Vision
Rehabilitation for every young life
Evidence-based rehabilitation accessible to every child, adolescent, and young adult who may benefit from it, regardless of where they live or the chronic condition they face.
QUALIREHAB · HYBRID REHABILITATION PROGRAM
Helping young people with chronic conditions not just survive, but thrive.
An international clinical research initiative offering hybrid rehabilitation to children, adolescents and young adults living with chronic conditions
What is QUALIREHAB?
QUALIREHAB was built around a simple ambition: helping children, adolescents and young adults with chronic conditions not only live longer, but live better.
Advances in medicine have dramatically improved survival for children with congenital heart disease, cancer, kidney disease, neurological disorders, and other chronic conditions. As a result, a growing number now reach adolescence and adulthood.
But survival is only part of the story.
Many experience reduced physical fitness, physical inactivity, fatigue, and impaired quality of life, challenges that can persist long after treatment or despite stable disease. Yet structured rehabilitation programs specifically designed for children and young adults remain limited.
QUALIREHAB was created to close this gap.
Bringing together exercise rehabilitation, patient education, digital health, and multidisciplinary care, QUALIREHAB develops and evaluates rehabilitation programs designed around the needs of young people living with chronic conditions.
Where QUALIREHAB began
The first QUALIREHAB multicenter randomized controlled trial, published in the European Heart Journal (2024), demonstrated that 12-week hybrid rehabilitation program improved quality of life, physical fitness, and psychological well-being in adolescents and young adults with congenital heart disease, with benefits sustained at 12 months.
Building on this evidence, QUALIREHAB has expanded beyond congenital heart disease to address rehabilitation needs across a growing range of pediatric chronic conditions. Today, QUALIREHAB is an international research and clinical network spanning multiple conditions, institutions, and healthcare systems.
The QUALIREHAB approach
A hybrid, multidisciplinary rehabilitation model combining supervised exercise, home-based training, patient education, and psychosocial support, tailored to young people and adaptable across conditions and healthcare systems.
The QUALIREHAB pillars
Exercise training
Individually tailored aerobic and resistance training, guided by clinical assessment and exercise testing.
Learn morePatient education
Helping young people understand their condition, build self-management skills, and make informed choices about physical activity, health, and everyday life.
Learn morePsychosocial support
Supporting psychological well-being, coping, family involvement, and participation in everyday life.
Learn moreQUALIREHAB milestones
2017
QUALIREHAB program launched: first funding and development of the pediatric cardiac rehabilitation program in France.
2018
QUALIREHAB-CHD RCT launched: multicenter randomized controlled trial in France.
2021
QUALINEURO-REHAB launched: first European multicenter QUALIREHAB randomized controlled trial.
2023
QUALIREHAB-CHD RCT completed: 142 participants enrolled across 9 French centers.
August 2023
QUALIREHAB-CHD RCT presented as Late-Breaking Research at ESC Congress, Amsterdam.
March 2024
QUALIREHAB-CHD RCT published in the European Heart Journal.
January 2025
European implementation launched: A program to extend QUALIREHAB to other chronic diseases across Europe.
September 2025
QUALIREHAB launched in the United States: implementation at Children's National Hospital, Washington, DC, followed by expansion of the QUALIREHAB model across pediatric chronic conditions.
August 2026
QUALIREHAB evidence incorporated into the 2026 ESC Guidelines: cardiac rehabilitation received a Class I recommendation in congenital heart disease.
How it works
QUALIREHAB combines an initial center-based phase with remotely supported rehabilitation at home, integrating exercise training, patient education, psychosocial support, and digital tools within a personalized multidisciplinary pathway.
Structure
A structured rehabilitation pathway combining center-based and home-based phases, adapted to each program and participant.
Who it's for
Children, adolescents, and young adults (8–25) with chronic conditions.
Digital platform
Remote tracking, individualized exercise prescription and clinician dashboards.
