VASCERN Summer School 2025: Year in Review

The VASCERN Summer School 2025 was designed as a year-long journey, combining online learning with an intensive onsite week in Paris.

The programme began in February with a series of e-learning modules and webinars that ran until May. These sessions introduced participants to the fundamentals of rare multisystemic vascular diseases and laid the groundwork for deeper discussions later in the year.

The onsite session followed from 15 to 20 September in Paris, where participants from across Europe came together with experts and patient representatives. Over six days, the focus shifted from theory to practice, with lectures, case discussions, and patient testimonies across all VASCERN Rare Disease Working Groups: Heritable Thoracic Aortic Diseases (HTAD), Medium-Sized Arteries (MSA), Neurovascular Diseases (NEUROVASC), Vascular Anomalies (VASCA), Paediatric and Primary Lymphoedema (PPL), and Hereditary Haemorrhagic Telangiectasia (HHT).

Day 2 – MSA (continued) and CADASIL

The second day continued with MSA, focusing on pregnancy, organ complications, and patient experiences. In the afternoon, the spotlight shifted to CADASIL, with sessions on clinical presentation, genetics, diagnosis, and patient care.

Day 3 – Moyamoya and VASCA

The morning addressed Moyamoya angiopathy, from pathophysiology and clinical presentation to treatment options. The afternoon turned to vascular anomalies, with lectures on classification, infantile hemangioma, venous and arteriovenous malformations, lymphatic malformations, and capillary malformations. Patient stories were woven into the discussions.

Day 4 – VASCA (continued) and PPL

The day opened with targeted treatments for vascular anomalies and a patient advocate’s testimony. Attention then turned to primary and paediatric lymphoedema, with sessions on genetics, diagnosis, treatment approaches, and a workshop on compression techniques. A patient representative closed the session by sharing their experience.

Day 5 – HHT

The entire day was devoted to Hereditary Haemorrhagic Telangiectasia, covering genetics, manifestations, treatment options, and pregnancy. A workshop on clinical management allowed participants to apply what they had learned to real-world cases.

Day 6 – Psychology Workshop

The final day focused on communication skills, with role-play exercises between patients and doctors. This practical session highlighted the importance of patient-centred care and provided a meaningful conclusion to the week.