EMWA’s Newsletter – April 2024

Dear Readers,

This month, you can find the latest EMWA conference updates, a new webinar, and other news from the various EMWA groups.

Happy reading!

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EMWA 57th Conference News

If you follow our social media accounts, you are aware that registration for EMWA’s 57th conference in Valencia is now open.

From 7th to 11th of May, the Spanish city of Valencia,?“2024 European Green Capital” will receive medical writers from all around the world. It will be an opportunity for experienced, new, and aspiring medical writers to develop their professional skills, learn, and participate in social events. A large part of the conference is dedicated to EMWA Professional Development Programme (EPDP) workshops, which provide high-quality training for medical writers.

For new and aspiring medical writers there will be a Getting into Medical Writing (GIMW) Day, which will include the “Introduction to Medical Writing” Seminar, CV + LinkedIn clinics and networking opportunities.

The all-day Symposium about Artificial Intelligence (AI) is on May 9th. During the symposium, different perspectives about this transformative technology will be shared, from its development to ethical considerations with its use. There will also be an overview of how medical communicators can adapt do the current opportunities. There is an option to join the symposium online, if you are unable to travel to Valencia.

Shorter events include a seminar on predatory publishing and a CORE Reference seminar providing the latest information on regulatory reporting and public disclosure landscapes. There will also be a lunch seminar on the topic of copyright, including discussions about open access publishing and AI.

Smaller but no less relevant events include three round tables: one regarding best practices in translation, one the impact of AI on medical writing from an agency’s perspective, and one on the latest trends of conducting and publishing real-world evidence (RWE) studies.

Finally, for medical writers with more experience who wish a deeper dive in certain topics, there are four Expert Seminar Series (ESS) to choose from: Non-Clinical Regulatory Writing, Visual Healthcare Communications, Experience, Trust, and Public Perception of AI, and Using AI Tools in Practice. These sessions have virtual attendance options available.

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EMWA Professional Development Committee Webinar

Webinar:?Securing Medical Writing: Navigating Data Confidentiality with AI Innovations

Thursday, 11th April 2024 at 13:00 CET

Presenter: Philip Burridge

In this webinar, we will delve into the importance of data security when using AI tools in the medical writing industry. The webinar speaker will introduce Microsoft's AI tool and analyse their data security policies against those of public platforms, such as ChatGPT. The webinar will directly compare the suitability of AI tools in the marketplace and address their limitations.

Join us as we navigate the complex landscape of AI in medical writing and ensure your data remains safeguarded every step of the way.

To register, please?click here. For more information about the webinar content, please visit the webinar programme page

Kind regards,

EMWA webinar team

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Italian Local EMWA Group

The Italian Local EMWA group conducted a comprehensive national salary survey in February 2024. Drawing responses from 68 medical writers across various national territories, the survey provides a holistic view of the Italian medical writing landscape. The awaited revelation of the first survey in Italy holds immense significance for both seasoned professionals and newcomers, offering valuable insights into industry remuneration and professional trends. Currently undergoing analysis, the survey findings are set to be available in June. These insights are expected to provoke much discussion and guide strategic career decisions among professionals operating in Italy. Stay tuned for the unveiling of these valuable insights into the Italian medical writing landscape.

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CORE Reference

Check out the?March?2024?list of ICH, EMA (including CTR and CTIS), FDA and other regional guidances; best practice documents; and other tools and resources supporting clinical trial reporting; transparency and disclosure of clinical documents; real world data and artificial intelligence/machine learning in the regulation of medicines. The CORE Reference NewsSummary encompasses medicines, vaccines and devices; information is archived (including the March 2024 NewsSummary in the coming days) at:?https://www.core-reference.org/news-summaries/. Sign up for the bi-monthly email service here:?https://www.core-reference.org/subscribe.

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Medical Communications Special Interest Group News

The EMWA Translators subgroup (part of the MedComms SIG) is having its first Meet & Share! Join us on 18th April, 11am - 12:30 CET.

At this Meet & Share we will be joined by authors of articles from the March MW issue on translation. Authors will talk about their articles, their perspectives on the translation landscape, and explore further aspects of their topics. There will be a Q&A after the panel, where attendees can ask questions and share their own experiences. A great opportunity to 'get to know' our authors.

You don't have to be a translator to attend! Everyone is welcome. If you're interested in translation, interpreting or work with languages in general then this Meet & Share is for you.

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Freelance Business Group News

At the 57th EMWA conference in Valencia, we are hosting the Freelance Business Forum, a free networking session with roundtable discussions on everything related to the freelance medical writer.

As we usually work on our own, having a community is one of the most important parts of freelancing life, and this event is a great opportunity to meet and connect with other freelancers.

It is open to all conference attendees, so whether you are an experienced freelancer, a newcomer or just interested in knowing more about freelancing, do drop by - there's always something new to learn and share.

Please note that the Freelance Business Forum is free with conference registration, but make sure you select it when registering! It really helps us to know how many people are attending so we can organise the event accordingly.

In the meantime, if you want to connect, ask questions or provide suggestions, you can join us on the dedicated LinkedIn group EMWA Freelance Business Forum - online.

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Ambassador Programme News

The?EMWA Ambassador Programme?is continuing its efforts to reach out to new audiences to promote medical writing and EMWA and has supported the events below.

On 1 March 2024, Evguenia Alechine (Chair of the Getting into Medical Writing initiative) delivered a talk at the University of Freiburg, Germany, during the Science Communication module of the International Master Program in Biomedical Sciences. The session was part of a week-long module, focused on introducing the students to medical writing and its career prospects. Evguenia discussed the European Medical Writers Association (EMWA), its offerings, and highlighted the upcoming conference in Valencia, emphasizing the opportunities it presents for newcomers. The students were intrigued by this novel career path and they engaged in lively discussions about freelancing, part-time work alongside academic pursuits, the necessity of a PhD for medical writing, and international work opportunities. Overall, the session was well-received, and the students gained valuable insights into alternative career paths in biomedical sciences.

On 8 May 2024, Abe Shevack will represent the Ambassador Programme at a “speed networking” session during the Getting into Medical Writing ?event at EMWA conference in Valencia.

On 15 November 2024, Francesca Cappellini will again represent EMWA at the next Aula Medica Chase Career Conference in Stockholm, Sweden.

If you are an experienced medical writer, an EMWA volunteer and are interested in becoming an EMWA Ambassador or if you know of any upcoming career events in your locality please contact the EMWA Head Office ([email protected]) or Abe Shevack ([email protected]).

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