On April 3rd and 4th, the annual face-to-face meeting of the RAPHAEL Horizon Europe project was held in Barcelona, with the Universitat Internacional de Catalunya (UIC Barcelona) as the hosting institution.
The meeting provided an excellent opportunity to foster collaboration among consortium members, share expertise, and move forward with the different work packages of the project. Representatives from several partner countries, includingthe Netherlands, which is coordinating the project, Germany, Spain, Italy, the United Kingdom, Sweden and Switzerland brought a diverse range of perspectives and experiences to the table.
A highlight of the event was the active participation of junior researchers, who presented their work, exchanged insights, and connected with peers from other institutions. This intergenerational exchange enriched the discussions and helped nurture the next generation of researchers in the field of palliative care and heart failure.
In addition to presentations, the programme included group activities designed to encourage open discussion, idea generation, and collaborative planning. These sessions promoted active participation and helped align the consortium around shared goals.
During the first day, in-depth conversations were held on when and how to initiate palliative care for patients with heart failure, as well as the design of the project’s multinational clinical trial—focusing on patient involvement, recruitment strategies, and care settings.
The day concluded with a cultural activity: a guided tour of Barcelona’s Modernist architecture, followed by a group dinner, fostering informal connections and team spirit.
From UIC Barcelona, the overall atmosphere of collaboration, shared energy, and the quality of discussion over these two productive days was highly valued, marking a significant step forward in achieving the objectives of the RAPHAEL Horizon Europe project.
