Join us for a dynamic, dual-format conference addressing the latest insights and clinical approaches to Long COVID, PANS/PANDAS, ME/CFS, Lyme Disease, and other post-infectious conditions. Tailored for both healthcare professionals and patients, this event offers dedicated sessions to update clinical knowledge and provide patient support and advocacy.
Event Details:
Dates: Saturday, 10 May 2025
Venue:
In-person: Catherine McAuley Centre, 21 Nelson Street, Dublin 7, Ireland
Online: Via Zoom
Time (GMT - Ireland / UK) :
08:30AM – 1:00PM for GPs & Healthcare Professionals
2:00 PM – 5:15 PM For Patients, Families & Carers
Fees: € 25 per attendee
Don’t Miss Out!
Whether you're a healthcare professional seeking to expand your clinical expertise or a patient/family member looking for support and practical advice, this conference provides a unique opportunity to connect, learn, and engage with experts and peers.
GP SESSIONS
Saturday the 10th of May, 2024 (GMT time, Ireland/UK)
| Timing | Session | Speakers & Facilitators | Location |
| 08:30 – 9:30 | Registration | Reception & Foyer area | |
| Morning Chair | |||
| 9:30 –9:35 | Introduction | Dr John (Jack) Lambert | Fintan Gunne Lecture Theatre |
| 9:35- 10.25 | Session 1: Long COVID | Dr John (Jack) Lambert | Fintan Gunne Lecture Theatre |
| 10:25- 11.10 | Session 2: Long COVID & POTS – GP experience | Dr Claire Taylor | Fintan Gunne Lecture Theatre |
| 11.10-11.30 | TEA/ COFFEE BREAK | ||
| 11.30- 12:00 | Session 3: Beyond the Prescription: Enhancing Patient Wellbeing in Chronic Disease Care | Seamus Ruane | Fintan Gunne Lecture Theatre |
| 12:00–12:20 | Session 4: Low Dose Naltrexone & Its Benefits in Neuro-inflammation | Dr John (Jack) Lambert | Fintan Gunne Lecture Theatre |
| 12:20– 13:00 | Session 5: PANS/PANDAS and VectorBorne Infections: Diagnosis and Treatment | Dr Daniel Kinderlehrer | Fintan Gunne Lecture Theatre |
| 13:00 – | END |
(CPD HAS BEEN APPLIED FOR)
PATIENT SESSIONS
Saturday the 10th of May, 2024 (GMT time, Ireland/UK)
| Timing | Session | Speakers & Facilitators | Location |
| 14.00- 14.15 | Introduction | Dr John (Jack) Lambert | Fintan Gunne Lecture Theatre |
| 14.15- 14.45 | Long COVID – A patient group perspective | Julia Corey | Fintan Gunne Lecture Theatre |
| 14.45- 15.15 | Long COVID Kids- | Kirsty Stanley | Fintan Gunne Lecture Theatre |
| 15.15-15.45 | Occupational Therapy for managing fatigue and cognitive issues in Long Covid | Ciara Breen | Fintan Gunne Lecture Theatre |
| 15:45 –16.00 | Tea Break | Foyer area | |
| 16.00- 16.30 | ME/CFS | Dr Nigel Speight | Fintan Gunne Lecture Theatre |
| 16.30- 17.00 | IVIG for PANS/PANDAS | Mary Ann De Vries | Fintan Gunne Lecture Theatre |
| 17.00-17.15 | Summary | Dr John (Jack) Lambert | Fintan Gunne Lecture Theatre |
Speakers:
Professor John Lambert, M.D., PhD, Infectious Disease Consultant.
Professor Dr. John (Jack) Lambert is Consultant in Infectious Diseases in Dublin at the Mater Misericordiae University Hospital and Professor at UCD School of Medicine. Dr. Lambert has 25 years of experience in Infectious Diseases covering HIV, Hepatitis C, and other disease areas. He trained in the USA, UK, and worked for 6 years in Baltimore at the John Hopkins Institute and the University of Maryland Institute of Human Virology, where he developed his skills in vaccinology, HIV, and Lyme and co-infections. He has consultant specialty certifications in adult and pediatric infectious diseases, general medicine and pediatrics, and in sexual health (genitourinary medicine). He was head of the National Isolation Unit of Ireland (2010-2018), managing all emerging infections. He is the only infectious diseases physician in Ireland managing Lyme and co-infections, and has developed a private practice seeing such patients.
