• More than 100 topics in 7 languages for patient advocates to discover, adapt and share
• Online information resource designed to enable more meaningful patient involvement  
• Information and education to help engage patients and patient advocates

(27 January 2016-Europe) – The European Patients’ Academy (EUPATI) today announces the launch of its new online Toolbox on Medicines Research & Development. The toolbox is available to European patient groups, patient advocates and anyone who is interested in learning more about the medicines research and development (R&D) process. Users can acquire the knowledge to make a meaningful contribution to medicines development and to the broader dialogue around patient empowerment. This online educational resource allows users to freely discover, adapt, and share materials.

“The toolbox is a comprehensive, self-explanatory, educational resource that has been built so that learnings on medicines R&D can be developed and shared by patient advocates. It is the result of a long-term, concerted effort by expert stakeholders including patients, researchers and academics.  Our vision is that thousands of patient advocates in Europe will leverage the toolbox to enable more meaningful patient involvement and partnership in medicines R&D. The toolbox is EUPATI’s second core product, after the Patient Expert Training Course, designed to support patients with information and knowledge,’’ says Jan Geissler, Director, European Patients‘ Academy.

“I am happy and proud that after a long period of hard work we are able to give the public access to this unique toolbox on medicines R&D. Unique because it covers all relevant aspects of medicines R&D, unique because it will be a tool of great value for patient advocates to educate themselves and other patient advocates, and unique because it is the result of great cooperation, led by patients, between all stakeholder groups,” agrees Jytte Lyngvig, former Senior Vice President & Managing Director of DIA Europe, Middle East & Africa. DIA manages the creation and editing of all content online.

The online toolbox is available in seven languages (English, French, German, Spanish, Italian, Polish and Russian) and contains over 3000 expert materials on the ‘A-Z’ of medicines R&D. For example, content includes information-rich modules and best-in-class educational materials on discovery research, clinical development, regulatory affairs, medicinal safety, pharmacovigilance and the principles of health technology assessment. Users can access a wealth of fact sheets, graphics, slideshows, videos, recorded webinars, print-ready materials as well as a full glossary. European patient groups and patient advocates are invited to use the toolbox to discover the latest educational resources, to educate and train patient communities, and to identify opportunities on how to get involved in medicines R&D.

"Patients no longer view themselves as 'recipients' of healthcare innovation. They are embracing their new power to shape the medical advances that are shaping their lives. We hope this toolbox will be a helpful resource to empower patients with more knowledge about how biomedical R&D works," according to Roslyn F. Schneider MD, MSc, Global Patient Affairs Lead, Pfizer.

Birgit Bauer, a EUPATI Fellow living with Multiple Sclerosis, Germany, recognises that ‘‘from my perspective, the EUPATI toolbox provides an objective, reliable and up-to-date resource for patient education on medicines R&D. The multilingual materials deliver a wealth of patient awareness materials and an understanding on the opportunities patient advocates have to strengthen their voice and to get actively involved in the process.”