ERN RARE-LIVER Clinical Exchange Programme: Reports from Hamburg

The ERN RARE-LIVER Clinical Exchange Programme offers clinicians and healthcare professionals the opportunity to gain experience and share knowledge across member and partner centres, fostering collaboration and improving care for patients with rare liver diseases.

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“Aiming to understand the organisation and functioning of a referral centre in Autoimmune Liver Disease and to explore strategies for fostering translational and clinical research, I had the opportunity to take part in the ERN RARE-LIVER Exchange Programme at the University Medical Centre Hamburg-Eppendorf (UKE).

During my stay, I attended departmental and YAEL meetings and research discussions that offered valuable insights into how collaborative ideas are transformed into impactful scientific work. I also observed mini-laparoscopic liver biopsies and spent some time in the research labs, where I was introduced to cutting-edge techniques such as organoid models and single-cell analysis. It was fascinating to see how clinical practice and research are seamlessly integrated, supported by excellent teamwork and a well-structured organisation.

This experience was incredibly inspiring and has provided me with new perspectives on how to strengthen research and clinical collaboration at Coimbra.

I would like to express my sincere gratitude to Prof. Ansgar Lohse, Prof. Christoph Schramm, Prof. Marcial Sebode, and the entire team for their warm welcome and guidance, as well as to the ERN Rare Liver Office for their support in making this exchange possible.”

João Madaleno, Hospitais da Universidade de Coimbra – Unidade Local de Saúde de Coimbra, Portugal

To learn more about the ERN Clinical exchange programme, please visit the dedicated section on our website or contact the ERN RARE-LIVER office directly.