Dr Claire Taylor, GP, Scotland, UK
Dr Claire Taylor is an experienced Doctor with a special interest in Long Covid, postural orthostatic tachycardia syndrome (PoTS), mast cell activation syndrome (MCAS) and myalgic encephalomyelitis (ME/CFS). Dr Taylor runs the only long Covid clinics with a Doctor in Scotland. She set up the clinic as she knew how difficult it was for patients with these conditions to access any treatment. She is a former Neuroscientist with a BSc Neuroscience (Hons) from the University of Edinburgh. She graduated in medicine (MBChB) with distinction in 2008. Dr Taylor has worked in various specialties, settling on a career in general practice as she enjoyed being able to treat patients of all ages and illnesses. She has developed a particular interest in the immune system and post-viral illnesses after seeing many patients in general practice with normal NHS blood tests and scans who were clearly very unwell. She observed there appeared to be no understanding of a unifying, underlying pathology and patients were discharged with no treatment. As a former neuroscientist, she has a good understanding of the autonomic nervous system and realised that most of the patients also had POTS and MCAS. She has been treating these conditions for several years, noting the improvement in symptoms and quality of life with treatment. She has given talks about Long Covid for independent SAGE, the World Health Network, Scottish GPs and rheumatology specialists. She has also spoken at the Scottish Covid and Long Covid inquiries. She was shortlisted as UK GP of the year in 2023 and 2024. She is now recognised internationally as an expert in Long Covid. She is an advocate for patients and a Long Covid Kid's Champion.
Séamus Ruane, Pharmacist, Merlin Pharmacy, Galway
Séamus Ruane is a community pharmacist and positive psychology practitioner with a deep passion for supporting individuals to feel good and function effectively. With years of experience in both healthcare and wellbeing, he helps clients build resilience, regain a sense of control, and cultivate simple, science-backed habits that enhance their quality of life.
His approach is practical, compassionate, and focused on small, sustainable changes that make a real difference. Through his iThrive programs, Séamus empowers individuals to navigate life and health related challenges with greater ease, supporting both physical and emotional wellbeing.
He believes that true wellbeing isn’t about striving for perfection but about feeling good and functioning effectively in daily life. By focusing on mindset, energy, and practical self-care, Séamus helps his clients move beyond limitations and towards a life of greater ease and fulfilment.
Daniel A. Kinderlehrer MD, USA
Daniel A. Kinderlehrer M.D. is a nationally recognized physician with expertise in the fields of nutrition, allergy, environmental medicine, Lyme disease and the healing of mindbody-spirit as a unified whole. Dr. Kinderlehrer co-founded The New England Center for Holistic Medicine in Newbury Mssachusetts, and has taught extensively, including practitioner training courses at the Omega Institute, The National Institute of Behavioral Medicine, The Omega Institute, and the International Lyme and Associated Diseases Society. He created and organized the Lyme Fundamentals course, which is presented annually at the International Lyme and Associated Diseases conferences. He is the author of many articles in medical journals and the Lyme Times. His integrated medical practice in Denver, Colorado focuses on the diagnosis and treatment of tick-borne disease. Dr. Kinderlehrer is the author of Recovery From Lyme: The Integrative Medicine Guide to the Diagnosis and Treatment of Tick-Borne Illness, which was released in 2021.
Julia Corey, Long Covid Advocacy Ireland
Julia holds an M.Sc. in Global Health and has been involved in the pandemic response since April 2020, first working with Partners in Health on Massachusett’s contact tracing programme. She has since worked in several areas of public health and mental health research and policy in Ireland. She is passionate about disability justice and improving access to specialised services, treatment, and research throughout the country for Long COVID patients. Julia also feels it is critical to raise awareness about the ongoing risks of COVID infections & re-infections, and how clean indoor air can help mitigate impact.
Ciara Breen, Occupational Therapist.
