2nd International Postgraduate School of Immunogenetics in Transfusion Medicine
Molecular and Cellular Basis of Immunity and Alloimmunity

23-26 September, 2001 Ljubljana, Slovenia   

Second Announcement

Abstract submission deadline postponed to July 5^th 2001 !

 

Introduction Scientific programme Who is Who General information Registration form Abstract reproduction form Hotel application form Ljubljana Slovenia  Contact us via mail

Under the auspices of the
European Federation of Immunogenetics (EFI)
International Society for Blood Transfusion (ISBT)
Bristol School of Transfusion and Transplantation Sciences
European School of Transfusion Medicine (ESTM)
Ministry of Health of the Republic of Slovenia
Centre for Transfusion Medicine of the Republic of Slovenia

Organised by the
Research Center for Transfusion Medicine
Centre for Transfusion Medicine of the Republic of Slovenia


Dear colleagues,

Immunogenetics is a part of molecular medicine. It is a scientific discipline investigating the genetic and molecular polymorphisms of blood and tissue antigens as well as of receptor and effector molecules involved in the immune response. As such it is an overlapping field of interest between immunology and genetics.
The rules of immunity and the consequences of alloimmunity  should be considered in blood  transfusion therapy and in the  transplantation of bloodforming tissue. 
The intensive scientific programme  of this year’s  educational conference is a compilation of  topics  revealing the molecular and cellular basis of immunity and alloimmunity. Preparations so far have been  more than exciting and not only  because of the multitude of interesting  contacts with  so many distinguished  guest lecturers.Through their unrestricted support and co-operation  we experienced a special kind of togetherness which you can share during the conference. We  encourage you to participate as actively as possible  and take part in  tutorial groups which will be arranged ad hoc on your initiative. 
In  response to our invitation we received an impressive number of applications from many countries. Could this possibly  mean that Ljubljana might indeed become the domicile of a traditional international postgraduate school of immunogenetics in transfusion medicine ?  

Welcome to  Ljubljana on September 23^rd, 2001. 

The Organisers 


Scientific Programme

PROGRAMME OF LECTURES 

Keynote Speakers

Sunday,  September 23th  

 8,30 -  8,45    Opening Ceremony 
 8,45 -  9,00    Immunogenetics in transfusion medicine  (Mateja Bohinjec) 
 9,00 -  9,30    The complexity of the  immune and alloimmune response (Gyözö Gy.Petrányi)  

GENES AND ANTIGENES IN IMMUNITY  Chair: R.I.Lechler, D.Middleton 
09,30 - 10,00   Structural basis of immunogenicity (Stefan Stevanović) 
10,00 - 10,30   The molecular repertoire of antigen receptors and clonal selection (Elisabeth Simpson)
10,30 - 11,00   Coffee 
11,00 - 11,30   The complement system (Peter J.Lachmann) 
11,30 - 12,00   Discussion 
12,00 - 13,30   Lunch  
13,30 - 14,00   Cytokine gene polymorphism (Leigh J.Keen) 
14,00 - 14,30   NK polymorphisms (Derek C.T.  Middleton) 
14,30 - 15,00   Discussion 
15,00 - 16,00   Coffee 

ALLOIMMUNITY AND TRANSPLANTATION  TOLERANCE Chair:B.A.Bradley, Gy.Gy.Petrányi 
16,00 - 16,30    Pathways of allorecognition: implication for transplantation tolerance (Robert I.Lechler) 
16,30 - 17,00     Levels of peripheral tolerance (Bernd Arnold) 
17,00 - 17,30     Age prior to allogeneic exposure and acute rejection (Ben A. Bradley) 
17,30 - 18,00     Discussion 

Monday, September 24 

BLOOD GROUPS AND ALLOIMMUNITY  Chair: F.H.J.Claas, P.Rožman
08,30 - 09,00     Structure and function of blood group antigens (David J.Anstee)
09,00 - 09,30     Prognostic tests for  blood group antibodies (Andrew Hadley)
09,30 - 10,00     Anti- D development programme (Belinda M. Kumpel 
10,00 - 10,30     Coffee
10,30 - 11,00     Platelet antigens (Primož Rožman)
11,00 - 11,30     Discussion

HLA ALLOIMMUNITY  Chair: S.G.E.Marsh, J.-M-Tiercy
11,30 - 12,00    Structural basis of HLA serologic specificity (Steven G.E.Marsh)
12,00 - 12,30    Prognostic tests of humoral and cellular alloimmunity  (Frans H.J.Claas)
12,30 - 13,00    Discussion
13,00 - 15,00    Lunch , Tutorial Groups

BONE MARROW TRANSPLANTATION   Chair:J.A.Madrigal, M.Jeras
15,00 - 15,30    Immune reconstitution after bone marrow transplantation (J. Alejandro Madrigal)
15,30 - 16,00    Minor transplantation antigens (Els Goulmy)
16,00 - 16,30    Selection of unrelated bone marrow donors based on DNA sequencing (Gottfried Fischer)
16,30 - 17,00    Selection of unrelated bone marrow donors by serology, molecular typing and functional assays(Jean-Marie Tiercy )
17,00 - 17,30    Selection of related HLA mismatched donors by functional tests (Matjaž Jeras)
17,30 - 18,00    The role of cord blood as source of stem cells for transplantation (Jill M.Hows)
18,00 - 18,30    OPEN FORUM 

