Paediatric rheumatic diseases
comprise a group of chronic disorders
- juvenile idiopathic arthritis,
juvenile systemic lupus erythematosus,
juvenile dermatomyositis, juvenile
scleroderma and systemic vasculitides
- characterized by high morbidity.
Collectively, these conditions
represent one of the leading
causes of acquired disability
in childhood.
Recent advances in our understanding
of immune and inflammatory processes
have allowed the identification
of some etiopathogenic mechanisms
inrheumatic diseases and autoinflammatory
syndromes that underpin new potent
therapeutic approaches targeting
specific molecules and/or mechanisms,
and often exploiting physiological
control mechanisms of the immune
response.
The
research underlying these approaches
demands an unyielding bidirectional
exchange and interaction between
preclinical scientists and clinicians
armed with organisational strategies
aimed at successfully transferring
laboratory breakthroughs into
effective diagnostic and therapeutic
applications.
Sponsored by the Marie Curie
Actions programme (MSCF-CT-2006-046108),
Translational Research in Paediatric
Rheumatology - TRiPR - endeavours
to acquaint younger generations
of European researchers and clinicians,
through a series of four coherent
conferences, with the key issues
underlying the development of
new therapeutic strategies for
paediatric rheumatic diseases,
seeking above all to enhance
their translational research
skills in the field.
