Preview of the 27th European Academy of Dermatology and Venereology (EADV) Congress

Written by James Coker  |  Reporter, European Medical Journal  |  @EMJJamesCoker

From 12^th–16^th September 2018, the doors of the prestigious Palais des Congrès de Paris will open for this year’s edition of the annual congress of the EADV, one of the most important events in the calendars of dermatologists the world over. Participants and speakers are expected from more than 100 different countries across all regions of the globe, emphasising the increasingly internationalised nature of the event. A major focus of this year’s congress is clinical oncology, with 2 full-day tracks on the 13^th and 14^th September dedicated to topics within this sphere, including melanoma, rare skin tumours, and targeting the tumour environment. Another key feature this year will be sessions that give participants the opportunity to improve exchanges and collaborations with nurses, who are playing an increasingly prominent role in the management of patients with skin diseases.

To ensure that we stay abreast of all the presentations and analyses that take place, representatives of the EMJ will be in attendance throughout the 5 days before we prepare our review of the congress in the upcoming edition of the EMJ Dermatology journal, which will be available in late October. This eJournal will include abstract reviews, symposium reviews, peer-reviewed papers, and much more: subscribe here for free to ensure you don’t miss out!

History of the Congress

The first ever congress of the EADV was held in Florence, Italy in September 1989, 2 years after the foundation of the society in 1987.¹ Following the success of that inaugural edition, which attracted over 1,000 participants, attendances have grown steadily, with the event regularly welcoming in excess of 10,000 visitors over the last few years. The record number of participants stands at 11,345 during the 2016 edition in Vienna, Austria. This year is the second time that Paris has played host to the EADV Congress, again at the Palais des Congrès de Paris; the previous occasion was from 17^th–21^st September 2008, during which there were 8,029 participants.²

Did You Know?

Since 2003, the EADV has organised an annual Spring Symposium to complement their main congress. These generally take place in smaller cities and countries that do not necessarily have the capacity to stage the main congress. Budva, Montenegro was the location for this year’s symposium, held from 3^rd–6^th May 2018.³

Last Time Out

The 26^th edition of the EADV Congress took place within the beautiful surroundings of Geneva, Switzerland, from 13^th–17^th September 2017. With the congress occurring in the year of the 30^th anniversary of the foundation of the EADV, there was much in the way of celebration for the achievements of the society over the past three decades. As always, the new research unveiled was illuminating, with numerous groundbreaking presentations. These included a combination treatment that was found to effectively treat two major symptoms of rosacea: inflammatory lesions and persistent erythema; insights into the growth of artificial intelligence for diagnosing and monitoring melanoma; and a discussion about the best methods for tackling excessive sunbed use. All of this and plenty more was published in our review of the event in last year’s EMJ Dermatology eJournal, which can be accessed here.

Important Timings

To kick the congress off in fine style, the Networking Symposium & Opening Plenary Lecture will be held in the Grand Ampitheatre from 17.45–19.30 on Wednesday 12^th September. On the 3 days of Thursday 13^th September, Friday 14^th September, and Saturday 15^th September, a series of Plenary Lectures are scheduled. In these, distinguished members of the dermatological community will discuss pertinent issues in the field, including ‘Development of HIV therapies’, ‘Can we cure metastatic melanoma?’, and ‘Skin microbiome in health and disease’. These special sessions will also be taking place in the Grand Ampitheatre, on 13^th September from 11.30–12.45, 14^th September from 11.15–12.00, and 15^th September from 11.30–12.45.

The exhibition area, which provides healthcare professionals with opportunities to meet with the pharmaceutical and medical device manufacturing community and discover the latest products and devices, will be open on three of the days, from 09.00–17.30 on Thursday 13^th and Friday 14^th September, and from 09.00–16.00 on Saturday 15^th September.⁴  Included in the exhibition area will be the EMJ stand, where participants can subscribe to our journal for free and chat to our team!

Hot Topics

There will be a huge variety of topics covered in the e-poster and oral presentations set to take place, ensuring there is lots on offer for healthcare professionals from all aspects of dermatological research and clinical practice. These include the following: Acne and Related Disorders, Hidradenitis Suppurativa; Adverse Drug Reactions, TEN; Allergology and Immunology; Angiology, Haemangiomas, Vascular Malformations, Vasculitis; Atopic Dermatitis/Eczema; Autoimmune Bullous Diseases; Autoimmune Connective Tissue Disorders; Biologics, Immunotherapy, Molecularly Targeted Therapy; CME-CPD; Contact and Occupational Dermatitis; Corrective, Aesthetic and Cosmetic Dermatology; Cutaneous Oncology; Dermatological Practice Management; Dermatological Surgery; Dermatology and Internal Medicine, including Skin Manifestations of Systemic Diseases; Dermatopathology; Dermoscopy; Diagnostic Procedures; Economics in Dermatology, Ethics in Dermatology; Epidemiology; Genetics; Gynaecological D/V, Gender D/V; Hair Disorders/Diseases; History of D/V; Infectious Diseases, Parasitic Diseases, Infestations; Inflammatory Skin Diseases; Inherited Skin Diseases; Lasers; Media, Information and Communication Technology (ICT); Miscellaneous; Nail Disorders/Diseases; Oral Mucosa and other Skin-adjacent Mucous Membranes; Paediatric Dermatology; Pharmacology and Skin-related Toxicology, Phlebology; Photobiology and Photoallergy; and Phototherapy, Photodynamic Therapy.

