Don’t forget that the abstract deadline for ECE2005 is 1 April 2005, and you can register at a reduced rate until 15 May 2005.

EJE is now online with HighWire.

Please bookmark its new address: www.eje-online.org/

This new arrangement means that readers will benefit from an increased level of functionality including full-text html and toll-free linking from the reference list to the full text of articles in other journals also hosted by HighWire.

Register for the EFES Postgraduate Course in Turkey
Hurry up and book your place at the 13th EFES Postgraduate Course in Clinical Endocrinology taking place in Ankara, Turkey from 8-9 April 2005.

The programme will cover lectures and practical meet-the-expert sessions on pituitary diseases and tumors, Ghrelin, neuroimmunology, thyroid and pituitary incidentalomas, molecular and clinical aspects of thyroid cancers, hirsutism, insulin resistance in PCOS, pheochromocytoma, current management of primary hyperparathyroidism, combination therapies of type 2 diabetes, hyperaldosteronism and male osteoporosis.

The venue is Bilkent Hotel at Bilkent Center outside the city of Ankara, which has a very relaxed
atmosphere and is convenient for the participants. Please find the information regarding the course at:
http://www.pcce2005.org including details about registration and the full programme.

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.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

European funding forum
During December, at an EC conference on the opportunities for research funding in Europe, the creation of an annual funders’ forum to join European forces was announced.

Currently, Europe’s total investment in research of the life sciences is about €30 billion per year. Although this is comparable to the United States, Europe’s funding is fragmented between 25 member states with different research policies as well as the overarching European Framework Programme.

The aim of a funders’ forum is to help establish a coordinated approach to life sciences funding in order to assist the creation of a European Research Area. A discussion paper from the conference is to be drawn up and we hope to bring it to your attention in a subsequent EFES alert.

New ERA-NET publication
Launched by the Sixth Framework Programme (FP6), ERA-NET aims to integrate and strengthen the European Research Area through cooperation and coordination of national and regional programmes.

A new publication detailing 23 more selected ERA-NETs is now available from:
http://europa.eu.int/comm/research/fp6/coordination/era-net_en.html

European Group of Life Sciences wrap up
The European Group of Life Sciences (EGLS) was established in April 2000 by the last Research Commissioner, Phillipe Busquin. The group had a four year mandate (2000-2004) to provide high-level advice to the Commissioner on current and foreseen scientific issues and developments.

New Commissioner for science and research
Slovenian macro-economist Janez Potočnik has been appointed as Commissioner for Science and Research. Mr Potočnik told MEPs earlier this month that he welcomed the opportunity to combine his passion for research with the managerial and political experience gained during his career. He continued to say that strategic goals for science and research will be to prioritise the Lisbon Agenda – to become the world’s knowledge powerhouse ( http://europa.eu.int/comm/lisbon_strategy/index_en.html) - to strengthen the global route of the Union and build bridges between it and its citizens.

Communicating science in Europe
In current EU research programmes there is significant emphasis on the communication of scientific findings to the broader public. However, many scientists remain either unconvinced of the value of science communication, or uncomfortable with the thought of interacting with the media.

It has been recognised by the EU that in order to achieve its long-term scientific goal – to become a knowledge powerhouse by 2010 – it is important to narrow the gap between science and society. Effective communication by scientists is essential for success.

To help, the Commission has produced a publication called Guide to successful communications, which is available both as hard copy or online at: http://europa.eu.int/comm/research/science-society/science-communication/index_en.htm.

