BRC Initiative Supports Member to Attend the European Workshop for Rheumatology Research

NIHR Academic Clinical Fellow Dr Chung Mun Alice Lin recently received a BRC Bursary, an initiative that aims to provide researchers across the BRC with the opportunity to request funds for specific activities to progress their research.

As part of the Musculoskeletal Disease and Inflammation Medicine Research Theme and under the supervision of Dr Faye Cooles and Prof John Isaacs, Dr Alice Lin is researching on cardio-rheumatology and type I interferon signalling in autoimmune rheumatic disease patients. The grant helped her to attend the European Workshop for Rheumatology Research (EWRR) in Budapest, Hungary in May, which aims to attract young scientists to give them the opportunity to present their work in an informal and interactive environment.

What were you looking forward to the most attending the conference?

I was fortunate to have had my abstract accepted by EWRR for a poster presentation so was looking forward to showcasing some of my work and obtain feedback and initiate discussions based on this. I was also looking forward to being immersed in a rheumatology focused translational research environment and network with and learn from colleagues from around the world.

What were your impressions of the conference?

This was my first international rheumatology conference and one I thoroughly enjoyed. The schedule for EWRR 2025 was jam-packed with interesting content and had many keynote speakers that delivered excellent and thought-provoking talks. It was also great to hear and see my lab group colleagues presenting their work.

What were the highlights?

Although the talks and presentations were excellent, the highlights for me also included the evening events. The conference organisers put together social events in the evenings where the conference attendees could dine together and enjoy the culture of Budapest while connecting with each other. This included a private opera concert at the venue during dinner, where we got to enjoy local cuisine, as well as attending a local vibrant “ruin bar” in the city centre.

How will the event help you in your work going forward?

I am currently on a long academic block in my training where I am putting together a fellowship application for PhD funding. The talks and content from EWRR provided me with a great overview of current translational concepts and work in the Rheumatology field relating to my area of interest, which will be very helpful with my current write-up. The opportunity to present internationally has also helped build on my academic portfolio.

What are your planned next steps in your work?

I am currently working on my fellowship applications, which include building on my own research projects (ranging from laboratory-based work to clinical projects) but also my academic portfolio.

A huge thank you to the NIHR Newcastle BRC for providing me with a travel grant and therefore with the opportunity to attend and present at this international conference in Budapest.