New Application

Application for APLAR Center of Excellence is open from 15 March 2024 to 30 April 2024.

The Asia Pacific League of Associations for Rheumatology (APLAR) is pleased to invite the region’s top level centers in rheumatology to be part of its network of Centers of Excellence. APLAR applies a rigorous selection process and will award selected centers/institutions in the region that demonstrate high standards in clinical, educational and research skills. Each institution may achieve this goal through various approaches, based on the context and the needs of the community that it serves. As not all institutions focus on all three areas, application for specific certification (e.g. Center of Excellence for Research) is also encouraged.

Through this certification programme, APLAR hopes to develop a network of ‘Best in class’ reference centers among regional institutions to support and train rheumatology physicians in implementing the best research into clinical practice, in order to improve care for a vast number of patients.

Benefits of being an APLAR-certified Center of Excellence:

• Recognition of being among the best in class for rheumatology clinical practice, research and patient care.
• Support local physicians in their understanding of the best research and clinical practices in rheumatology.
• Share best practices on medical and strategic approaches to diagnose, treat and manage rheumatic diseases.
• Share perspectives on clinical and clinical trial management at the institutional level and integrate and implement at other institutions.
• Provide training to young rheumatologists, scientists, rheumatology nurse specialists/clinical nurses or allied health professionals within the region.
• Foster collaborations and partnerships.

Roles and responsibilities of an APLAR Center of Excellence:

• Be a reference Center for APLAR Guidelines.
• Welcome fellows of the APLAR Fellowship programme
• Welcome fellows of APLAR-CoE Exchange Programme:
  • offering at least one (1) fellow to visit the center for about 1-2 month;
  • covering the local expenses for accommodations and local transport; and
  • providing daily living expenses.
• Establish strong network with other centers to:
  • Provide training in order to raise standards of clinical practice, research, and training capabilities.
  • Support dissemination of best practice guidelines to these centers.

APLAR will review the submissions and select 3 – 5 Centers to have the designation of “Center of Excellence”, to be published on the APLAR website and announced at the annual APLAR Conference. Centers of Excellence can hold the title for 3 years, after which application can be resubmitted for renewal.