Long-term support
Follow-up and reinforcement strategies designed to support sustained physical activity, self-management, and healthy behaviors beyond the initial rehabilitation program.
The hybrid QUALIREHAB model
See how QUALIREHAB combines an initial center-based phase with remotely supported rehabilitation at home, bringing personalized exercise, patient education, and multidisciplinary support into participants' everyday lives.
Vision and mission
The name QUALIREHAB reflects the program's core philosophy: rehabilitation should improve not only health, but also quality of life. QUALIREHAB places the needs, goals, and perspectives of young people at the center of care and research.
Mission
Transform rehabilitation for young people with chronic conditions
Improve quality of life, physical fitness, psychological well-being, and long-term health through evidence-based, personalized rehabilitation programs designed around the needs of children and young adults.
QUALIREHAB in figures
QUALIREHAB in figures: A growing program. A measurable impact.
0
PARTICIPANTS INVOLVED ACROSS QUALIREHAB RELATED STUDIES
0
AFFILIATED INSTITUTIONS
0
SCIENTIFIC PUBLICATIONS
0
PROFESSIONALS INVOLVED
0
CLINICAL STUDIES
0
COUNTRIES
Where we are
QUALIREHAB brings together partner institutions across Europe and the United States, working as one connected network.
Research behind QUALIREHAB
Explore the published research underpinning QUALIREHAB, from the 2024 randomized trial to subsequent studies across our international network.
Scientific publications
The QUALIREHAB trial and its findings have been published in leading peer-reviewed journals, shaping how cardiac rehabilitation is understood and delivered for children and young adults with chronic conditions.
INTERVENTION
Early hybrid cardiac rehabilitation in congenital heart disease: the QUALIREHAB trial
Amedro P. et al. · European Heart Journal · 2024
Implementation
Determinants and implementation of hybrid cardiac rehabilitation: Insight from the QUALIREHAB study
Andrianoely M. et al. · Journal of the American Heart Association · 2026
Intervention
Efficacy of a transition program in adolescents with congenital heart disease: The TRANSITION-CHD randomized controlled trial
Bredy C. et al. · Journal of Adolescent Health · 2024
Exercise physiology
Early and stage-dependent cardiopulmonary fitness impairment in pediatric CKD
Werner O. et al. · Clinical Journal of the American Society of Nephrology · 2026
Ongoing studies
Building on the QUALIREHAB trial, our research network is now extending hybrid rehabilitation to new patient groups and health conditions, alongside international registries tracking long-term outcomes.
QUALIREHAB-GIRLS
A study testing a rehabilitation program designed specifically for girls and young women with congenital heart disease, done in small groups and combining in-center and at-home sessions.
QUALINEURO-REHAB
A study testing a program that combines physical exercise with brain-training activities, done entirely from home, for children and young people (8–25 years) with complex congenital heart conditions.
QUALIREHAB-ONCO
A study testing a rehabilitation program done fully from home to help children, teens, and young adults regain physical fitness after finishing cancer treatment. leads EPIQUALIREHAB-ONCO, an ancillary study investigating the biological mechanisms of adaptation to exercise after childhood cancer.
QUALIREHAB-HOME
A study exploring whether a physical activity program that families can do entirely at home helps children and young people (8–25 years) with congenital heart disease who are less physically fit than they should be.
QUALIREHAB-KIDNEY
A study testing a rehabilitation program, part in a clinical center, part at home, combining exercise, education, and emotional support for children and young people with chronic kidney disease who need to improve their fitness.
QUALIREHAB-REVIVE
A study testing a rehabilitation program — part in a clinical center, part at home — to help children and young people recover physically after a heart transplant.
QUALIREHAB-BRAIN
A study testing a rehabilitation program — part in a clinical center, part at home — that combines exercise, targeted therapy, education, and emotional support for children and young people who have survived a brain tumor.
