Capacity Building Course: Conflicts and Competing Interests
Over the past decade, patients and patient organisations have become essential partners in shaping health research, policy, and system reform. Their active engagement has helped make decision-making more inclusive, informed, and reflective of patients’ needs, in areas such as clinical trials, regulatory evaluations, health technology assessment, and other policies that have a direct impact on quality of life of patients.
The early identification and management of potential conflicts and competing interests are therefore fundamental to maintaining the integrity of patient engagement. Yet, understanding what constitutes a potential conflict or competing interest can be complex. The diversity of patient roles, the evolving nature of multi-stakeholder partnerships, and differing expectations across institutions often create uncertainty. This complexity underscores the need for clarity, guidance, and therefore a capacity building course to ensure that patients and their organisations can navigate these challenges confidently and consistently.
What are the main goals of the course?
The overall objective of this capacity building course is to strengthen the awareness of patients and patient organisations on conflicts and competing interests as well as to give them the resources and tools to learn how to manage them.
By participating in this course, patients and patient organisations will:
- Be equipped with the conceptual understanding, practical tools, and confidence needed to handle conflicts and competing interests.
- Be better prepared for participation in EMA, HTA, and other multi-stakeholder activities.
- Be able to identify, classify, disclose and manage conflicts and competing interests.
- Be able to develop or revise internal disclosure or conflict-of-interest management policies.
When and where?
The first 4 sessions will be held online, while sessions 5 and 6 will be held in person.
- Mid-June 2026 : Pre course session
- Summer 2026: Training materials sent to participants to prepare the sessions
- September 2026: Session 1 - Understanding Conflicts and Competing Interests
- October 2026: Session 2 - Institutional Perspectives with the European Medicines Agency
- November 2026: Session 3 - HTA Perspectives with the European Commission
- December 2026: Involvement in Clinical Trials and Research
- February 2027 (in-person)*:
- Day 1 with Session 5 - Practical Exercises and Case Studies + Session 6 - Conclusions and Recommendations
- Day 2: End of the course with the Policy Roundtable at the European Parliament
- March 2027: Post-programme webinar
- December 2027: Follow-up survey on participant involvement after training
*Please note that EPF will cover the travel and accommodation costs for all accepted participants of the training for the sessions taking place in February 2027.
Who is it for?
Applicants must be:
- Employee or volunteer of a patient organisation engaged in regulatory, HTA, or research activities (preferences)
- Individual patient advocates engaged in regulatory, HTA, or research activities
- Living in Europe.
*Please, note that the entire training will be in English. To successfully take part in this training course, you must have a working knowledge of English.
How to apply?
You can apply by completing this application form until the 24th of April.
The selected candidates will be contacted during the week of the 18th of May.
If you have any additional questions or issues with your application, please contact the Solène Jouan and Borislava Ananieva at solene.jouan@eu-patient.eu and borislava.ananieva@eu-patient.eu