Annual Progress Conference
(Draft programme)
COST Domain - Biomedicine and Molecular Biosciences
(BMBS) and BMBS DC meeting
28-30 April 2014, Malta
28 April 2014
08:30-09:00
09:00-17:30
19.00-19.30
19.30-20.30
Registration
28 April 2014
BMBS DC meeting
APC Opening Ceremony (Grand Hotel Excelsior)
Welcome // Introduction
Parliamentary Secretary for Health (to be confirmed)
Parliamentary Secretary for Research Stefan Buontempo
MCST Chair Jeffrey Pullicino Orlando
MCST Policy Director Nadine Castillo
Deputy COST CSO Claire Bellia
CNC Malta Janet Mifsud
University of Malta, Rector Juanito Camilleri
University of Malta, Pro‐Rector Richard Muscat
University of Malta, Head Physiology & Biochemistry
Christian Scerri
BMBS DC Chair Srecko Gajovic
MT BMBS DC -University of Malta, Giuseppe Di Giovanni
Malta Chamber of Scientists President, Alex Felice
Key Note Speakers
Adrian Vella, Mayo Clinic & Foundation, USA
Title: “Measuring beta-cell function in humans – a common thread to
understanding the pathophysiology of diabetes and prediabetes”
Zaal Kokaia, Lund University, SWEDEN
Title: “Stem cell therapy for stroke - current status and future
perspectives”
20.30
RECEPTION (Grand Hotel Excelsior)
Day 1 | Tuesday 29 April 2014
08:30-09:00
Registration
09:00-09:30
Welcome and Introduction of guests and participants from COST
09:30-11:40
1st Session: Inclusiveness Policy/ BMBS Actions
Chairs
4 BMBS
Actions
Maija Dambrova and Prof Giuseppe di Giovanni
Katalin Alfoldi, Inclusiveness Policy Officer, COST
Round Table Discussion
11:40-13:00
9 BMBS
New Actions
Coffee Break and Poster Cession, Chair: Prof Igor Konieczny
13:00-14:00
14:00-15:50
Lunch
6 BMBS
Actions
Chairs
2nd Session: NEW MODELS & IMAGING TECHNIQUES
Prof Anu Jalanko and Prof Gregor Majdič
Round Table Discussion
Giuseppe di Giovanni
15:50-16 :15
Coffee Break
16:15-17 :00
Administrative Meeting
BMBS SO
and AO
17:10-18 :30
4 BMBS
Actions
Answers on administrative/management questions in relation to COST Actions
3rd Session: SIGNALLING PATHWAYS
Chairs
Dr Janna de Boer and Prof Georgios Garinis
Round Table Discussion
Malta Café Scientifique – “Woman, Science and Europe”
Instituto Italiano di Cultura
Vecchia Cancellaria, Piazza S. Giorgio Valletta VLT 1190
Srećko Gajović/Maija Dambrova/Giuseppe Di Giovanni/ Janet Mafsud -COST
19:30


Sanja Kezic – Skin Barier and Atopic Deaseases (SKINBAD) – Amsterdam,
The Netherlands
Susanne Krauss Etschmann – Developmental Origins of Respiratory
Diseases Munich, Germany
20:30
Networking Dinner
Day 2 | Wednesday 30 April 2014
08:30-09:00
Registration
09:00-11:00
4th Session: DISEASES & TREATMENT
7 BMBS
Actions
Chairs
Dr Ursula Gundert-Remy and Prof Jaroslav Vesely
Round Table Discussion
11:00-11:20
Coffee Break
11:20-13 :15
5th Session: GENETICS
7 BMBS
Actions
Chairs
Prof Isabel Varela-Nieto and Prof Aleksandar Dimovski
Round Table Discussion
13:15-14:15
14:15-16:00
6 BMBS
Actions
16:00-16:30
16:30-17:30
17:30-18:30
Lunch
6th Session: NEW TECHNOLOGIES & DATA ANALYSIS
Chairs
Prof Carine Michiels and Prof Mathias Ziegler
Round Table Discussion
Coffee Break
Round Table Discussions and Conclusions (All participants)
Chairs
Dr Maija Dambrova and Prof Srecko Gajovic
DC Members
/ Action
Chairs
Rapporteurs Feedbacks (bilateral talks - every Action Chair and Action
Rapporteur)
ANNEX
BMBS New Actions / Poster Cession
