Independent Medical Education Grants

BIPI Areas of Strategic Focus

Oncology

Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer (Limited Funding Available)

1. Increase clinicians’ understanding of the heterogeneity of disease among patients with NSCLC and the clinical impact of distinguishing between subpopulations (e.g. different histologies, different sub-types) to optimize therapeutic strategies.
2. Increase clinicians’ understanding of treating patients with EGFR positive NSCLC in the light of resistance mechanism after 1st line treatment with anti-EGFR agents.
3. Review the management of adverse events associated with the use of oral anti-EGFR agents.
4. Increase clinicians’ understanding of biology, incidence and treatment options for patients with NSCLC and uncommon EGFR mutations.
5. Increase clinicians’ awareness of Real World Data in patients with EGFR+ advanced NSCLC and its implications on patient management decisions.

Respiratory

Interstitial Lung Disease (ILD) 

1. Disease course, diagnosis and risk assessment: Increase clinicians’ understanding of disease prevalence, morbidity and mortality, burden of illness, and signs and symptoms of ILD (IPF, Connective Tissue Disease (CTD) related ILD). Additionally improve clinician’s knowledge of recommended diagnostic testing methods and interpretation (e.g. HRCT, surgical biopsy, serologic testing) and the importance of routine, comprehensive multidisciplinary assessments in patients with CTD-ILD.
2. Earlier identification and differentiation of ILDs:  Raise the index of awareness of ILD among HCPs to encourage earlier referral of appropriate patients with ILD (IPF and Connective Tissue Disease related ILD) to ILD centers.
3. Treatment guidelines and clinical management: Improve clinicians’ knowledge regarding IPF clinical management, including developments in clinical research and treatment guidelines.
4. IPF risk factors and co-morbidities: Increase understanding among pulmonologists regarding management of the possible IPF risk factors (such as pharmacogenetics, pharmacogenomics) and co-morbidities for IPF (such as GERD), as well as the importance of managing other co-morbidities.
5. HCP communication with patients: Improve clinicians understanding of how to effectively communicate and educate ILD patients about their disease.

Systemic Sclerosis Interstitial Lung Disease (SSc-ILD)

1. Disease course, diagnosis and risk assessment: Increase clinicians’ understanding of disease pathophysiology, prevalence, morbidity and mortality and signs and symptom of SSc-ILD. Additionally improve clinician’s knowledge about the need to evaluate and monitor lung involvement in patients with SSc (e.g. HRCT scan, PFTs).
2. Treatment guidelines and clinical management: Improve clinicians’ knowledge regarding SSc-ILD clinical management, including developments in clinical research and treatment guidelines.
3. HCP communication with patients: Improve clinicians understanding of how to effectively communicate and educate SSc-ILD patients about their disease.

Interstitial Lung Diseases (ILDs) with Progressive Lung Disease Phenotype

1. Description of ILDs with Progressive Lung Disease Phenotype: Improve clinician’s knowledge about the diseases most commonly associated with ILDs with Progressive Lung Disease Phenotype (i.e. Rheumatoid Arthritis, Chronic Hypersensitivity Pneumonitis, Unclassified ILD) and the need to monitor lung involvement in patients with these diseases.
2. Disease course, diagnosis and assessment: Increase clinicians’ understanding of disease pathophysiology, prevalence, morbidity and mortality, and signs and symptoms of ILDs with Progressive Lung Disease Phenotype.
3. Clinical management: Improve clinicians’ knowledge regarding ILDs with Progressive Lung Disease Phenotype clinical management, including developments in clinical research and treatment guidelines.