Letter from the Editor

Dear Colleague,

 

This year, the annual congress of the European Academy of Allergy and Clinical Immunology (EAACI) was held in Helsinki, Finland. The congress was well attended with over 8000 participants (allergologists, pulmonologists, pediatricians, ENT-specialists and others) from all over the world.

Traditionally, there were over 100 sessions in various formats: postgraduate courses, year in review, plenary sessions, topical symposia, hot topics, interactive workshops, clinical village, sponsored-symposia, learning lounges, posters and oral abstract presentations, junior member sessions, special sessions and pro/con sessions. The EAACI 2017 slogan ‘On the road to prevention and healthy living’ was reflected in many topics and activities.

For this special, I have selected some highlights of the congress. One of the sessions: ‘Allergy prevention: the broad perspective’ overviewed data from the Finnish Allergy Programme (2008-2018): a national initiative aimed at increasing awareness and prevention of allergy. Furthermore, the updated EAACI guidelines on allergen immunotherapy have been discussed. Several sessions covered precision medicine in asthma, including biomarkers, endo/phenotyping, biologicals and new anti-inflammatory or disease modifying therapies. Other key topics that have been addressed, include microbiome, upper airway and skin disease, management of food and insect venom allergy.

I trust you will enjoy reading this special as much as the participants enjoyed EAACI 2017!

 

Best regards,

Zuzana Diamant

EAACI Asthma Section Chair (2017-2019)

Professor of Asthma & Allergy Research, Skane University Hospital, Lund, Sweden

UMC & QPS-NL, Groningen, The Netherlands

 

Biography

Zuzana Diamant is pulmonologist and clinical pharmacologist, currently Guest Professor of Asthma & Allergy Research at Skane University in Lund, Sweden, and also holds an affiliation at the Depts. of Clinical Pharmacy & Pharmacology and General Practice at University Medical Center of Groningen, and acts as Research Director of Respiratory & Allergy at QPS-NL, Groningen, The Netherlands, where she set up a phase I/II respiratory unit. Dr Diamant is currently EAACI Asthma Section Chair (2017-2019) and participates on several EAACI and ERS task forces and guidelines/position papers. Dr Diamant worked over 25 years within asthma and allergy research, with a focus on biomarkers, pathophysiological mechanisms and drug interventions in clinical trials. Furthermore, she serves on several scientific advisory boards, and is also involved in teaching and supervision of PhD students. She co-authored over 100 peer-reviewed manuscripts and serves as associate editor on three scientific journals.



Posted on 21 June 201716 March 2021