18th ESPCR meeting: 9-12 September 2013, Lisbon, Portugal

On behalf of the organizing committee of the ESPCR’2013 we would like to welcome you all. We put together a diverse programme that will touch on the most active areas of research in pigment cells and related diseases. Moreover, the programme includes sessions on the basic biology of pigment cells, as well as on clinical aspects and the cross-talk between Industry and Academia. We also invited distinguished researchers in the field as well as younger scientists that represent the future of the research in this field. The venue is the Medical School located in the historical centre of one of the most beautiful cities in the world, rich in history and traditions. We hope you enjoy what we prepared for you and we look forward to see you in Lisbon.

Miguel Seabra, Graça Raposo and Duarte Barral

ESPCR 2013 keynote speakers will include:

• Meenhard Herlyn, Philadelphia, USA
• Michael Marks, Philadelphia, USA

ESPCR2013 Fritz Anders Lecture by:

• Miguel Godinho Ferreira, Lisbon, PT

ESPCR2013 meeting topics will include:

• Developmental Biology of Pigment Cells
• Melanocyte Stem Cells
• Melanocyte and Melanoma Genomics
• Molecular Regulation of Pigmentation
• Melanosome Biogenesis and Transfer
• Pigmentary Disorders
• Eye Pigment Cells and Associated Diseases
• Industrial-Academics Cross-talk in Pigment Cell Research

Here you can download the latest preliminary program for this ESPCR2013 meeting.

Visit the ESPCR2013 web site for registering your participation.

Important deadline: Early registration at reduced fees and submission of abstracts: 15 June 2013

Maxine Whitton awarded Member of the Order of the British Empire

Mrs. Maxine Eloise WHITTON, ESPCR supporting member and Patron of the Vitiligo Society, has been recently awarded as Member of the Order of the British Empire (MBE), “for the advancement of knowledge and research into Vitiligo”. The ESPCR President, Prof. Lionel Larue, said: “Maxine Whitton from ESPCR just became a Member of the Order of the British Empire (a major honour like the legion d’honneur for the French), for her campaigning on behalf of vitiligo patients and research.  She has a very important role in the Society and for ESPCR. She links very nicely and efficiently the worlds of the scientist, the medic and the patient. I do hope that she will continue her amazing work. Congratulations Maxine. Lionel Larue“.

18th ESPCR Meeting (ESPCR2013) - Lisbon (Portugal) - 9-12 September 2013

At the European Society for Pigment Cell Research (ESPCR), it is our pleasure to launch the first announcement of the 18th ESPCR meeting (ESPCR2013), which will be held in Lisbon (Portugal) on 9-12 September 2013. The ESPCR2013 meeting is organized by Prof. Miguel Seabra (CEDOC, Faculdade de Ciências Médicas, Universidade Nova de Lisboa, Portugal), Dr. Graça Raposo (Institut Curie, Paris, France) and Dr. Duarte Barral (CEDOC, Faculdade de Ciências Médicas, Universidade Nova de Lisboa, Portugal). The ESPCR2013 meeting venue will be at the Faculdade de Ciencias Medicas, historical central Lisbon, Portugal.

The Organizing Committee for the ESPCR2013 meeting includes the following scientists: Christine Baldeshi, Evry (FR); Dorothy C. Bennett, London (UK); Corine Bertolotto, Nice (FR); Anja Bosserhoff, Regensburg (DE); Véronique Delmas, Orsay (FR); Claire Futter, London (UK); Colin Goding, Oxford (UK); Valeria Marigo, Modena (IT); Lluis Montoliu, Madrid (ES); Liz Patton, Edinburgh (UK); Mauro Picardo, Rome (IT).

The main topics of the ESPCR2013 meeting will include:

• cell biology of pigment cells
• pigment cells in the eye and associated diseases
• regulation of the pigmentation at the molecular level
• melanocyte and melanoma stem cells.

Additional information will be published soon at the ESPCR2013 meeting official web page: http://www.espcr.org/ESPCR2013

Any question, comment, suggestion or request of information should be addressed to the ESPCR2013 meeting official email address: espcr2013@espcr.org

A meeting flyer with the first announcement of the 18th ESPCR meeting can be downloaded from here.

