Geoffrey Harris Prize: Closing date for applications is 31 December 2006

The Geoffrey Harris prize will be presented at the 9th European Congress of Endocrinology which takes place from 28 April - 2 May 2007 in Budapest, Hungary. This important prize, generously sponsored by Ipsen and worth 15,000 Euros, is designed for established researchers in the field of neuroendocrinology and is the first of its kind in Europe. For further information please check the website www.euro-endo.org or contact the ESE Secretary, Professor Philippe Bouchard, by email: philippe.bouchard@sat.ap-hop-paris.fr

Link to ESE website

European Journal of Endocrinology Prize: Closing date for applications is 31 December 2006

The European Journal of Endocrinology Prize is awarded during the European Congress of Endocrinology 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 and Euro 7,250 plus travelling expenses. Nominations should be submitted to the Chief Editor of the European Journal of Endocrinology, Professor Paolo Beck-Peccoz by 31 December 2006. For more detailed information please check the websites or contact our office at the following e-mail address: info@eje.it

ESE website

EJE website

ECE 2007 Registration & Abstracts

ECE 2007 takes place 28 April - 2 May. The on-line registration form is available on the website, link below. Early bird registration rates are available until 15 January 2007. The abstract deadline has now passed, and we are pleased to announce that we have received 818 submissions.

Online registration

Membership applications

All applications for Ordinary Membership are formally approved by the ESE Executive Committee and by the full membership at the Annual General Meeting. The closing date for applications to be approved at the 2007 AGM is 6 February 2007. Any applications received after this date will be approved at the 2008 AGM. The application form is available in the membership section of the website (below). Please urge your colleagues to join before this date.

Call for Nominations and E-Vote

You will soon be receiving an invitation to make nominations for the Executive Committee posts that will be due for election at the Annual General Meeting of the ESE, to be held at the ECE 2007 in Budapest. The E-Vote will take place during the first few months of 2007. The voting process will take place by email only and to take part the ESE Secretariat must have your correct email address no later than 16 February 2007. If you would like to amend or update your email address please contact the ESE Secretariat at info@euro-endo.org. Results of the voting will be announced at the Annual General Meeting, to be held at the ECE 2007, Budapest.

Online Membership renewal now available

ESE members are now able to make payments online (via the link below) after the website was updated on 1 December 2006. Before making your payment you will need to obtain a password. Full instructions on how to obtain this are detailed on the website. Please note that you will be taken to a secure server where you can safely enter your credit card details for quick and easy payment using the secure and trusted WorldPay system. Please make your payment as soon as possible before 31 December 2006.

Online Membership

New ECE 2008 website open for viewing

The website for the 10th European Congress of Endocrinology from 3-7 May 2008 in Berlin is now open for viewing. To join the mailing list follow the link below.

ECE 2008

Annual General Meeting

The next ESE AGM will be held on Tuesday 1 May 2007 at the ECE 2007 in Budapest. The agenda has been circulated to the membership via email but if you have not received it please request another copy from the ESE Secretariat at info@euro-endo.org.

EU come to final decision on REACH chemicals law (EU Observer online, 1 December)

Member states and MEPs reached an informal decision on the EU's REACH chemicals safety bill on 30 November 2006. The European Parliament is now set to vote through the new document at its next plenary session in Strasbourg before an EU environment ministers' council on 18 December.

Full article

The EU selects six European networks of expertise for rare diseases (OrphaNews, 20 November)

The results of the EU's call for proposals intended to finance proposals for European reference centre networks for healthcare provision concerning a rare disease or a group of rare diseases from 2007 over a three-year period. DG Sanco has selected six networks, spanning six EU countries. They are currently in the negotiation phase and will serve as pilot projects for reference networks of Centres of expertise.

Link

European scientific associations unite to tackle animal research directive (Alphagalileo, 10 November)

A new and diverse grouping of European scientists was unveiled in Brussels this November. The European Coalition for Biomedical Research (ECBR) has been formed to address a single piece of EU legislation; the directive that regulates the use of animals in scientific research. Scientists from Lithuania to Portugal, and from Hungary to Greece, are among the founding members of the Coalition, which currently represents some 37,000 academics. Full details below via both links.

Alphagalileo press release

European Coalition for Biomedical Research

SCHER publishes opinion on FP7 Research Priorities

The Scientific Committee on Health and Environmental Risks (SCHER) has published opinion on "Research priorities for the 7th Framework Program Human Health and the Environment". For full details follow the link below.

Link

Meeting In Helsinki On Impacts Of Endocrine Disrupters 8-10 Nov 2006

A meeting on the 'Impacts of Endocrine Disrupters' took place in Helsinki, held under the auspices of Finland's EU Presidency, on November 8-10 2006 . The workshop was the tenth year follow-up for the previous meeting on endocrine disrupters in Weybridge, UK in 1996 named 'European Workshop on the Impact of Endocrine Disrupters on Human Health and Wildlife'. The programme consisted of general talks and four individual workshops, and the draft of the meeting report was distributed to the participants prior to the event. This draft was further discussed and edited in the four workshops, and the consensus document will hopefully be published in due course. More details can be found via the link below.

