President: Willem-Pieter De Boode, Radboud University Medical Center, Nijmegen, Netherlands
The European Society for Paediatric Research (ESPR) has been at the forefront of Paediatric medical care and innovation since 1958. As one of the oldest and most prolific Paediatric research societies in Europe, its activities are organised according to three pillars:
- The ten sections representing different Paediatric sub-specialties fostering the publication of research and guidelines;
- The European School of Neonatology (ESN) acting as the society’s educational arm and implementing a wide range of educational activities. This includes a clinically-integrated Master of Advanced Studies (MAS) in Neonatology, an academic Master of Science (MSc) in Neonatology (NOTE) in collaboration with the University of Southampton, and dedicated ESN hands-on pre-congress courses;
- The European Board of Neonatal Child Health Research (EBNCHR) that periodically reviews the European Training Requirements (ETR) in Neonatology and provides leadership in the context of child health research policy and funding.
In this context, the ESPR co-organises large-scale annual conferences, supports investigators with research grants, runs a mentoring programme and disseminates cutting-edge findings through its Springer-Nature journal Pediatric Research, amongst others.
Based on its heritage and proudly looking back at a long list of achievements, the ESPR continues to promote scientific excellence and collaboration between different Paediatric specialties. This the ESPR does from ‘bench to bedside’ – meaning it fosters research to improve patient treatment and advance clinical practice.
MISSION
Developing and applying research to improve newborn and child health
Sections of ESPR
SIGs of ESPR
Projects of ESPR
European training requirements in Neonatology
Neonatal Online Training and Education Programme: NOTE
ESN: European School of Neonatoloty
Neonatal School of Neonatology: ESN
Advocacy: European Board of Neonatal and Child Health Research: EBNCHR
Neonatologist Performed Echocardiography: NPE
President: Corrado Moretti, Sapienza University of Rome, Rome, Italy
HISTORY
UENPS was founded on the 1st of July 2006, in Vienna, as a confederation of European Societies i.e. an organisation integrating national European Neonatal or Perinatal Societies under one organisational roof. During the 1st two years, the Societies implemented the following actions:
• Asking societies to joint UENPS
• 1st UENPS congress in Roma
• Some multicenter trials were proposed by some researchers and carried out.
• UENPS official registration in Roma 17th April 2008
COLLABORATION
UENPS collaborates in the fields of education, research, guidelines to improve quality in perinatal assistance (better practices) with all European and International Societies of Neonatology and Perinatology. EuroNeoNet, EFCNI (European Foundation for Care of the Newborn Infant) and ESN (European Society (ndvr: School?) of Neonatology) are recent Partner Societies or Scientific Associate Members of UENPS.
VISION
UENPS Vision is:
• to promote the knowledge of the perinatal indicators and
• to develop recommendations, guidelines, training of the healthcare providers and any other tool to achieve the best healthcare for every newborn and surveillance of neonatal rights wherever they are born.
MISSION
The mission of UENPS is to improve healthcare in the neonatal and perinatal medicine in the European countries. Main goals of UENPS are to improve quality in perinatal and neonatal care by integrating, coordinating and adding national and scientific societies’ efforts.
Chairwoman of the Executive Board: Silke Mader, ?, Germany?
HISTORY
The story of GFCNI began long before its official founding in 2008. It traces back to 1997, when Silke Mader, who would later co-found the organisation, faced the life-changing challenges of delivering her twins extremely preterm at 25 weeks of gestation. Tragically, Lena passed away shortly after birth, while Lukas survived but required ongoing medical care. These deeply personal experiences of navigating a rigid healthcare system with minimal support inspired Silke Mader to become an advocate for families like hers.
From founding a local parent support group in Munich to leading national and European advocacy efforts, Silke Mader’s journey highlights the shared struggles of families across borders. This need for global collaboration ultimately led to the founding of EFCNI, the European Foundation for the Care of Newborn Infants, in 2008, which became GFCNI in 2025.
MISSION, VISION, VALUES
At the Global Foundation for the Care of Newborn Infants (GFCNI), we work to improve newborn health by advocating for high-quality, accessible, and equitable care, long-term follow-up, and continuing care for both mother and infant in each region of the world. Our particular focus is on infants born too soon, too small, or too sick – those who need special medical care and hospitalization after birth. We represent the patient and parent voice in the global arena, transcending country borders and continents.