2013 Welcome Letter from ESPCR President Prof. Lionel Larue

The 2013 ESPCR Membership renewal campaign has been launched!. All the information you need to know to join or renew your 2013 ESPCR membership can be found in this web page. The 2013 welcome letter from ESPCR President Prof. Lionel Larue can be dowloaded from here. Looking forward to receive all membership application and renewal requests!

1st European Days of Albinism, Paris, France, 27-28 October 2012

Last weekend, 27-28 October 2012, the meeting on 1st European Days of Albinism, was held in Paris (France), hosted by the French Platform of Rare Diseases and organized by Genespoir, the French association in support of persons with albinism. This meeting was co-sponsored by the European Society for Pigment Cell Research (ESPCR). About 65 participants, representing various associations on albinism from various countries (France, Spain, Italy, Germany, Netherldans, UK and Ireland, Denmark, Norway) and scientists (ophthalmologists, geneticists, dermatologists, molecular biologists) gathered in Paris to discuss various aspects around albinism, from the latest research on genetics, animal models, diagnosis and therapeutic interventions, to the common problems, needs and demands faced by persons with albinism and their families. The meeting expanded over two days, with the first day devoted to two concurrent parallel sessions where scientists and associations discussed, at length and in details, their corresponding topics. Representatives from the researchers and the associations reported to all participants on the second day, where collaborative efforts were seeked and found, at the level of the associations and scientists participating. The meeting proved to be very successful and Genespoir must be praised for all their efforts. It was decided that this meeting will be organized again, for the second time, in Madrid (Spain), during the Spring of 2014, in collaboration between the laboratory of Dr. Lluis Montoliu (CSIC/CIBERER) and ALBA, the Spanish association in support of persons with albinism. Genespoir, inspiring and pioneering this excellent initiative, at European level, will be also contributing to the organization of the second European meeting on albinism in 2014.

1st European Days of Albinism, Paris, France, 27-28 October 2012

1st European Days of Albinism, Paris, France, 27-28 October 2012, organized by Genespoir

The First European Days of Albinism will take place in Paris on Saturday 27th and Sunday 28th October 2012, organized by Genespoir, the French Association in support of persons with albinism. This conference will gather representatives of European organizations of people with albinism, doctors and physicians specializing in fields related to albinism and scientists conducting research on albinism. For the first time, these three major actors of the European world of albinism will have the opportunity to meet, exchange and discuss potential future collaborations. This conference should allow the development of a European plan of action to help people with albinism. It should lead to:
 
•Developing programs that explain albinism to the general public
•Building a scientific and medical state of the art of albinism
•Improving clinical and molecular diagnosis
•Supporting therapy development programs
 
Conference place: “Plateforme maladies rares“, Hôpital Broussais, 96 rue Didot, 75014 Paris.
 
Organizing commitee: Genespoir, French organization of albinism
 
Scientific committee:

Robert Aquaron, Marseille, France
Benoît Arveiler, Bordeaux, France
Glenn Jeffery, London, UK
Barbara Käsmann-Kelner, Homburg, Germany
Lluis Montoliu, Madrid, Spain
Maria-Vittoria Schiaffino, Milan, Italy
Alain Taïeb, Bordeaux, France 
  
Contact address: conference@genespoir.org

In addition to the indicated researchers, from the scientific committee, it is confirmed the attendance as invited speakers of Enrico Surace (TIGEM, Naples, Italy) and Brian Brooks (NIH, Bethesda, MD, USA), responsible of the two pioneer experimental therapeutic attempts to potentially treat some types of albinism.

Don’t miss this opportunity to visit Paris to discuss about albinism!

17th ESPCR Meeting, Geneva, Switzerland, 11-13 September 2012

The European Society for Pigment Cell Research (ESPCR) is most happy to announce the sponsorship of up to eight Travel/Registration Awards for student/junior scientists ESPCR members willing to attend the 17th ESPCR-2012 meeting, to be held in Geneva (Switzerland) on 11-13 September 2012. Deadline for submitting applications for these travel/registration awards is: 15 June 2012. This web page contains all information and instructions regarding the ESPCR Travel/Registration Awards. These ESPCR travel/registration awards will cover registration fee (150 euros, Student fee, paid directly from ESPCR to Meeting Organizer) and up to 225 Euros accommodation costs (reimbursed to the selected applicants upon presenting the corresponding invoice), usually sufficient for 2-nights standard accommodation in Geneva, following suggested hotels provided by the Geneva Tourist Office.