Dr. Krystel Aouad

24/11/2025

✨ I’m returning from the EULAR - European Alliance of Associations for Rheumatology / PARE Conference with a renewed sense of purpose and an incredible amount of inspiration.💡

🤝🌍 This year’s meeting showed the real power of collaboration in the RMD community. The exchange of perspectives, the willingness to listen, and the drive to work together made every session meaningful. From patient research partners to clinicians, researchers, and health professionals; each interaction added something valuable.

🔦💬 Being part of the Co-Creation in Research meeting was a true highlight. What resonates with me most is how much clarity and energy this meeting has brought to the 💫 𝐈𝐍𝐒𝐏𝐈𝐑𝐄 𝐩𝐫𝐨𝐣𝐞𝐜𝐭, 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐢𝐦𝐩𝐥𝐞𝐦𝐞𝐧𝐭𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧 𝐓𝐚𝐬𝐤 𝐅𝐨𝐫𝐜𝐞 that Muriel Elhai and I will be co-leading with Maarten de Wit, Loreto Carmona, Laure Gossec, Mrinalini Dey in the steering committee.
Hearing diverse perspectives has strengthened my belief that implementing the EULAR recommendations is not only possible, it’s urgent. And gatherings like this truly light the way forward.

🏆 I’m also excited to share that 𝐨𝐮𝐫 𝐭𝐞𝐚𝐦 𝐖𝐎𝐍 𝐭𝐡𝐞🥇𝐟𝐢𝐫𝐬𝐭 𝐩𝐫𝐢𝐳𝐞 at the Dragon’s Den stage! We created a vision for what the PRP toolkit should be, a resource to guide PRPs throughout a research project. This has been an amazing journey: preparing for the workshop, the voting, working side by side with PRPs, HPRs, and researchers, shaping ideas, and developing creative ways to present our content (btw we created a nice video that makes me laugh every time I see it 🙂 The Hackathon format created an atmosphere filled with forward momentum, pushed us to think differently, and was filled with genuine fun all the way! 🚀🎉

A huge thank you to all the organizers for their motivation and involvement to make this meeting happen: Maarten de Wit,Simon Stones, Peter Boyd, Souzi Makri, Xenofon Baraliakos, Birte Glüsing 🙌�
Truly happy to have met wonderful people during this journey! 💙
I’m heading home feeling grateful, motivated, and ready to turn ideas into action. Let’s keep building momentum and ensure that 𝐩𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐞𝐧𝐭 𝐢𝐧𝐯𝐨𝐥𝐯𝐞𝐦𝐞𝐧𝐭 𝐢𝐧 𝐫𝐞𝐬𝐞𝐚𝐫𝐜𝐡 𝐛𝐞𝐜𝐨𝐦𝐞𝐬 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐬𝐭𝐚𝐧𝐝𝐚𝐫𝐝, not the exception. 🌟🚀

Russka Shumnalieva, MD, PhD, MPH
Paul Studenic
Mariana Carvalho
Tanita-Christina Wilhelmer
Elena Nikiphorou
Rikke Helene Moe
Ingrid de Groot
Nele Caeyers

13/11/2025

🌟 Exciting News!🌟

We are pleased to announce that our project, 𝐈𝐦𝐩𝐥𝐞𝐦𝐞𝐧𝐭𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐮𝐩𝐝𝐚𝐭𝐞𝐝 𝐄𝐔𝐋𝐀𝐑 𝐫𝐞𝐜𝐨𝐦𝐦𝐞𝐧𝐝𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧𝐬 𝐟𝐨𝐫 𝐩𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐞𝐧𝐭 𝐫𝐞𝐬𝐞𝐚𝐫𝐜𝐡 𝐩𝐚𝐫𝐭𝐧𝐞𝐫 𝐢𝐧𝐯𝐨𝐥𝐯𝐞𝐦𝐞𝐧𝐭 𝐢𝐧 𝐫𝐞𝐬𝐞𝐚𝐫𝐜𝐡: 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐈𝐍𝐒𝐏𝐈𝐑𝐄 𝐢𝐧𝐢𝐭𝐢𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐯𝐞 has been awarded a EULAR Grant.

👉🏻 The INSPIRE initiative aims to bring the updated EULAR recommendations on patient research partner (PRP) involvement into practice by developing an implementation strategy to support both researchers and PRPs. Our goal is to strengthen meaningful and sustainable patient involvement across rheumatology research.

👉🏻JOIN OUR TEAM: We are now 𝐫𝐞𝐜𝐫𝐮𝐢𝐭𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝟓 𝐝𝐞𝐝𝐢𝐜𝐚𝐭𝐞𝐝 𝐄𝐔𝐋𝐀𝐑 𝐦𝐞𝐦𝐛𝐞𝐫𝐬 𝐭𝐨 𝐣𝐨𝐢𝐧 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐈𝐍𝐒𝐏𝐈𝐑𝐄 𝐓𝐚𝐬𝐤 𝐅𝐨𝐫𝐜𝐞. Members will contribute to shaping this strategy and ensuring that the principles of meaningful PRP involvement are effectively applied in research projects.

