Day 3: Sharing Experiences and Strengthening Youth Engagement | 15 July 2026
The third day of the 12th International Children’s Advisory Network (iCAN) Summit 2026 continued at Barretstown, County Kildare, Ireland, bringing together children and young people, researchers, healthcare professionals, industry representatives, and patient advocates for another inspiring day of learning, collaboration, and meaningful youth engagement in research and healthcare.
The programme featured an engaging session with Pfizer, providing participants with insights into research and innovation, followed by opportunities to visit sponsor exhibition tables and interact directly with representatives from organisations supporting the Summit. Young participants also continued working together to finalise their Activity of the Week projects, collaborating within both the KIDS and Young Professionals’ Network (YPN) teams as they prepared their ideas for presentation.
A highlight of the day was the testimony shared by Alberto Giandomenico, representing KIDS Bari, one of the Young Persons’ Advisory Groups (YPAGs) within the TEDDY KIDS Network. Alberto shared his personal journey and experiences as a young advisor, demonstrating the value of meaningful youth engagement and the important contribution that children and young people make to research and healthcare. His testimony reflected the spirit of the iCAN Summit, where young voices are recognised as essential partners in shaping the future of paediatric research.
The programme also included a collaborative parent session, creating opportunities for dialogue and knowledge exchange between families and participants, further reinforcing the importance of partnership across the research community.
In the afternoon, participants visited University College Dublin, gaining further insight into the host institution before travelling to Dublin Zoo for an educational and recreational visit. The excursion provided an opportunity for participants to strengthen international friendships outside the conference setting while taking part in a fun scavenger hunt that encouraged teamwork and collaboration.
As the Summit moves towards its final days, participants continue to demonstrate how collaboration, shared experiences, and the active involvement of children and young people can contribute to more inclusive, patient-centred research and healthcare worldwide.