European Society of Gene and Cell Therapy
15th Annual Congress
Rotterdam, The Netherlands, 27-30 October 2007
Visit www.esgct.org today!
Dear ESGCT members, colleagues and friends,
The ESGCT Board and the Local Organising Committee are pleased to invite you to participate
in the 15th Annual Congress of ESGCT, in the beautiful and historic city of Rotterdam.
SCIENTIFIC PROGRAMME
The scientific program of the meeting will cover all aspects of cell and gene therapy, from
bench to bedside, with special sessions on:
 Clinical Trial Highlights & New Disease Targets
 Cancer Gene Therapy & Oncolytic Viruses
 Immunotherapy & Genetic Vaccines
 Haematopoietic System Gene Therapy
 Gene Therapy for Cardiovascular Disorders
 Gene Therapy for Respiratory Disease
 Gene Therapy for Neurological Disorders
 Gene Therapy in Eye Disorders
 Gene Therapy for Liver & Metabolic Disorders
 Gene Therapy for Neuromuscular & Skeleto-muscular Disorders
The preliminary programme at a glance is enclosed.
On the opening day of the meeting, we shall once again have a high level Educational
Course covering a large spectrum of gene and cell therapy topics. Selected educational
lectures by leading authorities are designed for younger colleagues and students, as well as for
those who want to refresh their global knowledge of the field.
In addition an open satellite workshop on in-vivo imaging is planned and sponsored by the EUClinigene network on 27 October (further information will be available on the website within
soon). Two further workshops are organised in connection with the Congress. The ICH/EMEA
Satellite Workshop on Shedding of Clinical Gene Therapy Vectors will be held on 30 October
and the Clinigene Satellite Workshop on Industry-Academia Centres of Excellence in Gene
Therapy will be held on 31 October. The workshops are free of charge for Congress delegates.
The meeting organization will retain a high level oral presentations selected from submitted
abstracts, and will ensure high visibility for poster presentations that will be on display
throughout the meeting.
CALL FOR ABSTRACTS - DEADLINE 24 JULY
The Organising Committee welcomes the submission of abstracts for oral and poster
presentation at the Congress. Abstracts should be submitted using the online abstract
submission form at the website. Accepted abstracts will be published in the abstract book
given to all delegates attending the meeting upon registration in Rotterdam. ESGCT offers a
limited number (10) of € 250 travel grants to postdoctoral fellows and students. The
registration fee of successful applicants will be waived. The grants will be based on the highest
abstract scores, as determined by the ESGCT abstract review committee. For submission
support please contact esgct.scientific@congrex.com
10% DISCOUNT ON REGISTRATION FEES
The Organising Committee offers 10% discount on this years registration fees on occasion of
the 3rd lustrum meeting as a special offer.
LOW REGISTRATION FEE DEADLINE – 23 AUGUST
Register by 23 August to take advantage of the lower fees. Please register online at the
website! Questions regarding registration and/or hotel booking please contact
esgct.registration@congrex.com
HOTEL ACCOMMODATION
A large number of hotel rooms in different price categories have been reserved in Rotterdam at
preferential rates for the Congress delegates. The list and map of hotels are available on the
website. Hotel reservations can be made on-line upon registration to the Congress. To ensure
that the hotel reservation will be made as required, please pay the appropriate deposit upon
your reservation, as soon as possible but no later than 23 August. After this deadline
accommodation and rates will be confirmed according to availability.
ESGCT MEMBERSHIP
Take a few moments now to sign up for membership or renew your 2006 membership for
2007. Online and paper forms are available on the website. Members are offered a reduced
registration fee at the Congress. Questions regarding membership please contact
esgctmember@congrex.com
ROTTERDAM
Rotterdam is the Netherland’s pre-eminent modern architecture city and convenient accessible
from Schiphol international airport. The congress venue is directly opposite of Rotterdam
Central Station, in the centre of the city. This will give you the opportunity to easily discover all
different aspects of this diverse city by having all sight seeing options in walking distance. This
can be a special architecture walk, a tour of the harbour on the Spido, a visit to the 185m-high
Euromast, or to Diergaarde Blijdorp, the extensive zoo that includes the impressive Oceanium,
where visitors can walk through the huge shark tunnel surrounded by sharks and giant
tortoises. For an oasis of peace in the middle of the hectic city, a visit to the lovely gardens of
Arboretum Trompenburg.
SPONSORS & EXHIBITORS
We gratefully acknowledge the generous support of our sponsors; Clinigene, Consert, EMEA,
Genzyme, Molmed, ZonMw and PlasmidFactory. During the congress you will be able to visit
the following exhibitors (signed up until today); Amaxa, Clinigene, EUFETS AG, Geneart, John
Wiley and Sons Ltd., JSW-CNS Research, Mary Ann Liebert, Inc. Publishers, PlasmidFactory,
Polyplus Transfection.
Welcome to the 15th Annual Congress of ESGCT and to Rotterdam!
Gerard Wagemaker, Congress President
George Dickson, ESGCT President