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Dear friends and colleagues, It was our great pleasure to host you at the 49th ESPE Annual Meeting in Prague. The final numbers show that more than 3100 participants from 92 countries attended the meeting – making the 2010 ESPE meeting the largest paediatric endocrine event ever held in Europe. Our aim was to merge a really global meeting with the spirit of Central Europe. Following the welcome addresses of Václav Hampl, Rector of the Charles University in Prague, and me as the ESPE president, the opening Plenary Lecture was given by Ondrˇej Cinek from Prague. The topic of his talk was “Type 1 diabetes epidemiology and genetics in Central Europe”, but he opened with a quotation of Milan Kundera: “What is Central Europe? An uncertain zone of small nations between Russia and Germany.” I would like to point out that these “small nations” have undergone a substantial social-economic development within the past two decades. This has in turn also influenced the disease epidemiology – as clearly documented as a steadily increasing incidence of Type 1 diabetes in childhood. Another Central-European reflection was given by John Parks from Atlanta, USA, in the last Plenary Lecture of the meeting. He presented his research on “little people” inhabiting two villages at the Croatian island Krk in the Adriatic Sea. These individuals were found to suffer from combined pituitary hormone deficiency due to a homozygous PROP1 gene mutation and, despite not having been treated in the past, were experiencing a quite surprising longevity. A series of four Symposia devoted to the main theme of the meeting were based on patients’ case histories which have lead to novel discoveries of genes and disease mechanisms, including a symposium on adrenals, ovaries, b-cell and thyroid. This year’s Andrea Prader Prize was awarded to Ze’ev Hochberg. Ze’ev Hochberg is well known among the paediatric endocrine community – not only as a brilliant researcher – but also as an inventor and founder of numerous educational programmes. These include the ESPE Winter School, originally designed in the 1990s to support medical training of paediatric endocrinologists from the “new countries” of Central and Eastern Europe. After having fulfilled its aims with great success in this area, it later moved its focus to the Mediterranean area. Ze’ev Hochberg’s additional achievement is the ambitious Nairobi project which allows for the establishment of paediatric endocrinology in Sub-Saharan Africa. Herwig Frisch from Vienna, Austria, received the “Outstanding Clinician Award”. He is recognised as an excellent clinician, researcher and teacher and has personally greatly contributed to overcoming the gap between the former “Western” and “Eastern” Europe. Dear colleagues, thank you for coming and for personally contributing to the scientific and social success – as well as the friendly atmosphere of the meeting. We, as members of the Local Organising Committee, are very grateful for the many emails received from all over the world, expressing your gratitude and satisfaction
Andrea Prader Prize Created to honour lifetime achievement in teaching and research, as well as to recognise outstanding leadership and overall contribution to the field of paediatric endocrinology. Awarded annually to a senior member of the Society. AWARDED TO: Dr Ze’ev Hochberg (Haifa, Israel) Research Award Given to an ESPE member in recognition of research achievements of outstanding quality in the fields of basic endocrine science or clinical paediatric endocrinology. AWARDED TO: Professor Peter Clayton (University of Manchester, UK) ESPE LECTURE TITLE: “Disordered human growth: from the GH axis to ubiquitisation” Young Investigator Award Conferred on a young European paediatrician (aged 40 years or less by the end of the year in which the award is given) in recognition of his or her scientific publications. AWARDED TO: Dr Martine Cools (Ghent, Belgium) ESPE LECTURE TITLE: “Exploring the landscape at the crossroads of male and female sexual development Outstanding Clinician
Award
In recognition for outstanding clinical
contribution to the practice of clinical
paediatric endocrinolog
