VASCERN is one of the 24 European Reference Networks (ERNs) on rare diseases that have been approved in December 2016, following the first ERN Call for proposal (European Commission, DG Health, March 2016) and have been officially launched in March 2017. VASCERN is the ERN on Rare Multisystemic Vascular Diseases and gathers 31 highly specialized multidisciplinary Healthcare Providers (HCPs) from 11 EU Member States in this area of expertise. VASCERN is coordinated by Prof. Guillaume Jondeau, Cardiologist and Coordinator of the Center of Reference for Marfan Syndrome and related disorders, AP-HP Hôpital Bichat, Paris, France.

VASCERN includes five Rare Diseases Working Groups: Hereditary Haemorrhagic Telangiectasia (HHT-WG), Heritable Thoracic Aortic Diseases (HTAD-WG), Medium Sized Arteries (vascular Ehlers Danlos Syndrome) (MSA-WG), Pediatric and Primary Lymphedema (PPL-WG), Vascular Anomalies (VASCA-WG). This scope will enlarge to include all Rare Multisystemic Vascular Diseases. The specific Patient-WG enables Patient representatives to work on common issues and to be involved in all activities. In addition, several Thematic Working Groups are established to better tackle transversal work packages on: communication, ehealth, ethics, patient registry, and training & education.

All HCP Members are Centers of Reference/ Excellence recognized in their countries. These HCP have developed extensive European collaborations through their specific Rare Diseases’ networks. They joined this ERN to foster and reinforce European cooperation in Rare Multisystemic Vascular Diseases, following a common and multidisciplinary approach to patient care, in order to overcome the challenges of rarity.

They are committed to improve diagnosis, treatment, and care for and with patients by using all opportunities and activities, which can be offered by VASCERN.

VASCA-WG is chaired by Pr. Laurence BOON and Pr. Miikka VIKKULA, Centre for Vascular Anomalies (FR / EN), Cliniques Universitaires Saint-Luc, Brussels, Belgium. The VASCA-WG is co-chaired by Pr. Leo J. SCHULTZE KOOL, Radboudumc Expert Center for Hemangioma and Vascular Anomalies (HECOVAN), Nijmegen, Netherlands. VASCA-WG cooperates with the Patient-WG, whose representative participating to the WG is Caroline VAN DEN BOSCH, HEVAS.