ECE 2008 - Abstract submission now open

You can now submit abstracts online for the 10th European Congress of Endocrinology. The Congress will be hosted by the German Endocrine Society and will be held at the ICC in Berlin, 3 - 7 May 2008. The closing date for abstract submission is 1 December 2007. Further details are available at the link below.

ECE 2008

Prizes and Awards

The European Society of Endocrinology would like to invite nominations for the annual Geoffrey Harris and European Journal of Endocrinology prizes. The closing date for nominations, for both prizes, is 31 December 2007. The prestigious Geoffrey Harris prize is for neuroendocrinologists and is generously sponsored by Ipsen. The European Journal of Endocrinology prize is awarded to a candidate who has significantly contributed to the advancement of knowledge in the field of endocrinology through publication. Both prizes will be awarded at ECE 2008 where the winners will present a plenary lecture. For further information click on the link below.

ESE Prizes

ESE Members section

We would like to remind members about the members' only section on the ESE website. You will need a password to access this area of the website and, if you do not already have a password, you can request one by clicking on 'No password' and following the instructions on screen. An email will then be sent to you with your password. The password will be case sensitive and you can always amend it to something you can easily remember once you are in the Members section. The members section includes: 'My Profile' where you can view and change your contact details, update your areas of interest and change your password, renew and pay your membership fee; a membership directory where you can search for fellow ESE members by name, country or city; Bulletin Board section where you can participate in current discussions or even start your own; you can also view the minutes of the Annual General Meetings.

ESE Members section

ESE Membership renewal for 2008

Members will soon receive information on how to renew their membership for 2008. The quickest and easiest way to renew membership is online and payments must be made by 31 December 2007. Full instructions will be given in the renewal letter. Members can check and amend their own contact details through the Members section or alternatively contact the ESE Secretariat at info@euro-endo.org who will be able to assist.

ESE Members section

Calls to host the European Congress of Endocrinology in 2012 and 2013

The European Society of Endocrinology is pleased to invite the Affiliated Members to apply to host the European Congress of Endocrinology in 2012 or 2013. The 2012 meeting will be held jointly with the International Society of Endocrinology. Expressions of interest should be submitted by 20 December 2007. Full applications are required by 29 February 2008. Full details of the application process and the meeting guidelines are available at the link below. If you need any further information or assistance, please contact info@euro-endo.org.

ESE Congress Proposals

ESE Election - results information

The ESE have previously announced the results of the election: the new President is Professor Eberhard Nieschlag (Germany) and the new Executive Committee members are Professor Maria Alevizaki (Greece), Professor Vera Popovic (Serbia) and Professor Peter Trainer (UK). A breakdown of the election results together with the independent auditors certificate can be seen on the attached document.

Election results

ECE 2009

The 11th European Congress of Endocrinology will be held in Istanbul, Turkey from 25-29 April 2009. More information is available at the website below.

ECE 2009

Online application for ESE membership now available

Application and payment for ESE membership can now be made online. Please go to the online form at the link below for more details. A printable version of the application is also available and should be used if you wish to pay be cheque or bank transfer.

ESE Membership

Update of membership benefits

One of the benefits of ESE membership is a bi-annual newsletter that all ESE members receive. To provide members with as much information as possible the ESE Executive Committee has decided, from 2008, to increase the number of issues from two to three. Members will now receive ESE News in the Spring, Summer and Autumn. We would be interested in your views about your membership and if you have any comments or suggestions then please contact the ESE Secretariat by emailing info@euro-endo.org.

EJE to join HINARI

The European Journal of Endocrinology is in the process of joining the HINARI (Health InterNetwork Access to Research Initiative) program. HINARI is a collaboration between the World Health Organization and leading publishers with the specific aim of providing not-for-profit institutions in developing countries with free, or low cost, access to biomedical and health journals. Institutions in 113 countries are currently benefiting from access to over 3750 journals thanks to this extremely worthwhile scheme. Eligibility of countries to join is based on per capita GNP. More information is available at the link below.