Social Media

For updates and news throughout the 5-day congress, keep a regular eye on the official EADV Twitter account: @eadv. Likewise, the Facebook page of the society will be replete with analyses and insights and can be found at the following webpage: https://en-gb.facebook.com/EADV.org/.

The EMJ Twitter accounts @EMJReviews and @EMJDermatology will also keep you informed of the highlights of the event as well as the movements of our team members who are present; please feel free to follow us and tweet us your thoughts throughout. Remember to use the congress hashtag of #eadv2018 when posting on social media!

History of the City

The name Paris is derived from the Gauls of the Parisii tribe that settled in the area between 200 and 250 BC. The region was conquered by the Romans under the leadership of Julius Caesar in 52 BC, after which it became a regional centre under the Romans and in the early Middle Ages.⁵ Following its naming as capital of France in 987 AD,⁶ Paris’s political, social, economic, architectural, and scientific influence grew over the centuries, gaining a reputation as one of the most important cities in Europe. Paris was also at the heart of one of the most seminal events in world history: the French Revolution, in 1789. Napoleon Bonaparte, who eventually became the ruler of France in the aftermath of this upheaval, instigated the building of two of the city’s most iconic landmarks: the Arc de Triomphe and La Madeleine. Later, the world-famous Eiffel Tower was completed in 1889. Another period of turmoil occurred with the occupation of the city by Germany during World War 2. Nevertheless, Paris has continued to flourish into the modern day and has retained its status as a globally important player on the international stage, currently with a population of around 2.2 million people.⁷

 Places to Visit

Steeped in history and world-famous landmarks, it will be difficult to fit every attraction in during your visit! Here is a selection of iconic architecture you will not want to miss:

Eiffel Tower: Attracting nearly 7 million visitors a year, this magnificent monument is a must-see for tourists visiting the city.

Notre Dame Cathedral: Completed in the year 1345, this building is an architectural and historical delight, leaving visitors in awe of its wonder and beauty.

Palace of Versailles: As the most famous castle in the whole of France and having been at the centre of numerous political and military events throughout history, the Palace of Versailles, with its huge complex of buildings, gardens, and terraces, is definitely worth a visit.⁸

 This year’s EADV Congress promises to provide fresh insights into diagnosing and treating all forms of dermatological conditions, which will assist healthcare professionals from this field of medicine in their work for many years to come. The attending members of the EMJ team will be engaging in all the discussions that take place, finding out the perspectives of participants and of course discovering the new findings on show throughout the 5 days. If you are attending and would like to speak to us at any point during the event, please do get in contact at the following email address: [email protected]. Additionally, we will have team members present at the EMJ stand in the exhibition area during its opening hours; when you get a spare moment why don’t you pop along and chat to our friendly team to find out more about our publication!

REFERENCES

1. EADV. History of the EADV. Available at: https://www.eadv.org/history/1989#history_timeline. Last accessed: 14 August 2018.
2. EADV. Statistics – Past EADV Congresses. Available at: https://www.eadv.org/congress/statistics. Last accessed: 14 August 2018.
3. EADV. The Official Website of the 15^th EADV Spring Symposium: 3-6 May 2018, Budva, Montenegro. Available at: https://eadvbudva2018.org/. Last accessed: 14 August 2018.
4. EADV. Scientific Programme. Available at: https://eadvparis2018.org/scientific-information/scientific-programme/. Last accessed: 14 August 2018.
5. Discover France. History of Paris. Available at: http://www.discoverfrance.net/France/Paris/Paris_history.shtml. Last accessed: 14 August 2018.
6. History. This Day in History: 1951 Paris celebrates 2,000th birthday. Available at: https://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/paris-celebrates-2000th-birthday. Last accessed: 14 August 2018.
7. Lambert T. A Short History of Paris, France. Available at: http://www.localhistories.org/paris.html. Last accessed: 14 August 2018.
8. Come to Paris. What to do in Paris. Available at: https://www.cometoparis.com/paris-guide/what-to-do-in-paris-s938. Last accessed: 14 August 2018.