GFCNI is the first global organization and network to unite patients, families, healthcare professionals, medical staff, and scientists from different disciplines, fields, and countries – all with the joint goal of advancing the health and quality of care for newborns and their families across the globe. We envision a future in which every baby born receives the right care, at the right time, in the right place!
President: Prof. Berthold Koletzko, Munich, Germany
Secretary General: Prof. Ann de Guchtenaere, Ghent, Belgium
The European Academy of Paediatrics (EAP) is the united voice of European Paediatrics and Child Health, representing 53 national paediatric societies across Europe and 14 European paediatric subspecialty societies, with close collaboration to a further 14 affiliated societies dedicated to Child Health.
VISION and MISSION
The European Academy of Paediatrics exists to promote the health of children and young people in Europe. It aims to improve standards in training, service and research and to represent the professional interests of paediatricians in the EU. It closely collaborates with the European Union of Medical Specialists and therefore has influence in the political arena to advocate for children and young people as well as for the profession.
The EAPM is a subspeciality society of the European Board and College of Obstetrics and Gynaecology (EBCOG).
President: Neena Modi, Imperial College, London, UK
OBJECTIVES
The purpose of the European Association of Perinatal Medicine (EAPM) is to bring together groups and individuals in Europe who are interested in promoting the science of perinatal medicine, for the benefit of mothers and their children, in particular by:
- Promoting and disseminating the study, research and knowledge of all aspects of perinatal medicine, to attain the optimal physical and mental health for mothers and their children by improving the quality and provision of perinatal care in Europe.
- Contributing to the improvement of teaching standards in the profession.
- Proposing guidelines and standardizing criteria for auditing, evaluation and clinical care in perinatal medicine.
- Fostering collaboration between the various disciplines interested in perinatal care as well as friendship between individuals from different European Countries.
ACTIVITIES
The principal event that the EAPM organizes is the “European Congress of Perinatal Medicine” (ECPM). This is held every two years in a major European city.
Other activities of the Association are:
- Organizing, in collaboration with the European Midwives Association (EMA), the “European Congress of Intrapartum Care” (ECIC). This is held every two years in a major European city, on alternate years with the ECPM.
- Collaborating with the Journal Maternal-Fetal and Neonatal Medicine, the official journal of the EAPM.
- Organizing national and international educational courses.
- Promoting multisite clinical trials.
- Promoting exchange visits for senior and junior clinicians, to encourage research and training.
President: Dr. Naveen Thacker
HISTORY
The history of the International Pediatric Association is the history of pediatrics that goes back 112 years old considering its official establishment in Paris in 1910, by Victor Henri Hutniel. IPA is the only umbrella organization with a membership of 164 National Pediatric Societies from 149 countries representing more than one million Pediatricians.
MISSION
Pediatricians, working with other partners, will be leaders in promoting physical, mental, and social health for all children, and in realizing the highest standards of health for newborns, children, and adolescents in all countries of the world. The IPA will work with professional associations and all others willing to add their strengths to advocacy, education, and programming on behalf of children.
American Organisations
American Pediatric Society (APS) is an organization dedicated to the advancement of child health through the promotion of pediatric research, recognition of achievement, and cultivation of excellence in pediatrics through advocacy, scholarship, education, and leadership development and to honor those who, by their contributions to pediatrics, have aided in its advancement.
Society for Pediatric Research (SPR) is an international society whose purpose is to create a network of multidisciplinary researchers to improve child health. SPR promotes the interchange of ideas and provides opportunities for investigators to present and be honored for their work.
Academic Pediatric Association (APA) is a national organization dedicated to improving the health of all children and adolescents through leadership in the education of child health professionals, research, dissemination of knowledge, patient care, and advocacy, in partnership with children, families, and communities. This is accomplished through membership activities, funded research, teaching programs, and advocacy to affect public and governmental opinion positively for children.
American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) is an organization of primary care pediatricians, pediatric medical subspecialists, and pediatric surgical specialists committed to the attainment of optimal physical, mental and social health for all infants, children, adolescents, and young adults.