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.

Register for the EFES postgraduate course – 8-9 April
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.

New website for EJE now live – Try free until 31 March!
EJE went online with HighWire during January 2005, if you don’t already have a subscription you can try out all the new features for FREE until the end of March!

Please bookmark the 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.

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

EU research five-year assessment
An expert panel was asked to review the implementation and achievements of the EU Research Framework Programmes over the period 1999-2003; the third five-year assessment of this nature. The panel, led by Dr Erkki Ormala, has now published it's report. The recommendations cover the remainder of the Sixth Framework Programme, to 2006, and suggest improvements to the nature and direction of future Framework Programmes.

The full report and further information can be downloaded from:
http://europa.eu.int/comm/research/reports/2004/fya_en.html

EU Calls for WTO to Overturn US Hormone Sanctions
Imports of beef and cattle products from the EU to North America have been sanctioned since 1989 in response to the EU prohibition of importing hormone-treated beef from the States, due to its carcinogenic nature. In 1998 it was ruled by the World Trade Organisation that this assertion is not scientifically justified.

This month the EU has called for the WTO to review the scientific evidence in order to decide that the sanctions imposed by North America are illegal. A panel of arbitrators is due to convene.

Use of six hormones, including estradiol, in cattle is currently banned.
http://www.bloomberg.com/apps/news?pid=10000082&sid=ar.hSBFk3anE&refer=canada

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.

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

Effect of ultrasound guided interstitial laser photocoagulation on benign solitary solid cold thyroid nodules: a randomised study

H Døssing, F N Bennedbæk and L Hegedus
Odense University Hospital, Denmark

European Journal of Endocrinology 152(3) pp341-345

Nodular goitres are relatively common in the adult population and although most are benign, approximately 20% of solid nodules increase in size over time. Several therapeutic strategies exist and this study, by Døssing and co-workers, was designed to evaluate the effect of ultrasound (US)-guided interstitial laser photocoagulation (ILP) as a treatment for benign solitary solid cold thyroid nodules.

ILP treatment was administered to 15 euthyroid patients following US assessment of thyroid nodule volume and total thyroid volume, with thyroid function being determined by routine assays. Patients were reassessed 6 months after treatment and the outcome compared with a control group of untreated patients.

Døssing and co-workers report a 44% reduction in nodule volume in those treated with ILP, as well as a significant decrease in pressure symptoms and cosmetic complaints. Comparison of their results with the control group confirmed that the reduction in nodule volume was not an effect of spontaneous nodule reduction.

WADA grants
The World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) promotes and coordinates, at the worldwide level, the "fight" against doping in all its forms. Through this independent agency, the Olympic Movement and the public authorities have intensified their efforts to keep drugs out of sport.

One of WADA's missions is to support research in the field of anti-doping. To this end, a yearly call for proposals is posted on WADA's website ( www.wada-ama.org) in March, seeking applications from scientists around the world. WADA grants typically cover areas related to physiology, hematology, endocrinology and gene therapy applied to sports and to the detection of doping substances.

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.

The Gideon and Sevgi Rodan IBMS Fellowship
Gideon and Sevgi Rodan have served as role models and mentors for hundreds of young scientists in the bone field, and the International Bone and Mineral Society is pleased recognize their many contributions through The Gideon and Sevgi Rodan IBMS Fellowship.

The Rodans' Fellowship (supported by Merck & company) will be given annually to support the salary of a deserving young investigator in the bone field. Support will be 40,000USD for one year, not renewable, payable to the successful applicant's institution. No overhead may be paid from the fellowship. The research may be basic, translational, clinical, or outcomes-based in bone biology or diseases of the bone.

Deadline for applications is 1 April 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, 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:
http://www.mariecurie.org/index.php?frame2=/lists/mcfa-int/msg00056.html

ESF Expoloratory Workshops - 2005 Call for proposals
The 2005 call is for workshops to be held between 1 January-31 December 2006. The aims of a workshop are to explore an emerging and/or innovative field of research or research infrastructure. Successful proposals will be expected to demonstrate the potential to open up new directions in research or new domains. They should also show potential for initiating follow-up research activities and/or developing future collaborative actions. Interdisciplinary topics are encouraged.

Descartes Prize 2005 – excellence in scientific research
Since 2000, the Descartes Research Prize has been awarded to transnational research teams in recognition of scientific excellence in any field of science, including social sciences and humanities.

For the first time this year, appropriate public or private organisations such as research centres, foundations or universities may nominate candidates for the prize. We would like to encourage institutions to participate in this year’s prize, for which a total budget of 1 million euro has been allocated.

Deadline for applications is 10 May 2005.

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
http://www.servier.com/pro/osteoporose/general/bourseiof_2.asp

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

Successful clinical trial of testosterone spray
Vivus Inc. have announced results of the Phase 2 clinical trial for their transdermal testosterone spray, Testosterone MDTS(R). Patients were randomised to receive one daily administration of the testosterone or placebo spray over a 16 week period. Testosterone MDTS(R) significantly increased the number of satisfactory sexual events in premenopausal women with Hypoactive Sexual Desire Disorder (HSDD).