Ciara Breen is an Occupational Therapist with over twenty-five years of experience in neuro-rehabilitation and older persons rehabilitation in both Ireland and Australia.
She has long held a clinical interest in how fatigue, cognition, and sleep affect daily living. In her private practice, The Brí Clinic, www.thebriclinic.com , Ciara assesses and treats people with a range of conditions, including Long Covid. Ciara has also held a range of leadership positions and representative roles both within the HSE and internationally, including HSCP rep to the HSE Long Covid working group in 2021 and 2022, and membership of the Allied Health committee in Long Covid Physio, an international peer support, education and advocacy, patient-led association of Physiotherapists (Physical Therapists) living with Long COVID and their allies
Dr Nigel Speight, Consultant Pediatrician and Adviser to the ME Association (MEA)
Dr. Nigel Speight is a consultant paediatrician formerly at the University Hospital of North Durham, UK. His qualifications are MA, MB, BChir, FRCP, FRCPCH, DCH. He has 40 years of experience in paediatrics, 25 as a consultant. He retired from my post in Durham in 2007 but continues to practice as a consultant locum and remains on the medical register. Over the last 30 years he has developed an extensive experience and interest in the area of ME/CFS [Myalgic Encephalomyelits/Chronic Fatigue Syndrome] in childhood and adolescents. Within North Durham alone he has accumulated over 200 cases under his personal care. In addition, because of his special interest, he has had over 1000 cases referred to him from elsewhere in the Northern Region and all over the United Kingdom. These referrals have been from general practitioners and fellow paediatricians. He is currently the paediatric adviser to the charities the TYMES Trust, ME Association (MEA), the 25% Group, BRAME (the Blue Ribbon Awareness of ME charity) and the Welsh ME Association. For many years I was also paediatric adviser to the Association of Young People with ME (AYME) and Action for ME.
Mary Ann de Vries, Pharm. D., Utrecht, The Netherlands
Mary Ann de Vries is a Dutch pharmacist specialized in treating patients at home. She has over 20 years of experience in providing instruction and administering (subcutaneous, intravenous) medication at home. In the past she has implemented various home care services for patients with rheumatoid arthritis, PID (primary immunodeficiency), SID (secondary immunodeficiency), M. Parkinson, acromegaly, Prader-Willi syndrome, Turner syndrome, pulmonary arterial hypertension, M. Kahler and many other conditions.
Furthermore, she specializes in early access and reimbursement of treatment and medication in collaboration with pharmaceutical companies and insurance companies. Currently, she works as a consultant for EXPAND, a pan-European patient advocacy organization for children, adolescents and adults with immune-mediated neuropsychiatric disorders that combine neurological and/or immunological problems with psychiatric and/or behavioral symptoms. Together with the EXPAND board and their specialists, we are working on establishing a center of expertise for PANS/PANDAS.
EVENT SPONSORS
Just Herbs is a company that specializes in herbal, vitamin, and nutritional combinations for chronic illnesses, with an emphasis on commitment to provide natural, effective, and affordable health solutions. Our products are made from natural ingredients and are designed to support overall cognitive, musculoskeletal, and immune health.
The company’s best seller is Sublyme Essential, a unique, complex, multifunctional, and essential herbal food supplement specially designed to support people with high levels of inflammation in particular after bacterial and viral infections. Just Herbs also offers a range of other supplements including Sublyme Vitality a complete supplement aimed at people with extreme fatigue or weakness, or convalescing after illness , Sublyme Mangiferin Capsules, Sublyme Thyro Capsules, and more.
Just Herbs was founded by a dedicated group of individuals who share a common goal – to provide affordable natural health solutions to those with long-term illnesses. Our team’s passion and commitment drive them to continually improve and expand their products, ensuring that everyone can access the benefits of natural wellness.
Séamus Ruane is the owner and Superintendent Pharmacist at Merlin Pharmacy, Galway. His team has many years of experience in dealing with medications and supplements frequently used by patients with Lyme and Long Covid. He also has a longstanding personal and professional interest in lifestyle issues and how they effect our health & wellbeing. Through his role as founder and wellbeing trainer with iThrive.ie, he works with individuals, community groups and companies to assist clients increase their ability to feel good and function effectively.