STILL SOME PLACES LEFT ON SPAIN POSTGRADUATE COURSE!
Hurry and book your place at the 12th EFES Postgraduate Course in Clinical Endocrinology taking place in Sitges, Spain from 11-13 November 2004.

The programme will include cutting edge lectures and practical interactive workshops in small groups on diabetes, indications of parathyroidectomy, thyroid cancer, investigation of thyroid function, arteriosclerosis, hyperandrogenism, androgen resistence, acromegaly, aging, indications of radiotherapy and quality of life. The venue on the sea front will allow a relaxed atmosphere between the scientific sessions.

Find registration information at: http://www.euro-endo.org/courses/courses.htm
See the full programme at: http://www.euro-endo.org/courses/12Sitges/Programme_Stiges.pdf

DO YOU WANT A EUROPEAN SOCIETY OF ENDOCRINOLOGY?
The Executive Committee of EFES wishes to propose the formation of a European Society of Endocrinology.

Consultation with every European National Endocrine Society and the affiliated endocrine-related societies is essential for the success of this plan and consultation documents have been sent to the Presidents and Secretaries of all Full and Affiliated Members Societies of EFES.

To find out how to get involved in the consultation process go to: http://www.euro-endo.org/news/europeansociety/EuropeanSocietyProposal.pdf

EFES NEWS - ARE YOU GETTING YOURS?
If you are a member of any of the European national endocrine societies, you should receive a free copy of EFES News (http://www.euro-endo.org/news/news.htm) each spring and autumn. If you are not receiving this and would like to, please send your full name and address to: jane.shepley@endocrinology.org

The latest issue of EFES news (Spring 2004) is now available on the EFES website at: http://www.euro-endo.org/news/newsletter/Issue11.pdf

WEB LINKS FROM EFES
Please add the EFES website home page to your favourites http://www.euro-endo.org. Navigate through the pages and give us your feedback and suggestions. Please send any websites you would like to see added to EFES Links to: jane.shepley@endocrinology.org

The EFES Executive Committee sincerely appreciate your time and look forward to hearing from you.

EC launches communication on European research policy and FP7
To initiate the debate on future policy and the next research framework, the EC has published a Communication which outlines proposed developments in this field. The Communication highlights six major objectives in this first step of the process:

• Creating European centres of excellence through collaboration between laboratories
• Launching European technological initiatives
• Stimulating the creativity of basic research through competition between teams at European level
• Making Europe more attractive to the best researchers
• Developing research infrastructure of European interest
• Improving the coordination of national research programmes

An online questionnaire will be available via the link to the Communication: http://europa.eu.int/comm/research/future/index_en.html

More initiatives for better researcher mobility
EU Research Commissioner Philippe Busquin has launched a number of initiatives to improve the EU’s attractiveness for world researchers and to remove obstacles to the mobility of researchers within Europe.

The European Network of Mobility Centres, ERA-MORE, consists of 200 centres throughout Europe, offering customised assistance to researchers and their families in all aspects of their professional and daily lives related to moving to another country. For more information go to: http://europa.eu.int/eracareers/index_en.cfm?l1=4

A new mobility portal, ERA-Careers, has also been launched, providing information on career opportunities, as well as other relevant information related to moving across Europe. Find the portal at: http://europa.eu.int/eracareers/index_en.cfm

An awareness raising initiative for 2005 is also to be announced by the Commissioner. The aim of the Researchers in Europe Initiative is to educate the global science community about working in the EU. Hopefully we’ll have more information on this scheme in the next issue of EFES news.

Study begun on evolution of European research publishing
A study was launched in June on the economic and technical evolution of the scientific publication markets in Europe. Examination of the European scientific publishing system is one facet of establishing a genuine European Research Area and raising the profile of European research.

Every year 1.5 million scientific articles are published worldwide and while Europe publishes the largest share of these, with 41.3% of all scientific publications, it lags behind in citations in most disciplines.

Fundamental changes have occurred in the sector in the last few years. One in five publications is now available online and over 1000 are ‘open access’. However, the average increase in prices of scientific journals far exceeds the budgets of university libraries.

The Commission launches this study, whose results will available in 2005, to answer these questions:

• What are the main changes in Europe?
• What and who is driving change and why? If there is any resistance to positive change, what/who is blocking it?
• What are the consequences for users (authors, readers, libraries)?
  

Is growth hormone deficiency contributing to heart failure in patients with ß
-thalassemia major?
EM Erfurth, H Holmer, P-G Nilsson and B Kornhall
Lund University Hospital and Kristianstad Hospital, Sweden

European Journal of Endocrinology 151(2) pp 161-166
http://www.eje.org/eje/151/eje1510161.htm

‘Is growth hormone deficiency contributing to heart failure in patients with ß-thalassemia major?’ This is the question posed by Erfurth and co-workers who were presented with a 21-year old woman with ß–thalassemia major (ß-TM) and growth hormone (GH) deficiency who had developed end-stage heart failure.

After receiving GH treatment from the age of 16 years to improve her final height, the treatment was withdrawn at the age of 21 years. Approximately 2 months later the woman was admitted to hospital because of dyspnoea and weight gain, classified as New York Heart Association (NYHA) functional class III. She was readmitted approximately 2 months later with severe heart failure (NYHA IV). As the GH treatment had been withdrawn only shortly before rapid heart failure developed, a coincidence with the withdrawal of GH could not be excluded, and GH was restarted 2 days after final admission to hospital. A month later the woman’s cardiac function had improved and she was discharged from hospital; 1 year later her cardiac status was normal. This indicates that sudden withdrawal of GH treatment from patients with ß-TM and GH deficiency can result in life-threatening heart failure.

