European AIDS Treatment Group

31/08/2025

Community should be part of clinical research, from start to end.

Here are our calls to action:

With this campaign we advocate for the integration of community expertise as a fundamental aspect of clinical research. It is a call for improved practices, genuine inclusion, and stronger collaborations between researchers, industry, and the communities involved.

· We encourage researchers, institutions, and trial sponsors to embed community engagement at the core of their work. This means involving communities early in the process, recognising their contributions as valuable expertise, and supporting their active participation in decision-making processes. Inclusive research results in more relevant and ethically sound outcomes.

· We urge policymakers and funders to develop policies and funding structures that prioritise community engagement. This includes allocating resources for engagement activities, providing fair compensation to community contributors, and ensuring participation is accessible to individuals from diverse backgrounds.

· We urge public health agencies and regulators to improve transparency and open communication. Building trust takes time and care. Communities need to be part of that dialogue, not only during a crisis but throughout the research process.

· Above all, we call on everyone involved in biomedical research to recognise that lived experience is a form of knowledge. Communities should not merely be invited to participate — they should be regarded as equal partners, co-creators in research.

🌐 https://www.eatg.org/it-starts-and-ends-with-us/

30/08/2025

Day 2: Reflections, Celebrations & A Bright Path Forward!

Yesterday marked the culmination of our RBDCOV Dissemination and Community Engagement Workshop in Barcelona.

Day 2 opened with a recap of Day 1 and a presentation of the community engagement campaign ‘It Starts and Ends with Us’, highlighting the process of co-creation and dissemination metrics and results.

We then explored how RBDCOV links with other important initiatives—including READI, CORE, Belong, and EUPATI—building bridges for future collaboration and collective impact.

After that, we continued with a three-part project evaluation, reflecting on what worked, what challenged us, and what we’re proud to carry forward. The insights from the evaluation groups work were presented and fed into a plenary discussion with the CAP members.

We closed Day 2 -and the workshop- with heartfelt acknowledgements and closing remarks, celebrating community members, consortium partners, and staff whose passion and commitment brought RBDCOV to life.



[Images: Guillermo Sánchez Luján]

The RBDCOV project has received funding from the European Union’s Horizon 2020 research and innovation programme under grant agreement No 101046118. Views and opinions expressed are those of the author(s) only and do not necessarily reflect those of the European Union. Neither the European Union nor the granting authority can be held responsible for them.

29/08/2025

Day 1: Engaged & Energised!

What an inspiring start to the RBDCOV Dissemination and Community Engagement Workshop in Barcelona! Yesterday, we gathered community members, advocates and consortium partners for a day filled with dialogue, learning, and shared purpose.

From the opening introductions to the deep dive into the RBDCOV project, the room was alive with questions and reflections.

The presentations of the Psychosocial Report, the Community Engagement Toolbox and Lay Language Summary sparked animated conversations on how to make science more accessible.

We closed the day looking ahead together, envisioning the future of vaccine research and the vital role of community involvement.

Day 1 showed us: when we engage, listen, and co-create, we move forward stronger.

On for Day 2!



[Images: Guillermo Sánchez Luján]

The RBDCOV project has received funding from the European Union’s Horizon 2020 research and innovation programme under grant agreement No 101046118. Views and opinions expressed are those of the author(s) only and do not necessarily reflect those of the European Union. Neither the European Union nor the granting authority can be held responsible for them.

26/08/2025

5 days left to apply
https://www.eatg.org/calls-and-vacancies/scope-project-research-consultant-implementation-of-combination-prevention-checklist/

Apply by 31 August 2025

EATG is looking to hire a Research Coordinator to monitor the implementation of combination prevention at country level via the service checklist through multi-country reporting. This checklist was developed during the first cycle of the project.

26/08/2025

📝 Jennifer Camaradou, CAP member, shares insights on considerations for Long COVID and the complexities of pre-existing comorbidities.

Read the blog: https://www.eatg.org/blogs/rbdcov-it-starts-and-ends-with-us-why-rbdcov-and-other-vaccine-development-projects-need-to-consider-long-covid-and-pre-existing-comorbidities/

🌐 https://www.eatg.org/it-starts-and-ends-with-us/

25/08/2025

📝 In his blog, Brian West, CAP member, reflects on the legacy of HIV activism and how it informs vaccine research today.

Don’t miss his reflections and take a look at our campaign!

Read the blog: https://www.eatg.org/blogs/rbdcov-it-starts-and-ends-with-us-nothing-about-us-without-us-the-power-of-community-in-transforming-clinical-research/

🌐 https://www.eatg.org/it-starts-and-ends-with-us/

22/08/2025

🎙️ “I truly hope that youth will not be just included but also heard”

In this interview, Maka Gogia, CAP member, highlights the value of youth inclusion in research and clinical trials.

🌐 https://www.eatg.org/it-starts-and-ends-with-us/

21/08/2025

🎙️ “The key word in research is trust”

Hear from Joan Tallada, CAP member, on trust, vaccine hesitancy and community-informed science.

🌐 https://www.eatg.org/it-starts-and-ends-with-us/

21/08/2025

🎙️ Giorgio and Shatyam from the EATG office reflect on the importance of co-creation with the community in clinical trials.

Research should reflect real-world needs.

🌐 https://www.eatg.org/it-starts-and-ends-with-us/

20/08/2025

🎙️ “It's always important to represent underrepresented countries & communities”

Arda Karapinar, CAP member from Turkiye, brings forth the perspective of inclusion of the periphery to vaccine trial engagement.

🌐 https://www.eatg.org/it-starts-and-ends-with-us/

20/08/2025

🎙️ “We needed, and it was pivotal for us to have the community engaged from the very start”

Watch Bea Mothe, Clinical Researcher at Irsi Caixa, speak on community and science in action.

🌐 https://www.eatg.org/it-starts-and-ends-with-us/