HINARI

Final Draft 3.0 of the 2007 World Anti-Doping Code

The Final Draft 3.0 of the 2007 World Anti-Doping Code has now been completed. This draft is a result of extensive consultation with stakeholders and completes a full revision of the existing World Anti-Doping Code 2003. Adoption of the revised World Anti-Doping Code is scheduled to take place during the WADA Foundation Board Meeting at the World Conference on Doping in Sport, to be hosted in Madrid, Spain, 15-17 November 2007. Details of the final draft can be found via the link below.

Final Draft 3.0 of the 2007 World Anti-Doping Code

Women with high blood pressure more likely to develop diabetes (EurekAlert, 9 October 2007)

Women with high blood pressure levels are three times more likely to develop diabetes than women who have low blood pressure levels.

News article

Control of diabetes may prevent infertility (Reuters, 4 October 2007)

A Swedish study has indicated that tighter control in the management of type 1 diabetes may help to prevent female infertility.

News article

EMBO - Stem Cell Research: Status, Prospects, Prerequisites

The European Molecular Biology Organisation (EMBO) has published a summary document providing an introduction to the field of stem cell biology and its terminology for non-specialists, and presenting current stem cell research and development in a variety of areas. The document outlines action needed at policy level to enable stem cell research to fulfil its potential in Europe, and contains contributions from a group of leading scientists in stem cell research, application and patient advocacy, who met under the auspices of EMBO in April 2006.

EMBO website

New database to boost EU-Eastern Europe research cooperation

A new database has been launched by the EU-funded NIS-NEST (New and Emerging Science and Technology in NIS [Newly Independent States] countries) project to increase cooperation between researchers from the EU and Eastern Europe. The online database includes information on research institutions, universities, companies and public organisations, as well as individual researchers, from Russia, Moldova, Ukraine, Belarus and the Newly Independent States. Visitors to the website can search for partners by research field, country or language.

NIS-NET website

Guidelines for the Management of Thyroid Cancer

The Royal College of Physicians in the UK has published the second edition of "Guidelines for the Management of Thyroid Cancer". These guidelines aim to improve the management of thyroid cancer and thus reduce disease-specific mortality, enhance quality of life of thyroid cancer survivors, and limit iatrogenic complications. For more information, please click on the link below.

RCP website

Effect of metformin on PCOS

Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) is a common endocrine disorder affecting 6% of women of reproductive age. Its clinical manifestations include oligomenorrhea, amenorrhea paired with infertility, hirsutism, acne and alopecia. PCOS-affected women are also known to suffer from insulin resistance (IR) and obesity. Many intervention studies have demonstrated the positive effect of metformin on the reproductive and metabolic aspects of PCOS. However the mechanisms underlying the beneficial effects of metformin in the treatment of PCOS are not fully understood. As not all PCOS patients are obese or insulin resistant, it is not clear whether PCOS patients without IR also benefit from a therapy with insulin sensitizers. Tan et al carried out this study to determine the effect of metformin on 3 groups of patients totalling 188 and grouped according to their BMI as lean, overweight and obese. Metformin significantly improved all outcome parameters except fasting glucose levels. In patients who were lean and without pre-treatment insulin resistance, metformin improved HOMA-IR (homeostasis model assessment for IR), fasting insulin levels, testosterone levels, ovulation rate and acne. The authors conclude that while the exact mechanism of metformin action remains unclear it appears that besides reducing IR and thus hyperinsulinemia, metformin has significant effects that are independent of the patient's pre-treatment IR status. S Tan, S Hahn, S Benson, T Dietz, H Lahner, L C Moeller, M Schmidt, S Elsenbruch, R Kimming, K Mann & O E Janssen. Metformin improves polycystic ovary syndrome symptoms irrespective of pre-treatment insulin resistance. European Journal of Endocrinology, 2007, 157, 671-678.

ESPE Visiting Scholarship

The ESPE Visiting Scholarship offers financial support to members of the Society or to their collaborators in the view of gathering information and experience on a specific research issue OR on a laboratory technique in the field of paediatric endocrinology. Proposed projects should endeavour to increase general know-how in paediatric endocrinology at the recipient's home institution. The stated aim of the scholarship, as agreed upon by ESPE and the sponsoring company, is to help recipients to overcome unforeseen obstacles which may arise in the course of a research project in a simple, quick and streamlined manner. The deadline for applications is 31 October 2007. More information is available at the link below.