Although the study does not prove the significance of GH in GH deficient patients with ß-TM and heart failure, it raises the issue of its use and supports the need for a randomised, placebo-controlled study with GH in patients with ß-TM, GH deficiency and heart failure.

The EMBO awards for Communication in the Life Sciences

The European Molecular Biology Organisation award is for a scientist who is active in research and has made an outstanding contribution to the communication of science to the public.

The closing date for applications is 31st August 2004, with the award being presented on 5th November 2004.

For further details: http://www.embo.org/projects/scisoc/com_medal04.html

Current NIH grants
Beta cell biology consortium
http://grants.nih.gov/grants/guide/rfa-files/RFA-DK-04-017.html

Ubiquitin and Ubiquitin-like modifications regulating disease processes
http://grants1.nih.gov/grants/guide/pa-files/PA-03-145.html

Emerging technologies for the study of reproductive neuroendocrinology
http://grants1.nih.gov/grants/guide/pa-files/PA-03-079.html

Proteomics in diabetes and other endocrine and metabolic diseases
http://grants1.nih.gov/grants/guide/pa-files/PA-03-052.html

Geoffrey Harris Prize
We have pleasure in announcing the 2005 Geoffrey Harris Prize generously sponsored by Ipsen.  This prestigious prize is designed for established researchers in the field of neuroendocrinology and is the first of its kind in Europe.  Please contact the EFES Secretary:
 
Prof. Dr. J. Köhrle
Institut für Experimentelle Endokrinologie und Endokrinologisches Forschungs-Centrum
Charité - Hochschulmedizin Berlin, Campus Mitte
Schumannstr. 20/21
D-10098 Berlin
Germany
Tel: +49 30 450524021
Fax: +49 30 450525922
Email: josef.koehrle@charite.de or elke.abdel-karim@charite.de

The deadline for entries is 31 December 2004 and the award will be presented at the 7th European Congress of Endocrinology which takes place from 3-7 September 2005 in Göteborg, Sweden. More information is available on: http://www.euro-endo.org/about/harrisprize.htm

European Journal of Endocrinology Prize
The EJE Prize is awarded to a candidate who has significantly contributed to the advancement of knowledge in the field of endocrinology through publication.

The prize consists of a certificate, award and traveling expenses and will be presented during the 7th European Congresss of Endocrinology to be held in Goteburg, Sweden, 3-7 September 2005

Nominations should be submitted to:-
Prof. Paolo Beck-Peccoz
Istituto di Scienze Endocrine
Piano Terra
Padiglione Granelli
Ospedale Maggiore IRCCS
Via Francesco Sforza 35
20122 Milan
Italy
Email: info@eje.it

The deadline for entries is 31 December 2004. More information on the prize and nomination process is available on http://www.eje.org/eje/ejeprize.htm and http://www.ece2004.

Jobs and Grants Forum on the EFES website
Attention jobseekers! Post your details on the site.
Attention employers! Advertise jobs or search for suitable candidates online.
Attention funders! Add your grant to the EFES forum.

Go to: http://www.euro-endo.org/jobs.htm

Advances in diabetes through animal-related research
Volume 45(3) of the ILAR Journal focuses largely on the subject of Type 1 diabetes, or insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus. The various articles within this issue were chosen to illustrate the international scope of diabetes research, the wide variety of animal models utilized in diabetes research, and the diverse areas of inquiry that are currently being pursued.
Articles in this issue include:

• The etiology of autoimmunity in the nonobese diabetic (NOD) mouse, a spontaneous model of Type 1 diabetes.
• Animal models used to study adult stem cell-derived, in vitro-generated islet implantation.
• A review of viral-induced Type 1 diabetes in rodent models.

To order this issue online, go to http://www.national-academies.org/ilarjournal, or call +1 202 3342590, or Email ILARJ@nas.edu.

Solvay launch transdermal estrogen gel
Estrogel® (estradiol gel) has been launched by Solvay Pharmaceuticals in the US. It is the first transdermal estrogen gel on the market, and in trials has shown to reduce the severity and frequency of moderate to severe menopausal symptoms. The product is available in Europe.

Initial data suggest advantages of Androxal™ over Androgel®
Zonagen release initial findings from Phase I/II safety and efficacy study in men with low testosterone, comparing Androxal™, a once a day oral therapy that appears to act centrally, to placebo and positive control (Androgel®).

Initial data suggests that Androxal™ raises total testosterone into the normal range, with a normal diurnal pattern and without abnormally high spikes in serum testosterone. It also appears to improve the DHT/TT ratio, an important consideration for prostate disease risks. Full results will be presented at the ICE and ASRM meetings later this year

Theratechnologies announce positive preliminary osteoporosis results
Canadian company Theratechnologies have announced positive preliminary results in a Phase I clinical study for ThPTH, its transdermal formulation of parathyroid hormone for the treatment of osteoporosis. This is being developed in collaboration with ALZA Corporation.

EC positive opinion for strontium ranelate
The Committee for Medicinal Products for Human Use (CHMP) has adopted a positive opinion recommending that a marketing authorisation be granted in the EC to Servier Laboratories for strontium ranelate (Osseor™, Protelos™) as a treatment for postmenopausal osteoporosis to reduce the risk of vertebral and hip fractures.

Get involved!
The EFES website has a discussion forum facility, please feel free to share your views, comments, and interests with others. To join visit:
http://www.euro-endo.org/discuss.htm