Areas of Impact
TEDDY Working Groups promote collaborative knowledge exchange across diverse experts and development of common strategies, transforming multidisciplinary interaction into effective outcomes for paediatric research
TEDDY ‘s Working Groups are the principal space for joint work through which the TEDDY Network pursues its objectives.
The four TEDDY’s Working Groups address specific paediatric research needs via a shared approach and coordinate initiatives across interconnected areas of impact, promoting equitable access to age‑appropriate medicines, high‑quality paediatric research, meaningful patient engagement and advocacy, and the effective use of real‑world health data to support safer and more innovative therapies for children.
Through its Working Groups, TEDDY Network advances the structured exchange of expertise among multidisciplinary experts and dialogue with key institutional and regulatory stakeholders, academic and clinical organisations, children and young patients groups, fostering the development of best practices, methodological recommendations, standard operating procedures, and tools to support the design, implementation, and reporting of paediatric clinical trials.
Better medicines for children
Advancing equitable access to safe, effective, and age-appropriate medicines and therapeutic products for children across Europe.
When focusing on paediatric populations, a discrepancy exists between the medicines available for children and those for adults. Notably, many paediatric medications have labels that are not suitable for children for different age groups. In this situation, off-label use often represents the only treatment option for paediatric patients, and, in the lack of established risk-benefit criteria, prescribers have taken different approaches, also following non-harmonised national rules. TEDDY Network has set-up:
WG - Off Label Uses Mitigation
The WG on Off Label Uses Mitigation aims at developing actions to properly address the theme of paediatric off-label medicines use at European level, starting from the existing or under development best practices and tools developed by TEDDY Network and other research groups in Europe in support of a safer use of medicines for children. This is done mainly through collaborative research projects, training and advocacy activities, and scientific publications.
TEDDY WG on Off Label Uses Mitigation brochure is available here
The European Paediatric Medicines Database
The European Paediatric Medicines Database (EPMD) is a strategic tool developed in 2007 to monitor the state of the art of paediatric medicines approved by the European Medicines Agency (EMA) since 1995.
EPMD provides structured, continuously updated information on authorised paediatric medicinal products across Europe. The database supports evidence-based decision-making, policy development, and research initiatives aimed at addressing unmet needs in paediatric healthcare.
The EPMD is publicly accessible, and periodic analytical reports are released to provide insights into trends, gaps, and developments in paediatric medicines.
By enabling access to comprehensive data on authorised paediatric medicines, EPMD contributes to transparency, informed regulatory and clinical decision-making, and the advancement of paediatric research.
Here’s a list of the EPMD reports.
Innovative research methodologies
Promoting paediatric research having the highest ethical and methodological standards for the advancement of novel therapies addressing unmet medical needs.
The Working Group on Paediatric Research Methodology supports researchers for design, analysis and reporting paediatric clinical trials.
WG - Paediatric Research Methodologies
The WG on Paediatric Research Methodologies is in charge of supporting the TEDDY’s membership in several EU and international initiatives, such as the European Network of Paediatric Research at the European Medicines Agency (Enpr-EMA), the Accelerating Clinical Trials in the European Union (ACT EU) and the SPIRIT|CONSORT initiative. The goal of this WG is to facilitate the adoption of innovative designs and advanced methodologies in paediatric research, promoting a more efficient and innovative approach to paediatric clinical trials.
TEDDY WG on Paediatric Research Methodologies brochure is available here
Children and young patients engagement
Engaging children and young patients in decisions related to their health and in the research journey.
The active participation of children and young patients in decision-making processes, according to their age and maturity, is crucial in routine clinical practice, and in the development of new medicines, devices and therapies. Moreover, empowering children and young individuals by incorporating their perspectives in health-related decision-making is a fundamental right (art.24 of the Charter of Fundamental Rights of the European Union – 2000/C 364/01).
With the objective of promoting children empowerment and engagement in research activities, TEDDY Network has established several Young Person Advisory Groups (YPAGs) since 2017, such as KIDS Bari and KIDS Albania. These groups are also members of the International Children’s Advisory Network (iCAN).
As part of ongoing efforts to strengthen its international presence, TEDDY Network has founded the TEDDY KIDS Network, which is an inclusive community of individual YPAGs across Europe dedicated to enhance awareness among key stakeholders including authorities, general public, health professionals and sponsors about the persistent unmet therapeutic needs of children to prioritise children’s well-being and safety. This Network warmly welcomes any existing or new YPAGs that wish to join in shaping the future of paediatric health by dedicating continuous efforts in:
- Participating to surveys and other initiatives on topics of paediatric interest aimed to stimulate debate among stakeholders;
- Producing videos, leaflets, empowering tools for children with children and young patients;
- Providing opinion on documents related to research involving children, proposed by researchers and sponsors or by Public Authorities (EMA, CoE, EU Commission).
WG - Children Engagement and Advocacy
The WG on Children Engagement and Advocacy is specifically involved in supporting educational initiatives focused on children and young patients to give them deep knowledge and expertise on how to interact in decision-making processes regarding their health (such as current therapies or experimental procedures).
This WG oversees supporting the TEDDY KIDS Network during the creation of new KIDS groups by managing scheduled activities in projects and other initiatives involving children as well as facilitating the youth participation in the yearly iCAN summits. The WG also supports Kids in activities external to their own originating YPAG, and elects their representative in the TEDDY’s Board of Directors.
TEDDY WG on Children Engagement and Advocacy brochure is available here
Curewiki
Your voice matters!
Your knowledge and lived experience can help improve how care is designed, delivered, and evaluated. By sharing your perspective, you contribute to research that aims to make healthcare more effective, safer, and more responsive to patient needs.
To strengthen patient-centred engagement in clinical research, TEDDY Network has partnered with Curewiki, integrating Curewiki’s secure, GDPR-compliant Patient Voice Database into its research activities. This digital platform supports responsible patient engagement by enabling patients, families, and caregivers to explore research opportunities that match their health profiles, while helping research teams reach eligible participants more efficiently.
TEDDY Network and Curewiki are committed to raising awareness of patient-centred research opportunities while preserving independence, neutrality, and ethical standards.
Participation is voluntary, transparent, and designed to respect patient autonomy and data protection. By joining, you can take part in discussions, contribute to surveys, and support research initiatives that aim to improve healthcare systems and outcomes.
Add your voice to a growing community and help shape the future of care.
Learn how to participate and register through the platform.
Paediatric health data
Turning real-world paediatric data into actionable insights for safer, more effective therapies.
The Working Group on Health Data & Real-World Evidence supports TEDDY’s contribution to the European Network of Centres for Pharmacoepidemiology and Pharmacovigilance (ENCePP) with a focus on paediatric aspects.
WG - Health Data & Real-World Evidence
The Health Data & Real-World Evidence WG aims to provide contribution to the European Network of Centres for Pharmacoepidemiology and Pharmacovigilance (ENCePP), in which TEDDY Network is represented and focused on the paediatric aspects. Members of the Health Data & Real-World Evidence WG are actively involved in the activities of the dedicated ENCePP Working Groups and Special Interest Groups, based on their interests.
TEDDY WG on Health Data & Real-World Evidence brochure is available here