ESPE website

Funding opportunities for international collaborations - BBSRC International Workshops

International Workshops match numbers of UK scientists with equivalents from other countries to identify areas of commonality and explore the potential for international collaboration. In the past the International Workshop scheme has provided around 8 awards each year, of about £10k each, for International Workshops aimed at developing relations in topics important to BBSRC's scientific strategy. Applicants should ensure that the proposed workshops can be related to the main objectives contained in the BBSRC Strategic Plan, 10-Year Vision and International Strategy documents (available on the BBSRC website). In previous years, International Workshops have created international synergy and many have led to successful international research projects. The closing date for applications is 14 November 2007.

BBSRC website

Postdoctoral Researcher

Via www.jobs.ac.uk. A position is available in the Faculty of Science at the University of Amsterdam, Holland to investigate the physiological importance of rapid corticosteroid effects in the rodent brain, particularly focussing on rapid non-genomic effects on hippocampal cell properties, via mineralocorticoid receptors in the membrane. This appointment is for three years. The deadline for applications is 16 November 2007. More information is available at the link below.

Job advert

International Bone and Mineral Society - Call for Fellowship Applications

The International Bone & Mineral Society is proud to announce the Call for Applications for the 2008 Gideon and Sevgi Rodan IBMS Fellowship. The Fellowship is given annually to support the research activities of a deserving young investigator in the bone field. Support will be a $40,000 grant payable to the successful applicant's institution. The research may be basic, translational, clinical, or outcomes-based in bone biology or diseases of the bone. Applicants must be within 10 years of their first postgraduate degree (M.D., Ph.D., D.D.S., or equivalent) and be a post-doctoral fellow. The fellowship must be held in an academic institution-for example, a medical school, hospital, or research institute. If you have any queries, please contact the IBMS office at info@ibmsonline.org. The application deadline is 15 December 2007. More information is available at the link below.

IBMS website

4 year Ph.D program with the European Molecular Biology Laboratory

Via www.findaphd.com. The European Molecular Biology Laboratory [EMBL] is an international research organisation with its main laboratory in Heidelberg [Germany], and four outstations in Hinxton, [UK] [the European Bioinformatics Institute, EBI], Grenoble [France], Hamburg [Germany], and Monterotondo [Italy]. Our research projects are interdisciplinary and offer exciting opportunities for biologists, chemists, physicists, mathematicians, informaticians and medical graduates who want to pursue a PhD in the molecular life sciences. The European Molecular Biology Laboratory will award predoctoral fellowships in 2008 to university graduates wishing to study for a PhD. Areas of study include: cell biology & biophysics, structural & computational biology, developmental biology, bioinformatics, gene expression and mouse biology. Funding is available for up to 50 students with a competitive tax-free stipend. The deadline for applications is 17 December 2007. More information is available at the links below:

EMBL International Ph.D Programme

European Programme: Macrovascular Complications and Blood Glucose Abnormalities

The European Foundation for the Study of Diabetes (EFSD) and sanofi-aventis are inviting applications for the European Programme for the Funding of Studies on the Management of Diabetes and Blood Glucose Abnormalities in Patients with Cardiovascular Disease. 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. The deadline for applications is 15 January 2008. For further information, please click on the link below.

Job advert

FP7 call for proposals: International Cooperation programme

The European Commission has issued a call for proposals for 'International Cooperation' activities under the Capacities programme of the Seventh Framework Programme (FP7). The activity area covered by this call is 'Supporting the coordination of national policies and activities of Member States and Associated States on international S&T [science and technology] cooperation'. The objective of the ERA-NET scheme is to step up the cooperation and coordination of research programmes carried out at national or regional level in the Member or Associated States through the networking of research programmes, towards their mutual opening and the development and implementation of joint activities. The deadline for submitting proposals is 12 February 2008. More information is available at the link below.

FP7 call for proposals

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