LATEST EJE IMPACT FACTOR 2.941
NEW! WEBSITE FOR EJE: www.eje-online.org/

Thyroid and adrenal axis in major depression: a controlled study in outpatients

J P Brouwer, B C Appelhof , W J G Hoogendijk, J Huyser, E Endert, C Zuketto, A H Schene, J G P Tijssen, R Van Dyck, W M Wiersinga and E Fliers
University of Amsterdam and Free University, Amsterdam, The Netherlands

European Journal of Endocrinology 152(2) pp185-191
http://www.eje.org/eje/152/eje1520185.htm

Major depressive disorder has been associated with changes in the hypothalamus-pituitary-thyroid (HPT) axis and the hypothalamus-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis. An increased prevalence of subclinical hypothyroidism has also been reported in patients with the disorder. Studies to date have been inconsistent in their reports of endocrine changes due to differences in patient population and use of antidepressants. Brouwer and co-workers contribute to this contoversial area by investigating HPT and HPA axis parameters in outpatients who were free of antidepressants.

One hundred and thirteen outpatients with major depressive order, who had not taken antidepressants for at least 3 months, were assessed in the study, and were compared with 113 age- and sex-matched with controls. Brouwer and co-workers report that the only difference between patients and controls was a slightly higher serum TSH. Although other studies have reported lower serum TSH values, this study is the first to compare age- and sex-matched individuals in such a large group of outpatients who had also been free of antidepressants for the last 3 months. This may have enabled them to detect subtle differences in the patients than in previous reports.

Serono Foundation 2005 Fellowship in Reproductive Endocrinology
Since 1997, the Serono Foundation has granted two to three fellowships every year to promising young scientists. The fellowships' laureates receive USD 45 000 every year for two years to fund research for a full-time postdoctoral training programme.

In 2005 fellowships will be awarded by the Serono Foundation for postdoctoral training pertaining to the research area of reproductive endocrinology. The 2005 Fellowship will be awarded on or before 15 July 2005.

Pilot and Feasibility Trials for Osteoporosis - National Institute of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases
This announcement describes in general terms a research topic and outlines proposal preparation requirements. The purpose is to solicit proposals for small, pilot, and feasibility clinical trials and to encourage testing of novel and innovative potential therapies for osteoporosis. Projects supported would be early phase human trials in order to collate sufficient data to design the next phase (for which investigators would need to seek separate funding, or obtain evidence of efficacy where a large, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial is not feasible).

Deadline for proposals is on or around 25 March 2005.

EMBO science writing prize 2005
The European Molecular Biology Organisation (EMBO) Science & Society Programme has announced its fourth annual Science Writing Prize. The EMBO Science Writing Prize is awarded annually for an outstanding piece of science writing that effectively and innovatively communicates a life sciences topic to a general audience and entries are welcomed from European life scientists under 40 years of age. The theme for the 2005 competition is ‘Genes and Behaviour’ and all entries must relate to a topic within this theme.

The science itself may be a scientist's own research; an interesting topic currently in the public eye; or simply a piece of appealing pure research.

The winner will receive an award of 1500 euros, one year's free subscription to EMBO reports and an invitation to the EMBO Media Workshop for scientists (Heidelberg, Germany, 18 June 2005) to talk about his/her motivation for writing the article and communicating the topic to the public.

Deadline for entries is 15 April 2005. For more information go to:

Deadline for applications is 10 May 2005.

Fourth IOF-SERVIER Young Investigator Research Award
The IOF-SERVIER Research Award is a grant of 40 000 euros awarded every 2 years to a project within the field of osteoporosis. The award is aimed at encouraging young scientists and therefore is limited to applicants up to 40 years of age.

The Award is officially granted during the IOF World Congress on Osteoporosis to which the winner is invited.

Deadline for submission of completed applications: 1 December 2005

Occupational Exposure Risk on Reproduction/Development
http://grants.nih.gov/grants/guide/rfa-files/RFA-OH-05-003.html

Exploratory grant program in diabetes endocrinology and metabolism
http://grants.nih.gov/grants/guide/pa-files/PA-04-137.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

Serono and Medical House team up for new GH delivery
Serono has teamed up with UK-based drug delivery specialist, Medical House, to develop a needle-free device for growth hormone administration. The state-of-the-art device would be reusable and would be particularly suitable for use by children with growth hormone deficiency.