ERASMUS Summer School on Rare Vascular Diseases in Paris

VASCERN is the European Reference Network (ERN) that aims to improve and homogenize the care of patients with rare multisystemic vascular diseases across Europe. These diseases include arterial diseases (from aorta to small arteries), arteriovenous anomalies, venous malformations, lymphatic disorders and neurovascular diseases. These diseases are rare and complex, requiring a multidisciplinary approach to patient care.
VASCERN was established in 2017 and is funded by the European Commission. VASCERN is based at the Hôpital Bichat in Paris (Assistance Publique – Hôpitaux de Paris, APHP) and its coordinator is Guillaume Jondeau, Professor at the University Paris Cité.

VASCERN is composed of six Rare Disease Working Groups (RDWGs), each of which specializes in a particular disease or group of diseases.

Hereditary Haemorrhagic Telangiectasia (HHT-WG), dealing specifically with HHT. Heritable Thoracic Aortic Disease (HTAD-WG), which deals with aortic diseases such as Marfan syndrome or Loeys-Dietz syndrome.
Medium-Sized Arteries (MSA-WG), which focuses on vascular Ehlers-Danlos syndrome (vEDS).

Neurovascular Diseases (NEUROVASC WG), dealing with CADASIL and Moyamoya angiopathy. Pediatric and Primary ymphedema (PPL WG), which covers structural or functional disorders of the lymphatic system. Vascular anomalies (VASCA-WG), which covers conditions such as capillary malformations, venous malformations and severe/rare infantile haemangiomas.

The Summer School is an educational activity organized within VASCERN to train young doctors on rare vascular diseases and to perpetuate the goals of the network to the new generation of healthcare professionals.

The organization of the VASCERN Summer School has received financial support from the ERASMUS+ Blended Intensive Program (BIP). This means that the Summer School will follow a hybrid format, combining short-term physical mobility abroad with a compulsory virtual component.