From 4 to 7 February, the EAHAD 2020 Congress took place in The Hague, Netherlands. The theme of this year’s Congress was “A Golden Age of Treatment Choice” and, indeed, more than 2300 delegates experienced diverse sessions and presentations of the highest caliber. The 13th Annual Congress took place at the World Forum, under the direction of Congress President, Prof. Dr. Karin Fijn van Draat and was the place to be for innovative discussions on the latest developments in the haemophilia and bleeding disorders field.

It is with profound grief that the European Association for Haemophilia and Allied Disorders informs that Axel Seuser, MD, passed away on Tuesday 4 February, during the EAHAD 2020 Congress in The Hague.

By Paul McLaughlin, EAHAD Physiotherapists Committee member, EAHAD Regional Coordinator (UK)   Pain is a symptom of many disease processes and sometimes can be present even without a disease.

Several members of the EAHAD Physiotherapists Network attended and presented at the World Confederation for Physical Therapy (WCPT) Congress 2019, the profession’s leading global meeting in Geneva in May 2019. More than 5000 colleagues from 131 countries attended the 3-day congress to hear global perspectives showcasing the best in physiotherapy research and practice.

We welcome you to join us on 4 February for the 2020 edition of the EAHAD Multidisciplinary Pre-Congress Day.

On Thursday 17 October in Paris, at the National Sports Institute, the first inter-professional meeting of the Francophone Association of Physiotherapists specializing in Bleeding Disorders (Association Francophone de Physiothérapeutes spécialisés dans les Maladies Hémorragiques - AFPH) took place. The inaugural AFPH event brought together 45 physiotherapists and doctors from Belgium, France and Switzerland, with the objective to promote and develop physiotherapy in the field of bleeding disorders, as well as to strengthen the network between the professionals.

EAHAD is pleased to announce the formation of a Working Group on Gene Therapy, following the approval of a proposal to the Executive Committee in September. Chaired by Prof. Dr Wolfgang Miesbach, the Working Group will have a mandate of two years and will be comprised of six to eight members. A patient representative will also be invited to take part.

By Emeritus Prof. Christopher Ludlam and Prof. John McVey, EAHAD-DB Coagulation Factor Variant Database Steering Group   The updated EAHAD Factor VII Gene (F7) Variant Database is now available at www.f7-db.eahad.org   The database now includes 221 unique variants, representing gene variants identified in 728 individuals.

EAHAD 2020 is taking place from 4-7 February under the direction of Congress President, Prof. Dr. Karin Fijn van Draat. The theme of this year’s Congress is “A Golden Age of Treatment Choice”.

Prof. Dr. Karin Fijn van Draat is not only a member of the EAHAD Executive Committee, but also the President of our 2020 Congress taking place from 5 to 7 February 2020 in The Hague, Netherlands. In the lead up to our 13th annual meeting, we had the opportunity to speak with Prof. Fijn van Draat about her background, the most rewarding and challenging aspects of being this year’s Congress President, as well as her views on what the future key issues will be in the haemophilia and allied disorders field in Europe.