Through the Open Academy, EURORDIS empowers patient advocates to have the confidence and knowledge needed to bring their expertise to discussions on health care, research and medicines development. EURORDIS alumni engage in these discussions as equal partners, side by side with policy makers, industry and scientists.
The EURORDIS Open Academy currently encompasses the Winter School on Scientific Innovation and Translational Research, the Summer School on Medicines Research and Development, the Leadership School and the Digital School. The programmes of the EURORDIS Open Academy are taught in English, through a blended approach with online trainings (webinars and e-learning courses) and face-to-face components.
Although the EURORDIS Open Academy mainly targets rare disease patient advocates, up to 10 researchers attend the EURORDIS Summer School on Medicines Research & Development every year.
Over 50 online courses are alsomade freely available via the Open Academy Website (https://openacademy.eurordis.org) to anyone interested in building their capacities independently.