BM1301 | Aldosterone and mineralocorticoid receptor: Pathophysiology, clinical implication and
therapeutic innovations (ADMIRE) | Dr Frédéric JAISSER INSERM Paris, FR
BM1302 | Joining Forces in Corneal Regeneration Research | Prof Claus Cursiefen University of
Köln, DE
TD1301 | Development of a European-based Collaborative Network to Accelerate Technological,
Clinical and Commercialisation Progress in the Area of Medical Microwave Imaging | Dr Raquel
Conceição Universidade de Lisboa, PT
BM1303 | A systematic elucidation of differences of sex development (DSDnet) | Professor Olaf Hiort
Department of Paediatrics Lübeck, DE
TD1303 | European Network for Neglected Vectors and Vector-Borne Infections (EURNEGVEC) | Dr
Andrei Mihalca Universitatea de Stiinte Agricole Cluj-Napoca, RO
BM1304 | Applications of MR imaging and spectroscopy techniques in neuromuscular disease:
collaboration on outcome measures and pattern recognition for diagnostics and therapy
development | Professor Volker Straub Institute of Genetic Medicine Newcastle upon Tyne, UK
BM1305 | Action to Focus and Accelerate Cell-based Tolerance-inducing Therapies (A FACTT) | Dr
Eva M Martinez-Caceres Fundació Institut d' Investigació Germans Trias i Pujol Barcelona, ES
BM1307 | European network to integrate research on intracellular proteolysis pathways in health and
disease (PROTEOSTASIS) | Rosa Barrio CIC bioGUNE Bizkaia, ES
BM1309 | European network for innovative uses of EMFs in biomedical applications (EMF-MED) |
Prof. Antonio Sarolic University of Split, HR
BMBS Ended Actions / Oral Presentations - Inclusiveness Policy I Session
BM0901
BM0902
European systems genetics network for the study of complex genetic human diseases using
mouse genetic reference populations (SYSGENET) | Dr Klaus Schughart Helmholtz Centre for
Infection Research Braunschweig, DE
Network of experts in the diagnosis of myeloproliferative disorders (MPD) | Dr Sylvie
HERMOUET Université de Nantes, FR
BM0903
Skin Barrier and Atopic Diseases (SKINBAD) |Dr Sanja Kezic Academic Medical Center
Amsterdam, NL
TD0901
Hypoxia sensing, signalling and adaptation | Prof Roland Wenger University of Zurich, Institute
of Physiology, CH
BMBS Actions / Oral Presentations
BM0904
HDL - from biological understanding to clinical exploitation | Professor Dimitris Kardassis, IMBBFORTH Heraklion, EL
BM0905
European Network for the Study of Gilles de la Tourette Syndrome | Dr Ruben Cauchi, University
of Malta Dept. of Physiology & Biochemistry, MT
BM0907
European Network for Translational Immunology Research and Education (ENTIRE): From
immunomonitoring to personalized immunotherapy | Dr Thomas Giese University Hospital
Heidelberg, DE
Brain Extracellular Matrix in Health and Disease (ECMNet) | Prof Alexander DITYATEV, DZNE
Magdeburg, DE
BM1001
BM1002
Nanomechanics of intermediate filament networks (NANONET) | Prof Elly HOL, Netherlands
Institute
for Neuroscience,
Amsterdam,
NL
Dr Thomas
GIESE University
Hospital Heidelberg,
Institute of Immunology, D
TD1002
European network on applications of Atomic Force Microscopy to NanoMedicine and Life
Sciences (AFM4NanoMed&Bio) | Prof Pierre PAROT, CEA, Marcoule, FR
BM1003
Microbial cell surface determinants of virulence as targets for new therapeutics in Cystic Fibrosis |
Prof Antonio MOLINARO, Universita di Napoli Federico II, Napoli, IT
BM1004
