ERS CONNECT Clinical Research Collaboration (CRC): Developing a digital healthcare global network

<bold>Background:</bold> Launched in March 2023, the ERS CRC CONNECT aims to promote sustainable, equitable, connected implementation of digital healthcare in routine clinical respiratory practice within European/global healthcare systems. With 95 colleagues from 22 countries, a first objective was to build a global network of members willing to contribute to proposed projects. <bold>Methods:</bold> After a videocall in June, CONNECT recruited widely in August via the ERS Newsletter and Assembly emails. Further publicity/events were a meeting at the Congress in September, an ERJ editorial in October and a Monograph on Digital Respiratory Healthcare in December 2023. <bold>Results:</bold> Initial recruitment via Assemblies recruited 805 people from 79 countries, with a steady increase during the year. By February 2024 the network was 932 people from 83 countries. Regular newsletters and occasional videocalls updated on progress and invited volunteers for planned projects: an EU-wide repository of respiratory technologies; a scoping review of digital implementation; a position paper on policy/regulation. We recruited for two additional projects (a systematic review with DRAGON IHI on impact of digital care on patient/clinician relationship; a PhD project on AI-derived responses to patient queries). <bold>Conclusion:</bold> CONNECT’s approach has recruited and engaged a pan-ERS network highlighting the considerable global interest in digital healthcare. <fig><object-id>erj;64/suppl_68/PA4374/F1</object-id><object-id>F1</object-id><object-id>F1</object-id><graphic></graphic></fig>