Pre-conferences

3 different pre-conference workshops are organized on Wednesday (June 4^th) afternoon from 12:30 to 17:00. All pre-conference will be held at Leiden University Medical Center (LUMC). There are limited spots available for each pre-conference, so please register in time!

The costs for the pre-conference attending are 25 EUR when you are also attending the WEON. If you are not attending the WEON you can join the pre-conference for 50 EUR.

Note: Please indicate on the registration form whether you will be attending the pre-conference only.

Pre-conferences: scroll down to read more

1. Applied infectious disease epidemiology and infection prevention and control in a healthcare setting

2. Generative AI for different research purposes

3. From Epidemiological Evidence to Sustainable Interventions: What Are the Steps to Success?

1. Applied infectious disease epidemiology and infection prevention and control in a healthcare setting

In this workshop, participants will learn about the role of an applied infectious disease epidemiologist in a healthcare and infection prevention and control (IPC) setting. The workshop starts with presentations about the three main pillars of applied infectious disease epidemiology: surveillance, applied research and outbreak investigations. These examples are all tailored to the working field of hospital IPC. In the second part of the workshop, participants will be actively working on a Case study on the investigation of an outbreak of a drug-resistant microorganism in a vulnerable patient population (neonates at a neonatal intensive care). This case study was developed by the field epidemiology fellowship network of the European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control (ECDC).

This preconference workshop is organized by the “Dutch Applied Infectious Disease Epidemiology Working Group”, i.e. Dutch Disease Detectives. This group represents the community of epidemiologists focused on infectious diseases and public health, including epidemiologists in the field, particularly fellows and alumni of Field Epidemiology Training Programs (FETP). The competency profile for FETP graduates in Europe has been designated by the ECDC as core competencies for mid-career public health epidemiologists.

https://www.ecdc.europa.eu/en/epiet-euphem
https://www.epidemiologie.nl/en/activities/working-group-of-the-vve/daideg/

Contact person from DAIDEG Working Community: Dr. Alma Tostmann, Radboudumc. Alma.Tostmann@radboudumc.nl

Time	Program
13:30 – 13:40	Opening (Alma Tostmann, Board Member DAIDEG)
13:40 – 14:10	Surveillance of healthcare associated infections: practical challenges and solutions (Dr Anne Voor in ‘t holt)
14:10 – 14:40	Example of applied infectious disease research in healthcare infection prevention and control (Drs. Cynthia Haanappel)
14:40 – 14:50	Discussion
14:50 – 15:00	Break
15:00 – 15:30	Outbreak investigations in a hospital setting (Dr Alma Tostmann)
15:30 – 16:45	Case study – MRSA Outbreak in a neonatal intensive care unit (Dr Alma Tostmann)
16:45 – 16:55	Reflection and discussion
16:55 – 17:00	Closure

2. Generative AI for different research purposes

This pre-conference session delves into the practical use of large language models (LLMs) in research, keeping an eye on integrity issues that arise across various scenarios. We will explore the potential benefits, challenges, and ethical considerations of integrating LLMs into the research process. Participants will have the opportunity to engage in discussions about research integrity and apply these tools to practical exercises during the session. This practical session offers a balanced perspective on navigating the opportunities and risks of generative AI in an academic context.

Contact person from department of clinical epidemiology, Lodewijk Pet, LUMC, l.a.pet@lumc.nl

Time	Program
12:30 – 12:40	Opening
12:40 – 13:10	Introduction to Large Language Models (LLMs): What Are They and Why Are They Relevant?
13:10 – 14:10	LLMs in Epidemiological Research: Opportunities and Applications
14:10 – 14:30	Break
14:30 – 15:30	Hands-On Session: Practical Application of LLMs in Research
15:30 – 16:15	Research Integrity and Ethical Considerations in Using LLMs
16:15 – 16:55	Reflection and discussion
16:55 – 17:00	Closure

3. From Epidemiological Evidence to Sustainable Interventions: What Are the Steps to Success?

Intervention studies play a crucial role in translating epidemiological evidence into societal impact. However, key challenges remain: When should interventions be implemented? Who benefits most? What strategies are most effective, and how should they be delivered?

In this interactive pre-conference session, leading experts from behavioral science, health economics, large language model applications for interventions, and medical anthropology will join forces with epidemiologists to explore innovative approaches for bridging the gap between evidence and real-world implementation.

Join us for insightful discussions and practical solutions to enhance the effectiveness of intervention studies!

Contact person from department of clinical epidemiology, Ruifang Li, LUMC, r.li@lumc.nl

Time	Program
13:00 – 13:15	Opening remarks
13:15 – 13:45	Lifestyle intervention studies in older adults for healthspan extension (Dr. Marian Beekman, LUMC)
13:45 – 14:15	Chances and Challenges of Evaluating the Costs and Benefits of Preventive Interventions (Dr. Ben Wijnen, Trimbos Institute)
14:15 – 14:45	The importance of behaviour change maintenance for sustainable lifestyle interventions (Dr.Pam ten Broeke)
14:45 – 15:15	Health inequity, syndemics and context-sensitive care (Dr.Nienke Slagboom, LUMC)
15:15 – 15:30	Break
15:30 – 16:00	Large Language Models to Enhance Intervention Effectiveness (Dr.Jilau Bouwman (TNO)
16:00 – 16:30	Interactive Panel Discussion with Speakers and Participants
16:30 – 16:40	Closing remarks