CARDIOMYOFIT
A study testing a personalized rehabilitation program — part in a clinical center, part at home — combining tailored exercise, muscle-strengthening, education, and emotional support for young people with hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (a heart muscle condition).
FIT-T1D
A study looking at how physically fit children and teenagers with type 1 diabetes are, and how this relates to their day-to-day quality of life.
ITP-CPET
A study looking at physical fitness and how the body responds to exercise in children with immune thrombocytopenia (a condition that affects blood clotting).
PedsQL Psychometric Validation
A study checking that a well-known quality-of-life questionnaire (PedsQL) works accurately and reliably when used with teenagers aged 13 to 18.
QUALIREHAB-FALCIFORM
This multicenter randomized controlled trial evaluates the impact of a hybrid rehabilitation program on health-related quality of life, physical health and mental health of children, adolescents and young adults with sickle cell disease. The study principal investigator is , Montpellier University Hospital, France.
Registries
PEDIA-CPET Registry
An international database collecting exercise-test results from children with many different health conditions, to better understand how children's bodies respond to physical effort.
QUALIREHAB Registry
An international database tracking how children and young people are doing, physically and in daily life, months and years after taking part in a QUALIREHAB rehabilitation program.
From evidence to impact
QUALIREHAB follows a translational pathway from clinical research to real-world implementation. Beginning with multicenter research in congenital heart diseases, the program has generated evidence for the benefits of structured rehabilitation and is now extending this model across chronic conditions, healthcare settings, and countries. The next step is to determine how effective rehabilitation can be implemented sustainably and equitably within healthcare systems.
Evidence
Multicenter clinical research established the effectiveness of the QUALIREHAB model in young people with congenital heart disease, demonstrating sustained improvements in quality of life, physical fitness, and psychological well-being. This evidence now provides the foundation for studies across other chronic conditions.
Implementation
QUALIREHAB is moving evidence into practice through clinical programs and implementation research across Europe and the United States. This includes adapting the model to different diseases and healthcare settings, training multidisciplinary teams, deploying digital tools, and evaluating feasibility, adoption, accessibility, and sustainability.
Health system impact
Our long-term goal is to make evidence-based rehabilitation a routine component of care for young people with chronic conditions—improving access, reducing disparities, supporting prevention, and developing scalable and sustainable models of care.
Education and outreach
QUALIREHAB is committed to sharing knowledge beyond the research community. This section brings together educational resources and scientific events to support clinicians, researchers and health professionals working in pediatric rehabilitation.
Conferences and scientific meetings
Selected international conferences and scientific meetings relevant to the QUALIREHAB community, including events where our teams present research, develop collaborations, and contribute to advances in pediatric rehabilitation. Visit the official conference website for dates, programs, and registration.
2026
EACVI 2026 — European Association of Cardiovascular Imaging
3–5 December 2026 · Milan, Italy
The ESC subspecialty congress on echocardiography, CMR, nuclear cardiology and cardiac CT.
Learn more2027
ACC Annual Scientific Session 2027
10–12 April 2027 · Houston, Texas, USA
The annual flagship meeting of the American College of Cardiology.
Learn moreESC Preventive Cardiology 2027
15–17 April 2027 · Lisbon, Portugal
The leading European congress on cardiovascular prevention, rehabilitation and exercise.
Learn moreAEPC Annual Meeting 2027
19–22 May 2027 · Prague, Czech Republic
The 60th Annual Meeting of the Association for European Paediatric and Congenital Cardiology.
Learn moreHeart Failure 2027 — ESC
May 22–25, 2027 · London, UK
The ESC congress dedicated to heart failure, covering the latest in diagnosis, treatment, and management.
Learn moreESC Congress 2027
August 27–30, 2027 · Madrid, Spain
The world's foremost cardiology meeting, welcoming specialists from every cardiology subspecialty.
Learn moreCalendar updated September 2026. Congress dates and locations subject to change.
