In November 2025, the SQUEEZE consortium once again took part in the Annual European EULAR Conference of PARE (People with Arthritis / Rheumatism in Europe), reaffirming its strong commitment to meaningful and sustained patient involvement in rheumatoid arthritis (RA) research.
The conference, a dedicated EULAR network event held annually in a European location, brings together patient research partners (PRPs), patient organisations, researchers, and other stakeholders for three days of exchange, learning, and co-creation.
Showcasing SQUEEZE at the Best Practice Fair
At the 2025 edition of the conference, SQUEEZE contributed an updated project poster highlighting recent scientific progress, ongoing clinical trials, and key developments across the work packages. The poster was included in the Best Practice Fair poster collection on the PARE conference website, ensuring visibility to more than 120 conference participants. Although it was not selected for oral presentation, the poster provided an important opportunity to communicate the project’s scope, ambition, and patient-centred approach to a highly relevant audience.
The Best Practice Fair remains a central element of the PARE conference, offering a platform for sharing concrete examples of successful collaboration between patients, researchers, and healthcare professionals across Europe.
Contributing to the Hackathon on PRP Monitoring and Evaluation
Beyond the poster dissemination, the SQUEEZE team played an active role in Workshop 4 of the conference hackathon, which focused on strategies for monitoring and evaluating patient research partner involvement in research on rheumatic and musculoskeletal diseases (RMDs). This workshop addressed a critical and timely question: how to systematically assess the quality, impact, and sustainability of patient engagement across research projects.
During the second session of the workshop, SQUEEZE was presented as a case study illustrating structured approaches to PRP involvement, including procedures for data collection, engagement monitoring, and feedback integration. Kristina Chingov represented the consortium, sharing SQUEEZE’s experiences and best practices with approximately 30 participants, including PRPs, facilitators, representatives of patient organisations, researchers, and academics. The discussion highlighted both successes and challenges, and stimulated constructive exchange on how to further strengthen patient engagement frameworks in EU-funded research.
Strengthening Patient-Centred Research Through Dialogue
In addition to the hackathon, SQUEEZE representatives participated in panel discussions addressing the value of sustained patient engagement throughout the lifecycle of EU-funded projects. These exchanges reinforced the importance of viewing patient involvement not as an add-on, but as an integral component of high-quality, impactful research.
Participation in the EULAR PARE Conference provided the SQUEEZE team with valuable insights into effective communication, dissemination, and co-creation strategies from a patient perspective. At the same time, it strengthened connections with patient organisations and professional societies across Europe. These interactions will continue to inform and refine SQUEEZE’s patient-centred approach, supporting the project’s overarching goal of improving outcomes for people living with rheumatoid arthritis through inclusive, collaborative, and evidence-based research.
