ERN ReCONNET is the European Reference Network on Connective Tissue and Musculoskeletal Diseases. The main aim of ERN ReCONNET is to improve the management of rare connective tissue and Musculoskeletal diseases (rCTDs) across the EU.

ERN ReCONNET offers a unique opportunity to bring together leading European experts, patients’ representatives and other relevant stakeholders that actively collaborate to improve the care provided to rCTDs patients in EU.

ERN ReCONNET involves a total of 63 Healthcare Providers, 54 Full Members and 9 Affiliated Partners from 23 European countries: Austria, Belgium, Croatia, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Italy, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, and The Netherlands. In addition, ERN ReCONNET has established a formal partnership with patients’ representatives (ePAG Advocates) who are very actively contributing to ERN ReCONNET.

The mission of ERN ReCONNET is to develop a framework for the delivery of high quality, innovative, sustainable and equitable standard of care and practice for better access to care of European patients with rCTDs.

ERN ReCONNET aims at addressing rare and complex connective tissue diseases (rCTDs). rCTDs include a large number of diseases and syndromes, with a tremendous impact on patient well-being. The rCTDs currently covered by ERN ReCONNET are:

• Antiphospholipid syndrome (APS),
• Ehlers-Danlos syndromes (EDS),
• Idiopathic inflammatory myopathies (IIM),
• IgG4-related diseases (IgG4),
• Mixed connective tissue diseases (MCTD),
• Relapsing polychondritis (RP),
• Sjögren’s disease (SjD),
• Systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE),
• Systemic sclerosis (SSc),
• Undifferentiated connective tissue diseases (UCTD).

At the links below, more information on the individual diseases and on the activities performed by ERN ReCONNET can be consulted:

• APS – link
• EDS- link
• IIM- link
• IgG4- link
• MCTD- link
• RP- link
• SjD- link
• SLE- link
• SSc- link
• UCTD- link

ERN ReCONNET is conceived as a multi-stakeholder, pan-European infrastructure that goes beyond geographical boundaries. Its mission is to act as a structured meeting point for needs, feedback, and expertise among healthcare professionals (HCPs), patients and families, and other key stakeholders involved in rare and low prevalence connective tissue diseases (rCTDs).

ERN ReCONNET currently brings together 63 Healthcare Providers, including 54 Full Members and 9 Affiliated Partners (APs), across 23 European countries: Austria, Belgium, Croatia, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Italy, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, and the Netherlands.
The full list of ERN ReCONNET centres is available on this page (link).

The Network brings together a broad range of stakeholders through a structured governance and organisational framework, including:

• Healthcare Providers – Full Members of ERN ReCONNET;
• Healthcare Providers – Affiliated Partners of ERN ReCONNET;
• Patient Representatives – ERN ReCONNET ePAG Advocates.

The scientific, clinical, and educational activities of ERN ReCONNET are carried out through dedicated Working Groups and Disease Groups, which bring together multidisciplinary expertise to address disease-specific and cross-cutting priorities, promote best clinical practices, develop clinical tools and care pathways, and support training and knowledge exchange.

The Working Groups active within ERN ReCONNET are:

• Education and Training Working Group (link)
• Research and Quality of Care Working Group (link)
• Patient Partnership Working Group (link)
• Registries and eHealth Working Group (link)
• Young Working Group (link)

For each disease area covered by ERN ReCONNET, a dedicated Disease Group is established to develop disease-specific activities:

• APS Disease Group – link
• EDS Disease Group – link
• IIM Disease Group – link
• IgG4-Related Disease Group – link
• MCTD Disease Group – link
• Relapsing Polychondritis (RP) Disease Group – link
• Sjögren’s Disease (SjD) Disease Group – link
• Systemic Lupus Erythematosus (SLE) Disease Group – link
• Systemic Sclerosis (SSc) Disease Group – link
• Undifferentiated Connective Tissue Disease (UCTD) Disease Group – link

The coordination and implementation of ERN ReCONNET activities are ensured through dedicated governance and operational bodies, including the Coordination Team, the Strategic Board, the Board of the Network, and the National Hubs, which support alignment and implementation at both European and national levels.

Patient partnership is strongly embedded across all Network activities through the ERN ReCONNET ePAG, which contributes actively to governance, education, research, and dissemination actions, as well as through the Working Group dedicated to Patient Partnership.