Tuesday, September 25th

POPULATION  GENETICS    Chair: A.Cambon-Thomsen, B.Vidan-Jeras
08,30 - 09,00    Population genetics ( Ann Cambon-Thomsen)
09,30 - 10,00    HLA polymorphisms in Slovenians: applications in transplantation (Blanka Vidan-Jeras)
10,00 - 10,30    Computer applications in unrelated donor searches (Carlheinz Müller)
10,30 - 11,00    Coffee
11,00 - 13,00    FREE COMMUNICATIONS
13,00 - 15,00    Lunch, Tutorial Groups

ON THE TRESHOLD OF THE NEW MILLENIUM  Chair: C.M.Contreras, B.A.Bradley
Summing up the conference and a look into the future
15,00 - 15,30    Transfusion Medicine  (C. Marcella Contreras)
15,30 - 16,00    Transplantation Sciences  (Ben A.Bradley)
16,00 - 17,00    OPEN FORUM   
17,00              Closing Ceremony  

The time  foreseen for each lecture should include 5 minutes for discussion


WORKSHOPS

Wednesday , September 26^th

8,00 - 12,00         Workshop #1
Production of monoclonal antibodies (Vladka Čurin-Šerbec)
Location: Blood Transfusion  Centre of the Republic of Slovenia

8,00 - 12,00        Workshop # 3
Histocompatibility testing by cellular methods (Matjaž Jeras)
Location:  Tissue Typing Center, Blood  Transfusion Centre of the Republic of Slovenia

8,00 - 12,00        Workshop # 5
Computer applications for population genetics (AnnCambon-Thomsen, Blanka Vidan-Jeras and Bojan Jurca)
Computer applications for  unrelated donor searches (Carlheinz Müller)
Location: Health Insurance Institute of Slovenia ,Computer Room


General information

Venue
The place of the conference is located in the city centre of Ljubljana, the capital of the Republic of Slovenia.

Place of the meeting
The conference will take place within the building of the  Health Insurance Institute of Slovenia, 24 Miklošičeva St. (Zavod za zdravstveno zavarovanje). The Registration Office will be open on Saturday, September 22^nd from 4 p.m.to 8.p.m. and throughout the meeting. 

Accommodation
A list of hotels is enclosed with this announcement. Please make your reservation by filling out the form and sending it directly to the designated address before July 1^st, 2001. The booking will be confirmed.

Arrival
Transportation from the Ljubljana airport  or from the railway station will be arranged for participants who will announce the time of their  arrival by fax or e-mail to the Secretariat.

Registration
The registration will be confirmed after receipt of payment covering the participation fee. The deadline for payment is July 1^st, 2001. Please fill out the Registration Form  and Payment Order and post it to the Secretariat. Active participants are requested to submit their Abstracts before June 15^th, 2001.

The Participation Fee
The participation fee is 300 EURO  and includes  admittance to the lectures, the  Book of Abstracts, daily lunch, break refreshments and attendance to social events. An entrance fee of 50 EURO  has to be paid in advance by participants registering in  one of the workshops announced in the programme.

Bank account 
Paid in EURO  PROBANKA LJUBLJANA, swift PROBSI 2x
                          Acc.No. 2762 200270389101 in favour of HBS d.o.o. for CTM
Paid in SIT        Acc.No. 50100-601-272266 in favour of HBS d.o.o. for CTM

Social Events
Sunday, September 23^rd , 2001 at 8.p.m. :        Concert  in St.Nicholas Cathedral, 
                                                                          Reception at the Town Hall
Tuesday, September 25^th , 2001 at 8.p.m:        Dinner party
Wednesday, September 26^th, 2001  morning:   Visit to the Blood Transfusion Centre of the Republic of Slovenia.
Sightseeing tours will be made available on request.

Secretariat
Research Center for Transfusion Medicine
Blood Transfusion Centre of the Republic of Slovenia
Šlajmerjeva 6, 1000 Ljubljana, Slovenia
Tel: +386 1 54 38 147      Fax +386 1 230 22 24
       +386 1 54 38 100             +386 1 230 25 51
Contact person: Mrs Cvetka Gregorc
E-mail: mateja.bohinjec@mf.uni-lj.si
For updated information and electronic registration / payment order / hotel reservation 
see our home page: http://www.zrs-tk.si/en/schimmgen 

Invited participants
Medical doctors and research workers involved in transfusion medicine, haematology, immunogenetics and clinical immunology.

Scientific Committee

Honorary members
Jon J.van Rood
Umberto Rossi
Wolfgang R.Mayr

Members
Marcella Contreras
Ben Bradley
Gyözö Petrányi
Alejandro  Madrigal
David Anstee
Robert Lechler 
Peter Lachmann
Frans Claas
Gottfried Fischer
Primoz Rozman
Mateja Bohinjec

Organising Committee

President
Mateja Bohinjec

Members
Primoz Rozman
Ljubiša Lukić
Vladka Čurin-Šerbec
Blanka Vidan-Jeras
Matjaz Jeras
Marjeta Potočnik
Vladka Čurin-Šerbec
Franc Metelko
Marko Breskvar