PReS – the Paediatric Rheumatology European Society – is the leading professional organisation in Europe dedicated to improving the care, treatment, and quality of life of children and young people living with rheumatic and musculoskeletal diseases (RMDs).

PReS brings together paediatric rheumatologists, researchers, nurses, therapists, and patient organisations from across Europe and beyond. The society works to:

• advance research into childhood rheumatic diseases,
• improve early diagnosis and effective treatments,
• support training and education for healthcare professionals,
• promote best clinical practice, and
• ensure children and families are placed at the centre of care.

Each year, PReS organises scientific meetings, educational programmes, and collaborative research projects that help drive innovation and improve standards of paediatric rheumatology worldwide.

For families, this means that many of the treatments, guidelines, and care pathways used in clinics today have been developed or supported through the work of PReS and its expert community.

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What is PReS-TAR?

PReS-TAR (PReS Network for Trials and Research) is an independent academic clinical research network, established through a collaboration between Paediatric Rheumatology European Society (PReS) and IRCCS Istituto Giannina Gaslini.

Its key objective is to support and coordinate clinical research in paediatric rheumatology through a network of international clinical and academic centres working together with all PReS Working Parties.

PReS-TAR’s Mission & Core Activities

Academic Research & Investigator-Initiated Trials

• PReS-TAR supports investigator-initiated and collaborative studies aimed at improving care for children with rheumatic diseases.
• The network also organizes and supports non-profit clinical trials, consensus conferences, cross-cultural adaptations of outcome tools, research training and courses.

Prospective Registries & Biobanking

• PReS-TAR builds and maintains clinical databases and disease registries with integrated biobanking. This helps improve the long-term understanding of paediatric rheumatic and autoinflammatory diseases.

Collaborative International Network

• By partnering all PReS Working Parties and clinical/academic centres, PReS-TAR works to standardize and accelerate research across countries.
• It coordinates logistics, data management, study design, regulatory procedures, and supports participating centres with scientific, administrative and technical assistance.

Sponsored Clinical Trials & Industry Collaboration

• In addition to academic studies, PReS-TAR partners with pharmaceutical companies (when appropriate) to support the design and implementation of clinical trials and post-marketing registries — always under rigorous academic oversight.

Patient & Caregiver Engagement

This ensures that research focuses on real-world needs and that outcomes are relevant and accessible to the communities they intend to serve.

PReS-TAR strongly believes in co-producing research with patients and caregivers. Families and patients are involved from the earliest stages — project ideation, study design, recruitment materials, and dissemination of results.