Insights into the ACR/EULAR/APLAR Exchange Program from this year’s participants
BARCELONA—One of the great joys of being part of a scientific community is that it truly is a community. Whether meeting colleagues from across a state, province or country, the ongoing exchange of ideas and knowledge allows for the establishment of novel projects and collaborations, yielding benefits for researchers, clinicians and patients, alike.
In June, a contingent of rheumatologists and researchers from around the world took part in the ACR/EULAR/APLAR Research Exchange Program, which was created with the goal of promoting the international transfer of clinical and research skills, expertise and knowledge within rheumatology. This year’s program began on June 10 and overlapped with EULAR 2025, June 11–14.
Participants in the program had many different reasons for wanting to take part in this exciting initiative. Azmad Kareem Bin Anwardeen, MBBS, MRCP, rheumatology fellow-in-training, Hospital Putrajaya, practices in Malaysia. He was motivated to apply for the program due to a strong desire to “gain international exposure, engage in cross-cultural academic discussions and foster long-term professional connections.”
ACR/EULAR/APLAR exchange group at the University of Barcelona medical campus.
Hadijat Makinde, PhD, research assistant professor, Northwestern University, Chicago, viewed the program as “a unique opportunity to step outside my research bubble and engage with rheumatology investigators from around the world.” She was especially drawn to the idea of learning how providers and scientists from different countries approach autoimmune disease concepts and knew that “the conversations and cultural exchanges would challenge and inspire me in ways a regular conference just couldn’t.”
Jison Hong, MD, clinical assistant professor of medicine, Division of Immunology & Rheumatology, Stanford University, Palo Alto, Calif., was drawn to the program because it “offered a unique opportunity to connect with peers from around the world who share similar research interests and clinical passions.” Dr. Hong also viewed the program as a chance to “gain fresh perspectives and build meaningful international relationships.”
Event Highlights
In the eyes of the Exchange Program participants, the conference had many highlights.
Dr. Anwardeen greatly enjoyed a plenary session on relapsing polychondritis from Arnaud Laurent, MD, PhD, clinical professor of medicine, Strasbourg University School of Medicine, France.
“Given the limited data available on relapsing polychondritis,” Dr. Anwardeen said, “Dr. Laurent did an excellent job summarizing the current evidence while sharing his personal tips and tricks for diagnosis and management—many of which you won’t find in any textbook.”
Dr. Makinde, whose research focuses on scleroderma, said, “It was great to see such a significant amount of work utilizing transcriptomics and proteomics to dissect disease mechanisms.”
Although Dr. Makinde is not currently engaged in work on chimeric antigen receptor (CAR) T cell therapy, the session on this topic by Manel Juan Otero, MD, PhD, head of the immunotherapy platform, Clinical Immunology Unit at SJD Barcelona Children’s Hospital and Hospital Clinic, Barcelona, stuck with her. This lecture was “a great reminder of how much crosstalk there can be between different fields,” she said.
The Sagrada Família, officially the Basílica i Temple Expiatori de la Sagrada Família, is a large Roman Catholic church in Barcelona, designed by Antoni Gaudí.
An International Experience
Like ACR Convergence, the EULAR annual conference is a huge, complex event. Dr. Anwardeen—who had not attended a EULAR conference before—was surprised by the size of the venue and number of attendees.
“It can feel overwhelming and intimidating at first,” he said, “but my new friends and colleagues from the Exchange Program made sure I felt welcome and settled in.”
Dr. Anwardeen was specifically impressed by the leadership of EMEUNET, a Europe-wide network of young rheumatologists who have joined together with the goal of contributing to high profile EULAR activities. As part of the exchange program, they provided a small group session on the evolving role of artificial intelligence in rheumatology.
The location of Barcelona and the atmosphere for the conference were also memorable for the exchange program participants. “I was surprised by the culture, both in and outside the conference, and the big party at the end was wild in a good way,” Dr. Makinde said.
She was also impressed by how structured and well-organized the conference sessions were and how advanced many European groups are at integrating multi-omics into clinical research. “It definitely pushed me to think more creatively about how to bring those approaches into our work—even when resources are tight,” Dr. Makinde said.
Different Perspectives
Comparing and contrasting rheumatology practice in different countries also provided a rich source of insights.
Church of Sant Agustí (Iglesia de San Agustín)
“Rheumatology practice in Malaysia is often shaped by a rich blend of cultural beliefs, multilingual patient communication and variable access to specialty care,” Dr. Anwardeen said. “Conducting research, patient education and clinical consults will always need to consider these differences and pose an interesting challenge to clinicians and researchers.”
Dr. Makinde agreed with these sentiments on how the program can broaden one’s perspective. She said, “You start to see how much of what we consider standard is actually shaped by the system we’re [working] in. Hearing how others manage care with different resources or collaborate across disciplines made me rethink how I approach both research design and mentorship. And it pushed me to be more intentional about what questions I ask and how I train the next generation of scientists.”
As a clinician educator, Dr. Hong felt that the program was eye-opening. “In teaching, exposure to global perspectives helps me incorporate a more inclusive and comparative framework,” she said. “I can better prepare trainees to think globally and appreciate that medicine isn’t practiced in a vacuum. It’s shaped by social, economic and systemic factors that vary widely.”
She also said that interactions like the ones she took part in at EULAR overall foster “humility, creativity and adaptability—qualities that are essential in delivering thoughtful, evidence-based and patient-centered care.”
It is important to note that not all the participants in the Exchange Program are involved in clinical care—some, such as Dr. Makinde, are basic and translational science researchers. Although she does not see patients as a clinician, Dr. Makinde told me she is always thinking about how her work connects back to patients.
“The sessions absolutely felt relevant, especially the ones that bridged molecular findings with clinical outcomes,” she said. “It was encouraging to see how many talks emphasized real-world impact, and it gave me new ideas for how to keep patient relevance front and center in my own research.”
The Venetian Towers (right) and the Monumental Fountain (left) in Plaça d’Espanya, Barcelona
Reasons to Participate
If the EULAR/ACR/APLAR Research Exchange Program sounds enticing, the application process is really just a mouse-click away. The online application for next year will be live in early 2026. Potential applicants can also reach out to Jennifer Eastin at [email protected] for more information.
Dr. Anwardeen wholeheartedly encourages any early-career rheumatologist to apply to the Exchange Program. In his view, it is more than just an academic opportunity—it’s a journey of professional growth, cultural exchange and lasting friendships.
“My advice is to be open, curious and proactive—it’s a rare opportunity that will shape your career in ways you might not yet imagine,” he says.
Dr. Makinde told me that individuals interested in the program should “go for it” and apply because the experience is “more than just a conference: it’s a chance to build real connections, see how others approach similar challenges and get inspired in ways that are hard to replicate at home.”
For those selected for the exchange program, she recommends they “be open, ask questions and don’t skip the social events” because much of the learning occurs outside the meeting rooms.
Although the program takes place over the course of a week, the benefits extend far beyond that period of time. “I am confident that some of the relationships that have developed during this program will last far into the future,” said Dr. Hong.
Jason Liebowitz, MD, FACR, is an assistant professor of medicine in the Division of Rheumatology at Columbia University Vagelos College of Physicians and Surgeons, New York.
