolic complications of GH insufficiency and insensitivity, as well as an up-to-date guidance on the diagnosis and treatment of these conditions. Find out more and register via the website; applications will close on 31st July.

Paediatric obesity remains a significant challenge in paediatric endocrinology. To gain deeper insight into current practices and priorities, we are inviting you to complete a short survey that should take no more than 10 minutes. We are developing a landmark strategy on paediatric obesity to guide our community’s response to future challenges and adaptation to new treatments and your input is vital to give us a clear picture of the paediatric obesity landscape now, what it might look in the future and how we can impact that. Everyone who completes the survey by 31st July will be automatically entered into a draw to win a full delegate pass to ESPE 2026.

Finally, we are currently seeking applications from members for the position of Coordinator of the ESPE Caucasia and Central Asia (C&CA) School Steering Committee. If you are interested in shaping the future of the School programme, supporting applicant selection, and collaborating with international faculty, I strongly encourage you to apply. Applications will close on 31st July – find full details on the website.

All the very best,

Mehul Dattani
ESPE President