Training and resources for the QUALIREHAB community
QUALIREHAB is developing an educational program to support healthcare and rehabilitation professionals working with children, adolescents and young adults living with chronic conditions. A dedicated e-learning platform will provide structured multidisciplinary training, complemented by a growing library of practical resources, tools, and multimedia content.
QUALIREHAB Academy
A structured training program for healthcare professionals covering the core components of the QUALIREHAB model, from patient assessment and exercise prescription to patient education, psychosocial support, digital care, and multidisciplinary coordination.
Coming soon
Resource library
A growing collection of practical tools, educational materials, presentations, and multimedia resources developed by the QUALIREHAB network to support training and clinical practice. Resources will be added progressively.
Coming soon
Meet the people behind QUALIREHAB
Founding leadership
PhD researchers (current and former)
Dr. Hamouda Abassi
PhyMedExp · Inserm U1046 · Université de Montpellier · Montpellier, France
Dr. Luc Souilla
PhyMedExp · Inserm U1046 · Université de Montpellier · Montpellier, France
Dr. Johan Moreau
PhyMedExp · Inserm U1046 · Université de Montpellier · Montpellier, France
Prof. Arthur Gavotto
PhyMedExp · Inserm U1046 · Université de Montpellier · Montpellier, France
Mathieu Andrianoely
IHU Liryc · Inserm U1045 · Université de Bordeaux · Bordeaux, France
Alyssia Venna
Children's National Hospital · George Washington University · Washington DC, USA
Dr. Oscar Werner
IHU Liryc · Inserm U1045 · Université de Bordeaux · Bordeaux, France
Postdoctoral researchers (current and former)
Operational management team (OMT)
Prof. Pascal Amedro
Founder and Scientific Director
Dr. Sophie Guillaumont
Principal Investigator of the original QUALIREHAB trial
Dr. Esteban Peiró Molina
IIS La Fe · Valencia, Spain
Cécile Jore
CHU de Bordeaux · Bordeaux, France
Arielle Desir
Children's National Hospital · Washington DC, USA
Dr. Marion Audié
CHU de Bordeaux · Bordeaux, France Centre de Réhabilitation Le Hillot · Pessac, France
Andrea Waring
IIS La Fe · Valencia, Spain
Dr. Johanna Calderon
INSERM · Hôpital Necker-Enfants malades · IHU Imagine · Paris, France
The QUALIREHAB network
Tap a name to read the biosketch
Europe
QUALIREHAB – European consortium
QUALINEURO-REHAB consortium
United States
QUALIREHAB United States
Patient advocacy organizations
Family and patient-led organizations championing the voices of children and young people with chronic conditions:
Our funders
Public, philanthropic and institutional organizations supporting QUALIREHAB initiatives:
Our collaborators
Academic, clinical and research organizations collaborating with QUALIREHAB:
Common questions about QUALIREHAB
Answers for patients and families considering the program and for healthcare providers thinking about a referral.
Latest news
November 2026
Arielle Desir presents progress of the QUALISYSTEMIC study
Researcher Arielle Desir (MPH) presented the progress of the QUALIREHAB program at the American Heart Association Scientific Sessions, in collaboration with Children's National Hospital.
Read more →
November 2026
Donostia University Hospital in San Sebastián will host the QUALIREHAB-GIRLS study
We visited Donostia University Hospital to meet the team and see the facilities where the QUALIREHAB-GIRLS project will be implemented in Spain, a pioneering intervention adapted to girls, adolescents and young women.
Read more →
November 2026
La Fe participates in the validation of a model to assess cardiopulmonary fitness in children and adolescents
A study involving three Spanish hospitals, including La Fe, has validated a more accurate model to assess cardiopulmonary fitness in children and adolescents. The work is part of the QUALIREHAB project.
Read more →Get in touch
We'd love to hear from you. If you want to find out more about QUALIREHAB, write to us and we'll get in touch with you.