Generously supported by the publisher S. Karger, this prize rewards young clinical or experimental scientists for the best papers published in Hormone Research in Paediatrics in 2009. One prize is awarded under each of the categories ‘Original Paper’ and ‘Novel Insights from Clinical Practice’ Original Paper AWARDED TO: Talia Eldar-Geva, Harry J Hirsch, Ron Rabinowitz, Fortu Benarroch, Orit Rubinstein, Varda Gross-Tsur Primary ovarian dysfunction contributes to the hypogonadism in women with Prader-Willi syndrome. Hormone Research in Paediatrics 72 153–159. DOI: 10.1159/000232489. Novel Insights from Clinical Practice AWARDED TO: Jerzy Starzyk, Ma/ lgorzata Wójcik, Joanna Wojty ´s, Przemys/ law Tomasik, Zofia Mitkowska, Jacek J Pietrzyk Ovarian hyperstimulation syndrome in newborns – a case presentation and literature review. Hormone Research in Paediatrics 71 60–64. DOI: 10.1159/000173743
ESPE International Award This year saw the first ever ESPE International Award, which is made to an outstanding paediatric endocrinologist from a country outside Europe and the Mediterranean basin. The award was presented to Professor Walter Miller (San Francisco, CA, USA). Research Unit Grants The ESPE Research Unit Grants were awarded to Dr Henrik Christensen (Odense, Denmark) for ‘Congenital hyperinsulinism: genes, phenotypes and treatment’, and Dr Sabine Heger (Hannover, Germany) for ‘Effects of endocrine disrupting chemicals on GnRH neuronal function’. These grants aim to facilitate research networking among ESPE members in any field of paediatric endocrinology. ESPE Young Investigator Awards For those at the start of promising careers, the ESPE Young Investigator Awards are presented in recognition of excellent publications. This year’s recipients were Dr Leandro Soriano-Guillén (Madrid, Spain) and Dr Antonis Voutetakis (Athens, Greece). Dr Soriano-Guillén’s field of investigation has focused on the pathophysiology and clinical usefulness of ghrelin, the disturbance of puberty and implications of the kisspeptin/GnRH axis. In contrast, Dr Voutetakis’ investigation has been mainly directed towards PYY and the eventual clinical applications of its salivary measurement and the suppressive effects of its oral administration on appetite and metabolism. IFCAH-ESPE Awards The IFCAH (International Fund for Research on Congenital Adrenal Hyperplasia)-ESPE Awards are conferred upon scientists involved in research into congenital adrenal hyperplasia (CAH), in order to improve its management in children and adults. This year’s recipients were Dr Nils Krone (Birmingham, UK) for ‘Discovery of pharmacological chaperones as novel treatment of CAH’, Dr Hedi Claahsen-van der Grinten (Nijmegen, The Netherlands) for ‘Aetiological features of testicular adrenal rest tumours (TART) in patients with CAH’ and Dr Svetlana Lajic (Stockholm, Sweden) for ‘Prenatal treatment of CAH – evaluation of treatment efficacy and long-term follow-up of treated children with emphasis on metabolic and neuropsychological outcome’ Hormone Research in Paediatrics Prizes These prizes are awarded to the best original paper and the best paper in the section ‘Novel insights from clinical practice’ published in Hormone Research in Paediatrics. The 2012 award for the best original paper was won by Rikke Beck Jensen and colleagues for ‘Influence of fetal growth velocity and smallness at birth on adrenal function in adolescence’ (Hormone Research in Paediatrics 2011 75 2-7), and the award for the best paper in ‘Novel insights from clinical practice’ went to Tohru Yorifuji for ‘Lasting 18F-DOPA PET uptake after clinical emission of the focal form of congenital hyperinsulinism’ (Hormone Research in Paediatrics 2011 76 286-290). Henning Andersen Prizes The most highly rated clinical and basic science abstracts submitted to the annual meeting receive the two Henning Andersen Prizes. The Henning Andersen prize for basic science was awarded to Dov Tiosano and his colleagues as a result of the work ‘Co-adaptation of the vitamin D receptor and colour-determining genes to latitude during humans’ venture out of Africa’. Johnny Deladoey and coworkers were recognised with the Henning Andersen prize for clinical science for their work ‘Isolated glucocorticoid deficiency caused by immunoreactive but biologically inactive ACTH’ President’s Posters Awards The five best posters on display at the annual meeting are awarded the President’s Poster Awards, which are given to the presenting and first author of each poster. Winners at ESPE 2012 were: Bone morphogenic protein 1 causes osteogenesis imperfecta with high bone mass in humans and zebrafish Oliver Semler (Cologne, Germany) and colleagues (P1-d1-192) Circadian clock gene expression in leukocytes of obese and lean subjects Tobias Drechsler (Leipzig, Germany) and colleagues (P1-d1-246) Deficient expression of genes involved in the endogenous defence system against transposons in cryptorchid boys Faruk Hadziselimovic (Liestal, Switzerland) and colleagues (P1-d2-304) Elevated insulin concentrations at birth and at prepubescent age are associated with an altered BMI course during childhood – results of the Ulm birth cohort study (UBCS) Stephanie Brandt (Ulm, Germany) and colleagues (P1-d3-366) Creating a European consortium to study GnRH deficiency (COST Action BM1105) Nelly Pitteloud (Lausanne, Switzerland) and Andrew Dwyer (P1-d3-379)
ESPE Working Group Updates
THenning Andersen Prizes Two awards, generously supported by Novo Nordisk, for the most highly rated clinical and experimental abstracts submitted to the Society’s Annual Meeting. Clinical award AWARDED TO: Michael Whyte & colleagues (St Louis, USA) Hypophosphatasia: enzyme replacement therapy for affected children using bone targeted, tissue-nonspecific alkaline phosphatase Basic science award AWARDED TO: Carles Gaston-Masseur & colleagues (London, UK) Enhancement of canonical Wnt pathway in Rathke’s pouch results in pituitary tumours reminiscent of human adamantinomatous craniopharyngioma ESPE Sabbatical Leave Programme Awards This award, supported by Eli Lilly, allows ESPE members to carry out research in another institution, providing the opportunity for scientific renewal, new research development and the establishment of collaborative links. Successful applications for the academic year 2010–2011: AWARDED TO: Associate Professor Serap Turan (Istanbul, Turkey) HOST INSTITUTION: Professor H Kronenberg and Dr M Bastepe at the Massachusetts General Hospital and Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA SABBATICAL TOPIC: “The temporal profile of Gsα imprinting and XLαs expression in the renal proximal tubule during the early postnatal period in mice” Professor Jorma Toppari (Turku, Finland) HOST INSTITUTION: Professor A Juul at the University Department of Growth and Reproduction, Rigshospitalet, Copenhagen, Denmark SABBATICAL TOPIC: “Importance of normal testicular development for male reproductive health” ESPE President Poster Awards Bestowed by the Programme Organising Committee members to the presenting and first author of five best posters on display at the annual meeting.Selection is based on the scientific content and on the quality of the poster presentation. AWARDED TO: Casper Hagen & colleagues (University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark) Serum levels of Anti-Mullerian Hormone in 926 healthy infants, girls, adolescents and adult women, as well as in 67 Turner syndrome patients with different karyotypes Antje Koerner & colleagues (University of Leipzig, Germany) Renin as a tumor marker in a patient with congenital adrenal hyperplasia and neuroblastoma? Manuela Cerbone & colleagues (University Federico II of Naples, Italy) Linear growth and intellectual outcome in children with idiopathic subclinical hypothyroidism Stefan A Wudy & colleagues (Justus Liebig University, Giessen, Germany) Phenotypic, metabolic, and molecular genetic characterization of a girl with apparent cortisone reductase deficiency presenting with premature pubarche (PP) Taly Meas, Claire Lévy-Marchal & colleagues (Inserm, U690, Paris, France) Fertility is not altered in young adults born small for gestational agResults of the elections at the ESPE Annual Business Meeting 2010 The Annual Business Meeting took place on 23 September at 16:00–17:30 in Prague. Elections were held for several different Council vacancies and the results were: Secretary General: Lars Sävendahl from Sweden. Chair of the Clinical Practice Committee (CPC): Gary Butler from the UK. Chair of the Education and Training Committee (ETC): Jan Lebl from the Czech Republic. Chair of the Programme Organising Committee (POC): Jean-Claude Carel from France. We congratulate all our colleagues. There was another ballot for the presidency and venue for the 2015 ESPE meeting. Barcelona was the city elected with Dr Laura Audí as the President of the 2015 congress. Congratulations