👉🏻𝐀𝐩𝐩𝐥𝐲 𝐡𝐞𝐫𝐞: https://forms.office.com/pages/responsepage.aspx?id=6UGD6hSyqkeXP0pI186fJrAwkZinVhdMnqrXdZ1i9YpUQjNXWldHNThVQkVQNUdSSFcwV1lSV1ZHTyQlQCNjPTEu&route=shorturl
See on the EULAR webpage additional information on the 5 slot call: https://www.eular.org/eular-task-forces

👉🏻 𝐃𝐞𝐚𝐝𝐥𝐢𝐧𝐞: 𝐍𝐨𝐯 𝟐𝟎, 𝐚𝐭 𝟐𝟑:𝟒𝟓

We look forward to collaborating with colleagues and PRPs across EULAR countries to make meaningful patient involvement in research a reality.

Co-convenors: Krystel Aouad and Muriel Elhai
Methodologist: Loreto Carmona
Steering Committee: Maarten de Wit , Laure Gossec
Fellow : Mrinalini Dey

30/10/2025

🌍✨ It´s World Psoriasis Day!

Let’s unite to raise awareness about psoriasis, a chronic skin condition that affects millions globally.

By sharing knowledge and supporting research, we can improve understanding, diagnostics, and provide better support for those living with psoriasis.

Together, we can advocate for better care and a brighter future for everyone impacted! 💪❤️

22/10/2025

✨It was a privilege to take part in the annual meeting in Beirut.
I had the honor of raising awareness about Psoriatic Arthritis (PsA) on World Arthritis Day and presenting data on PsA and its preclinical phases, including insights on Guselkumab.💡

It was a true pleasure to welcome international speakers and also friends and colleagues:

🔹Pr Guillermo Carvajal Alegria, my EMEUNET friend from France, who delivered an inspiring talk on PMR and GCA
🔹Dr Ralph Khoury, endocrinologist and expert in AI, who presented on the applications of artificial intelligence in the rheumatology healthcare setting.
🔹Ass Pr Maya Haber presenting the skin manifestations of DMARDs

👏🏻A heartfelt thank you to the organizers, and especially to LSR President Pr Nelly Ziade, for making this event possible.

20/10/2025

💫 Truly inspiring to connect, share experiences, and exchange hopes and dreams between patients and rheumatologists

🔗Podcast link: https://pulse.ly/eabm8hdbev

🔈 Listen to the EULAR–EMEUNET–PARE podcast in celebration of World Arthritis Day!

🎧 New Podcast Alert!
Listen to the episode Achieve Your Dreams, where shares their with .

Discover inspiring stories and insights to support your journey.

👉 Listen on Spotify https://pulse.ly/eabm8hdbev or Apple Podcasts https://pulse.ly/wjv3rzosc8

20/10/2025

🚀Join us on the EULAR - EMEUNET webinar: "GCA and Takayasu: Updates on Diagnosis and Management". Learn the latest advancements in large-vessel vasculitis, focusing on giant cell arteritis and Takayasu arteritis. Expert speakers will unpack cutting-edge diagnostic techniques (ultrasound, MRI, PET CT), evolving treatment strategies including biologics, and real-world management challenges.

🖥️Tuesday, 25 November 2025, 12:00 - 13:00 CET

Register here 👉https://pulse.ly/riaugbqym3

20/10/2025

Join us tomorrow!

Join the – webinar
🧠 “From promise to practice: making AI work in rheumatology.”

💡 Discover how LLMs are being applied in clinical and research settings, what pitfalls to watch out for, and the barriers still limiting their use in healthcare.

🗓️ 21 Oct 2025 | 17:30–18:30 CET / 11:30–12:30 EDT

👉 Register now: https://pulse.ly/nkslaainae

15/06/2025

🎙️With the EULAR TV at the booth
during the EULAR congress

12/06/2025

🎤 Honored to present at the European congress on the vital role of Patient Research Partners in research, as part of the Rheumavision Knowledge Transfer Contest! 💡🤝

It’s been a truly rewarding journey to be selected as one of the 6 finalists and to represent my country 🇱🇧 on the EULAR stage 🌍

Huge thanks to and for this incredible opportunity 🙏✨

ision 🇱🇧

25/05/2025

Proud to be selected as a finalist in the knowledge contest and represent my country 🇱🇧 at the congress

🔗 Check out my video that was selected for the finals: https://youtu.be/z3hcxcPftTo

03/05/2025

We are pleased to invite you to participate in an international survey on 𝐀𝐫𝐭𝐢𝐟𝐢𝐜𝐢𝐚𝐥 𝐈𝐧𝐭𝐞𝐥𝐥𝐢𝐠𝐞𝐧𝐜𝐞 𝐢𝐧 𝐑𝐡𝐞𝐮𝐦𝐚𝐭𝐨𝐥𝐨𝐠𝐲 led by EMEUNET members! 🧠💻🌍

🔗 here: https://forms.gle/DLhUXbz64YFjpxfv9

We welcome input from all physicians and healthcare professionals involved in the care of patients with rheumatic diseases — including physical therapists, nurses, psychologists, and more!�‍
This short survey (⏱️ ~5 minutes) explores your opinions and experiences with AI in clinical practice and research 📊🩺

Your voice matters — thank you for your valuable contribution!

This international survey aims to explore the opinions and applications of AI in rheumatology and pediatric rheumatology clinical practice and research among health professionals. Your responses are voluntary and this survey should take about 5 minutes. Thank you for your participation!