Impact of ED's

World Health Organisation (WHO) Ministerial Conference on Counteracting Obesity 15-17 Nov 2006

The WHO Ministerial Conference on Counteracting Obesity took place on 15-17 November 2006. The central aim of the conference was to obtain WHO Member States agreement on a Charter on Counteracting Obesity to provide political guidance for future action in this area. The Charter was successfully adopted and Commissioner Kyprianou, who attended the conference, issued a declaration in support of the Charter, which underlines the importance of co-ordinated action on obesity, nutrition and physical activity across the whole of Europe. More information can be found on the website via the link below.

Full details

Guide for scientists on communicating with the media

The European Commission have published a guide to communicating with the media for scientists. This can be found on the Europa website in the Library of Scientific Opinion/Advice section. Link below.

Working with the media

Treatment of Graves' disease and associated ophthalmopathy with the anti-CD20 monoclonal antibody rituximab: an open study

M Salvi, G Vannucchi, I Campi, N Currņ, D Dazzi, S Simonetta, P Bonara, S Rossi, C Sina, C Guastella, R Ratiglia and P Beck-Peccoz. Hyperthyroidism in Graves' disease is mediated by a B cell mechanism, which causes an overproduction of immunoglobulin G and subsequent stimulation of the thyroid stimulating hormone (TSH) receptor. Thyroid-associated ophthalmopathy (TAO) has an active inflammatory phase lasting between 6 and 18 months, followed by clinical stabilisation. The anti-CD20 monoclonal antibody rituximab (RTX) specifically eliminates pre-B and mature B lymphocytes.Although the pathogenesis of TAO is not understood, Salvi and colleagues aimed to determine whether RTX therapy could affect the degree and the duration of the disease's active phase. Salvi and colleagues assessed the effect of RTX on nine patients with Graves' disease, and they report that the antibody was well tolerated and positively affected the clinical course of TAO after B cell depletion was attained. Compared with the 20 control subjects who received intravenous glucocorticoids (IVGC), those receiving RTX had a more prompt and significant decrease of the TAO clinical activity score. No relapse of active TAO was reported in the RTX patients, compared with a 10% relapse in the IVCG group. This study was an open, phase 2b trial so the findings will need testing in larger randomised controlled trials to confirm the results. There is a strong indication that RTX may be a useful therapy for patients with active TAO. EJE 156-1

Geoffrey Harris Prize

The Geoffrey Harris prize will be presented at the 9th European Congress of Endocrinology which takes place from 28 April - 2 May 2007 in Budapest, Hungary. This important prize, generously sponsored by Ipsen and worth 15,000 Euros, is designed for established researchers in the field of neuroendocrinology and is the first of its kind in Europe. For further information please check the website www.euro-endo.org or contact the ESE Secretary, Professor Philippe Bouchard, by email: philippe.bouchard@sat.ap-hop-paris.fr

ESE Grants

European Journal of Endocrinology Prize

Closing date for applications: 31 December 2006. The European Journal of Endocrinology Prize is awarded during the European Congress of Endocrinology 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 and Euro 7,250 plus travelling expenses. Nominations should be submitted to the Chief Editor of the European Journal of Endocrinology, Professor Paolo Beck-Peccoz. For more detailed information please check the websites below.

EJE Website

ESE Grants

First Authored Student Award for Endocrinology and Molecular Endocrinology (Endocrine Society via RD Info)

The Endocrine Society presents awards for outstanding first authored student papers published in Endocrinology and Molecular Endocrinology. Awardees are selected from papers printed between January and December of the previous year. The Society notifies winners in April of each year. If your paper is eligible, please contact the managing editors at Endocrinology (endocrinology@endo-society.org) or Molecular Endocrinology (molendo@endo-society.org) with the manuscript number. For further details please see website. Closing date: Apply anytime

More info

Studies on the Management of Diabetes and Blood Glucose Abnormalities; European Foundation for the Study of Diabetes (RD Info)

Applications from studies measuring parameters of blood glucose control, cardiac function, endothelial function, lipid metabolism or evaluating microvascular complications in patients with a chronic cardiovascular disease, or experiencing an acute cardiovascular event, before and after insulin treatment compared to other treatments, or comparing different insulin treatment regimens, will be specially considered. Studies focusing on pharmaco-epidemiology and patient care, e.g. evaluating the use of different treatment strategies in various countries and health care settings, will also receive special consideration. The Programme will fund up to four clinical research projects. Closing date: 15 January 2008

Full details

Exploratory Grant Program in Diabetes Endocrinology and Metabolism (NIH via RD INfo)

The Division of Diabetes, Endocrinology, and Metabolic Diseases of the National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases invites applications for the exploratory/developmental (R21) grant mechanism in selected areas of opportunity within our mission. Applications submitted in response to this PA will be accepted on the standard receipt dates of 1st February, 1st June and 1st October. This PA expires on the 2nd November 2007. Full application procedure and further information is available from their website.

More info

NIH Grants

See all grants & finding opportunities at http://grants1.nih.gov/grants/index.cfm

RD Info (funding database)

For full details of funding displayed on the RD Info website, follow the link below.

RD Info

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