The 24th ESPE Summer School took place in Sychrov, Czech Republic, 19–21 September 2010, just before the 49th Annual ESPE Meeting in Prague. The ESPE Summer School has been organised every year since 1987 and brings together paediatric endocrinologists in training and academic clinicians and scientists. The Summer School Organising Committee had developed the course around various themes, this year focusing on neuroendocrinology, puberty, nutritional effects on bone physiology, and type 1 diabetes mellitus. For each theme, there were state-of-the-art basic and clinical lectures. This year an interactive session had been introduced which was very much appreciated. Exchanges between students and teachers were active after the talks and during the breaks. An important feature of the Summer School is the presentation of cases, one by each student, that are discussed in small groups with a faculty member. Cases are then summarised and presented to the plenum, providing an extensive sample of challenging endocrine cases, ranging from management problems to rare molecular diagnoses or example cases. The Summer School is also aimed at promoting interactions between students of various geographical origins and this closeness during 3 days was truly appreciated. All faculty members are to be thanked for contributing to the Summer School and staying throughout the course. Those who were not previously familiar with the ESPE Summer School concept were favourably impressed by the quality of the teaching and of the exchanges during the course. Dr Zdeněk Šumník deserves special thanks for doing an outstanding job in the local organization of the course. ESPE Summer School has since 1987 continuously been supported by Ferring Pharmaceuticals A/S which is greatly appreciated. After seven years on the Summer School Steering Committee, Professor Lars Sävendahl has now resigned. Professor Faisal Ahmed has been appointed to replace him as the coordinator of the Steering Committee. In 2011, the 25th Summer School will take place in Auchen Castle, Scotland, 22–24 September, just before the 50th Annual ESPE Meeting in Glasgow. Application forms and further information can be found at the ESPE website. The application deadline is 1 February 2011. Please encourage your fellows to apply!
20–23 SEPTEMBER 2012, LEIPZIG, GERMANY
Dear colleagues and friends, On behalf of ESPE Council, the Programme Organising Committee, the Local Organising Committee and the German Working Group for Paediatric Endocrinology, I extend my warm invitation to you to come to Leipzig and actively participate in the 51st Annual Meeting of the European Society for Paediatric Endocrinology (ESPE). The theme of the meeting will be “Translating science into clinical practice”. The Programme Organising Committee is preparing a state-of-the art and up-to-date programme with a strong emphasis on the newest in science without neglecting more practical and clinical aspects of paediatric endocrinology. Plenary Lectures and Symposia will cover all aspects of fetal, child and adolescent endocrinology. Meet-the-Expert sessions, Free Communications and Poster Sessions will add to the value of the meeting. The City of Leipzig has a very long tradition of trade fairs, book printing, the arts, science and education. The city’s orchestras and choirs have acquired international fame and music has been the tradition of the city over many centuries, to name Johann Sebastian Bach and Felix Mendelssohn Bartholdy as two of the city’s musician citizens from former centuries. The University of Leipzig is the second oldest university in Germany, having been founded more than 600 years ago by scholars from Prague, Czech Republic. The citizens from Leipzig pioneered the movement that led to German reunification more than two decades ago. It is the true European dimension that has helped Leipzig to thrive again. It is its long university and trade fair tradition that makes the city particularly hospitable, charming and inviting. The Leipzig Conference Centre is one of the most modern European meeting places of the highest standards. Leipzig will welcome you warmly with its tradition of music, restaurants, pubs, museums and its charming inner city. On behalf of all of ESPE I cordially invite you to Leipzig and ESPE 2012. Sincerely yours,
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