Scientific session, Saturday
On Saturday morning, the assembled physicians had a full program of presentations and discussion.
Tony Castaldo, HAEi CEO and Chairman of the Board, and Henrik Balle Boysen, HAEi President, offered a warm welcome to the clinical experts and pharmaceutical company teams who had taken time to attend the Scientific Track. The two HAEi leaders recounted how far knowledge and treatment of HAE had advanced, and the huge contribution of scientists and clinicians to these advances.
‘I think collectively everyone in this room should be very proud of the fact that an ultra-rare condition called HAE now has 11 regulatory-approved medications. That’s unprecedented and a credit to this community.’
Co-Chairs welcome and Young Researcher Award
Following a welcome from the Co-Chairs, the Young Research/Investigator Award was presented on-stage to Dr Mats de Lange from the Amsterdam UMC.
In his words: Dr Mats de Lange, Young Researcher Award Recipient
As the latest recipient of the HAEi Young Researcher/Investigator Award, Global Perspectives caught up with Dr de Lange to ask him about the award and his interest in HAE.
Global Perspectives: Congratulations on the award. What did it feel like to hear that you and your work had won?
It felt like an enormous surprise and a moment of recognition when I heard that our team’s work had won the Young Investigator Award. The fact that it came from HAEi made it even more meaningful, because it shows that the work connects not just with scientists but also with the patient community.
Global Perspectives: As a rare disease, HAE might not be the first thing scientists and clinicians decide to focus on in their careers. What made you choose to focus your work and research on HAE?
HAE wasn’t something I learned much about during medical school. But once I started working as a medical doctor in the hospital, I saw how disruptive and unpredictable the disease can be for patients. As soon as a PhD position in bradykinin-mediated angioedema opened, I seized the opportunity to be a part of a fascinating and quickly evolving research field.
Global Perspectives: Finally, what were your impressions of the 2025 HAEi Regional Conference EMEA?
It was a very positive experience. Presenting my research and connecting with researchers from other countries in our region was great, but especially getting in contact with people living with HAE and hearing their stories and perspectives was really valuable.