About Us

The ECFS is a Society of European and international experts in all fields of CF research.

With international partnerships — the ECFS is:

• Continuing to create a network of European and International CF specialists including Allied Health Professionals to promote and stimulate the exchange of information about CF.
• Holding annual conferences where specialists can meet and discuss all issues linked with CF. These conferences encourage the submission of research in the field to be presented in both oral and poster format.
• Promoting young researchers.
• Developing standardised European documentation for CF care.
• Promoting the establishment of specialist Working Groups.
• Publishing a Journal of CF (JCF) with six issues a year with supplements.

Ongoing Projects

• ECFS Clinical Trials Network
• ECFS Patient Registry
• ECFS Standards of Care
• ECFS Education
• ECFS Working Groups

The Board

ECFS Board Members

General Terms of Reference

Submissions for ECFS support towards grant applications, project endorsement etc. must be sent to the ECFS Office at least two months in advance of grant or project submission deadline. This minimum requirement will allow the Society to be able to take an informed decision on whether or not to support the application, and to evaluate potential involvement. Applications for ECFS support that do not meet this requirement will not be accepted.

All applications need to include a full explanation of the grant or project, timelines, and a list of involved institutions and/or individuals. The ECFS can, on application, provide a dedicated page on its website for endorsed special projects.

Associated Documents

• Application Form for ECFS Support

Please see the specific Terms of Reference for:

• ECFS Short-Term Fellowships
• ECFS Working Groups

Structure

The ECFS Board is to consist of:

• President
• Secretary
• Honorary Treasurer
• Five ordinary board members

A Vice-President will be elected by the Board from among its Members.

The board members shall represent different European countries and the various major disciplines of CF.

All Board members will be elected for a 3 year term, and may be elected for another 3 years (but no more than 2 consecutive terms of office). A minimum of 3 years must elapse before a past Board member may be nominated again for a Board position.

The Executive Board consists of the President, Secretary and Honorary Treasurer.

Other Board Members

President Elect — If not already a member of the Board, this member will become a member of the Board a year prior to taking over the Presidency in order to ensure a handover of tasks.

Past President — The immediate past President will be an ad hoc member (non-voting) of the Board for one year following the end of their presidential term.

Conference President / Vice-President — Non-voting members of the Board, elected for 2 years (1 year prior to the conference, and 1 year after).

Editor-in-Chief, Journal of Cystic Fibrosis — Non-voting member of the Board, normally only asked to attend the summer Board Meeting to provide a report.

Basic Science Conference Chairperson — Non-voting member of the Board, normally only asked to attend the summer Board Meeting to provide a report.

Special Project leaders may be asked to be a non-voting member of the Board and invited to attend meetings on an ad-hoc basis.

Terms of Reference

President — Responsible for the overall administration and control of the ECFS, and as such will call and chair Board meetings at regular intervals (minimum twice a year) and an Annual General Meeting. If there is equal voting in specific business matters, the President's vote is decisive.

• Elected for 3 years at the Annual General Assembly.
• Chairs regular Executive Board meetings (teleconferences) to oversee and execute the ongoing activities of the ECFS.
• Chairs a Strategy Board meeting (normally held in conjunction with the North American CF Conference).
• Keeps the ECFS Executive Board and Executive Director informed of all activities being proposed for ECFS coordination.
• Reviews contracts and is authorised to sign them in coordination with one other Board Member.
• Attends site inspections for future conference venues.
• Meets with the Scientific Steering Committee and Executive Director (February) for the final review of abstracts.
• Attends the Basic Science Conference (April) and chairs key events at the annual ECFS Conference (June).

Vice-President — Assists the President by chairing or attending meetings the President is unable to participate in. Should the President be unable to continue in office, the Vice-President will take over the presidency until an election can be held at the next Annual General Assembly.

Secretary — Responsible for the preparation of the agenda and minutes for Board meetings and Annual General Meetings. The incumbent is also the point of contact for membership and annual awards. The Secretary is a member of the Executive Board.

Honorary Treasurer — Responsible for providing the Board and Annual General Assembly with up to date information on the Society's financial status. The ECFS office keeps the daily ECFS accounts and ensures their authenticity via a professional accountant who provides an annual audit report. The Honorary Treasurer is a member of the Executive Board.

Board Members — Responsible for providing support and advice to the Board on areas of a specific nature of expertise.

• Elected for 3 years at the Annual General Assembly.
• Required to attend the minimum two annual Board Meetings (one held in conjunction with the annual ECFS Conference in June, and a Winter Board Meeting). A third Board meeting, to discuss strategy, is normally held in conjunction with the North American CF Conference.
• Responsive to regular correspondence from the President / Executive Board / ECFS Office for decisions on ECFS issues.
• Willing to assist in the selection of nominations for the Scientific Committee for annual conferences.
• Prepared to evaluate future conference venues.
• Deputise for the President at meetings on request.

Executive Committee — Made up of the President, Secretary, and Honorary Treasurer. They participate in regular meetings (teleconferences) to discuss the ongoing activities of the ECFS and inform the Executive Director of decisions that require full Board decision.

Future Conference President — In conjunction with the choice of venue for a future conference, a Conference President (and as applicable a Vice-President) is selected. For 1 year prior to the conference and 1 year following, the Conference President reports on progress and results at the Board Meetings.

Editor-in-Chief, Journal of Cystic Fibrosis — The Board appoints an editor of the journal on a four-yearly basis. If the editor is not an elected member of the Board, the editor attends the Board meetings in a non-voting capacity.

Executive Director — Non-voting position appointed by the ECFS Board and responsible for the overall administration of the Society.