Begonya Nafria Escalera

Dr. Begonya N. Escalera is the Head of Patient Engagement in Research at Sant Joan de Déu Chidren’s Hospital (Spain). She has long experience in the field of the involvement of patients and families in research initiatives. She has also a personal story as a cancer patient, and as a caregiver and patient advocate because is the sister of a young adult with cerebral palsy.

Her areas of expertise are focused on paediatric patients’ involvement in research and specifically in the field of clinical trials and in health innovation. She is currently a PhD student in the patient involvement in paediatrics field, specifically in a thesis project about the rights of children and young people accessing cross-border clinical trials.

Other relevant background of her profile is: Fellow of EUPATI (first cohort) and member of its Academic Cluster, Coordinator and Founder Member of eYPAGnet (European Young Patients Advisory Group Network), Coordinator of Kids Barcelona (YPAG of Sant Joan de Déu Children’s Hospital), Co-chair of Children’s Medicines Working Party of EFPGCP, co-Chair of the Patients and Families working group and Chair of the Cross-Border Access to Paediatric Clinical Trials of EnprEMA (European Network of Paediatric Research of EMA). The main aim of all the activities led or participated by Begonya is to achieve a better quality of life for the paediatric patients thanks to research and new therapies, and ensuring their active involvement to perform patient-centric clinical research and innovation.