5 things we need to tell you about ESCAIDE 2020

1. ESCAIDE 2020 will make the most of online technologies and learning formats

ESCAIDE hosts an annual gathering of public health professionals, epidemiologists, microbiologists and other specialists that attracts 600+ participants each year. In 2020, ESCAIDE will be offered online. Speakers, attendees and organisers will join the conference remotely across the world, via a virtual platform and social media.

ESCAIDE 2020 will utilise digital technologies to bring the ESCAIDE experience to desktops around the world. The so-called ESCAIDE plenary sessions, proposed and chaired by the ESCAIDE Scientific Committee, will be presented and debated in “real time”. Some abstract-led sessions will also be presented in “real time”, with presenters and moderators connected at the same time in moderated panels; whereas other presentations will be “pre-recorded” and available on-demand. The conference will benefit from strategically placed interactive features such as polls, live chat, Q&A, and more. Stay tuned to find out more about new ESCAIDE formats.

2. ESCAIDE 2020 call for abstracts will be open for an extended period, from 1 June to 14 September

Exceptionally this year, we are running a single call for abstracts that will open on 1 June and will close on 14 September (19:00 CET). We welcome abstracts in all areas related to infectious disease prevention and control, including epidemiology, public health microbiology, surveillance, and the application of tools and methods to support infectious disease outbreaks or interventions.

Submitting an abstract to ESCAIDE gives an opportunity to present work to public health professionals from Europe and around the globe, while sharing experiences and knowledge that can benefit the whole public health community and beyond.

3. ESCAIDE 2020 abstract review process will happen from 17 September to 1 October

To determine if an abstract is accepted for ESCAIDE, an abstract peer-review process will take place from 17 September to 1 October. This is a fundamental step in ensuring the scientific quality and rigour of the work presented at the conference. Authors will receive notification of acceptance or rejection via email by 16 October.

4. ESCAIDE 2020 Scientific Committee has new members

The ESCAIDE Scientific Committee is appointed every year by the ECDC Director and operates independently in line with the terms established in the Director’s Decision ECDC/AD/2016/25. Members of the Committee provide advice and direction to the ESCAIDE Scientific Committee Chair and guide the implementation of plenary sessions.

The ESCAIDE 2020 Scientific Committee members are: Mike Catchpole as the Chair of the Committee, Amrish Baidjoe (Switzerland), Prof Dr Bojana Beović (Slovenia), Dr Frode Forland (Norway), Dr Susan Hahné (Netherlands), Dr Frantiska Hruba (ECDC) and Dr Maria D Van Kerkhove (Switzerland). The new members appointed were Vicky Lefevre (ECDC), Magdalena Rosińska (Poland) and Bruno Coignard (France).

5. ESCAIDE 2020 is offered as free of charge event

This year, registration for ESCAIDE is offered free of charge for all participants that will connect to the online platform. By making content available online, we hope ESCAIDE can reach new audiences, while ensuring that the programme will remain as stimulating and informative as ever.

Stay tuned for updates on ESCAIDE 2020 registration.