AL AN had its first ADP in 2020-2021. 

What is an ADP?

• In-depth training programme on patient advocacy, customized for a small group of leading patient advocates, or high potentials, of a specific patient organisation
• Combines disease specific topics (knowing the disease, existing treatment, guidelines, R&D roadmap, regulatory roadmap etc.) with cross-disease areas (clinical research process, patient reported outcomes, trial protocols, basics of statistics, regulatory processes and evidence-based advocacy)
• Delivered by experts as virtual lectures
• Dedicated tutors will coordinate the course and support trainees
• Duration of course: Approximately 12 months
• Participants: 8 patient advocates, selected by ALAN. Advocate Development Programme is by application / invite only, as trainees should be most likely to apply knowledge, not only do this out of personal interest
• Proven methodology: Advocate Development Programmes were initiated, developed and implemented by Myeloma Patients Europe
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Why an ADP?

• Improve the knowledge about medicines development, regulatory processes and patient advocacy topics relevant for the specific disease area
• Move beyond anecdotes and opinions towards evidence-based patient advocacy
• Increase the number of competent advocates with knowledge and skills to engage in discussions and decision-making processes as equal partners in healthcare
• Enable advocates become multipliers of knowledge within and beyond their patient community
• Builds a team of “expert patients” within a patient community
• Build successors and train up patient advocates for future Community Advisory Boards (CABs).