Enhancing the scientific study of early autism: A network to improve research, services and
outcomes |Prof Anthony Charman, Institute of Psychiatry, King's College London, UK
BM1005
Gasotransmitters: from basic science to therapeutic applications (ENOG: European Network on
Gasotransmitters) |Prof. Andreas PAPAPETROPOULOS, University of Athens, Dept of Pharmacy,
EL
BM1006
Next Generation Sequencing Data Analysis Network | Dr. Erik BONGCAM-RUDLOFF, Swedish
University of Agricultural Sciences, Uppsala, SE
BM1007
Mast Cells and Basophils - Targets for Innovative Therapies | Professor Marcus Maurer Charité Universitätsmedizin Berlin, DE
TD1006
European Network on Robotics for NeuroRehabilitation |Dr Thierry Keller, Tecnalia Research &
Innovation, ES
BM1101
European network for the study of dystonia syndromes | Prof. .Alberto ALBANESE, Università
Cattolica del Sacro Cuore, Milano, IT
BM1102
Ciliates as model systems to study genome evolution, mechanisms of non-Mendelian inheritance,
and their roles in environmental adaptation | Dr Cristina Miceli University of Camerino, IT
BM1103
Arterial spin labelling Initiative in Dementia (AID) | Prof. Xavier GOLAY, UCL Institute of
Neurology, London, UK
TD1101
A Collaborative European Network on Rabbit Genome Biology |Prof Luca Fontanesi, University of
Bologna, IT
BM1104
Mass Spectrometry Imaging: New Tools for Healthcare Research | Dr Liam McDonnell, Leiden
University Medical Center, NL
TD1104
European network for development of electroporation-based technologies and treatments
(EP4Bio2Med) | Prof Javier Raso University of Zaragoza, ES
BM1105
GnRH deficiency: Elucidation of the neuroendocrine control of human reproduction | Professor
Nelly PITTELOUD University Hospital CHUV Service of Endocrinology, CH
BM1106
The Genes in Irritable Bowel Syndrome Research Network Europe (GENIEUR) |Dr Beate Niesler
University Hospital Heidelberg
Institute of Human Genetics, DE
BM1201
Developmental Origins of Chronic Lung Disease |Dr Susanne Krauss-Etschmann, Comprehensive
Pneumology Center, DE
BM1202
European Network on Microvesicles and Exosomes in Health and Disease (ME-HAD) | Professor
Lorraine O'Driscoll Trinity College Dublin School of Pharmacy & Pharmaceutical Sciences &
MTCI, IE
EU-ROS |Prof Andreas Daiber, University Medical Center Mainz, DE
BM1203
BM1204
An integrated European platform for pancreas cancer research: from basic science to clinical and
public health interventions for a rare disease |Dr Nuria Malats , Spanish National Cancer Research
Centre (CNIO),ES
BM1205
European Network for Skin Cancer Detection using Laser Imaging |Prof Dragan Indjin, University
of Leeds, School of Electronics and Electrical Engineering, UK
BM1206
Cooperation Studies on Inherited Susceptibility to Colorectal Cancer |Dr Sergi Castellvi-Bel,
Institut d’Investigacions Biomèdiques August Pi i Sunyer (IDIBAPS), ES
BM1207
Networking towards clinical application of antisense-mediated exon skipping | Dr Annemieke
AARTSMA-RUS Leiden University Medical Centre, NL
BM1208
European Network for Human Congenital Imprinting Disorders |Professor Thomas Eggermann
RWTH Aachen, DE
BM1209
Regenerative Sphincter Therapy (ReST) |Prof. Dr. Wilhelm K. Aicher Eberhard-Karls Universität
Tübingen, DE
disease |
TD1205
Innovative methods in radiotherapy and radiosurgery using synchrotron radiation |Dr Alberto
Bravin, European Synchrotron Radiation Facility, FR