ESPEN News

Preparation for ESPEN Congress in Barcelona September 8-11^th is in full gear! Preliminary Programme and on-line registration are now available on the ESPEN website (www.espen.org) at the Congress page. Abstract submission is also open in the Abstracts section, and you have until April 6^th midnight CET to prepare and submit your presentation. Do not miss the opportunity to attend this top international event and to present your results to your colleagues:  mark your calendar now and start planning your trip to Barcelona!

Home parenteral nutrition is the well recognized life-saving treatment for patients with chronic intestinal failure due to benign disease, and the still discussed palliative treatment for cases with active cancer. Basic and clinical studies, as well as technological advancements, have made HPN a safe and effective treatment. Complexities of HPN application and continued management need however to be fully appreciated for successful implementation. To this regard, a meeting on HPN is scheduled at the University of Bologna, Italy, on April 20-21 2012, where an international expert panel including several ESPEN members will discuss all aspects of HPN. If you are interested in this important topic, for additional information on the program, venue and how to register please write to loris.pironi@unibo.it

At the close of another very exciting and successful year, ESPEN has every reason to look forward to 2012. The tradition of excellence of ESPEN Congress has been fully confirmed with a world-class meeting in Gothenburg. Educational initiatives continue to thrive, as the LLL program keeps growing, the new edition of the ESPEN Blue Book has been launched in Gothenburg and a new far-reaching project of disease-oriented guidelines is under-way. Scientific excellence in both clinical and basic research is reflected in expanding programs of ESPEN-funded fellowships and MNI grants, while Clinical Nutrition journal has further improved its outstanding impact factor. The increasing number of members (more than 2700 at the close of 2011!) and National Societies represents the very foundation for ESPEN’s growing strength and global role. We wish a Happy New Year to all ESPEN members and to those who will join in 2012, looking forward to meet you all in Barcelona at the September 8-11^th Congress, from Pierre Singer, Chairman, Miguel Leon-Sanz, General Secretary, André van Gossum, Treasurer.

As recently announced, Clermont-Ferrand will host the 2^nd International Congress of Translational Research in Human Nutrition on March 9-10^th 2012. The latest update on this event, focused on translation of emerging basic concepts into clinical nutritional research and practice, has now become available. Please click here to find all relevant information including the finalized program.

It is a great pleasure to announce that the Malaysian PEN Society – PENSMA – joins the ESPEN Council effective January 1^st 2012, a new very welcome addition in an extremely successful year. As 2010 closed with an outstanding 2500 memberships, ESPEN members have already reached 2700 for 2011! The growth of ESPEN continues, in an expanding international network with established central roles in the advance of knowledge, education and policymaking in nutrition and metabolism. A renewed big thanks to Executive and central ESPEN Committees, National Societies and each and every member – all key players in an ongoing great success!

After success of the first event, the 2^nd International Congress of Translational Research in Human Nutrition will be held in Clermont-Ferrand on March 9-10^th 2012. True to its translational nature, the Congress will focus on integration of key topics in basic and clinical nutritional research. During the two-day event, lectures will be delivered by a panel of distinguished international speakers. Please click here to find all information on the Congress, how to participate and related useful links.

You are assured to find excellence in science and education at ESPEN Congresses, and Barcelona 2012 will be another great chance to enjoy a top scientific and educational programme. A new initiative has also been planned to allow Congress participants to provide an artistic side to the meeting. After the open contest for the Barcelona Logo, that is now also shown on the website, an Artist Corner will be organized in Barcelona 2012 for display of artwork from Congress participants. All those interested are invited to read about this initiative, and find out how to propose their work to the Local Organizing Committee. Click here and join the Artist Corner in Barcelona 2012!

While preparing for the upcoming nutritionDay 2011, with special emphasis on cancer patients – mark your calendars for November 10th! – the nutritionDay team is launching the search for a Project Manager position in this very successful and growing initiative. Click here to learn about the position and find out about application requirements – deadline to apply is November 15th 2011.

NutritionDay has quickly become a reference initiative operating worldwide to enhance awareness on malnutrition, and gain knowledge to develop therapeutic nutritional strategies. Since 2006, data from more than 106.000 patients in over 1200 institutions in 46 countries have been collected and analyzed. From this year, a special emphasis is placed on cancer patients, who carry a major clinical burden of nutritional complications.  NutritionDay is quickly approaching – on November 10^th 2011 you are all invited to join the team: go to nutritionday.org and take part in this major event!

As recently announced, the international conference “Fight Against Malnutrition – Two decades of opportunities” took place in Warsaw on October 6^th. With participation of ESPEN and POLSPEN, endorsement by the Polish Presidency to the EU and involvement of members of European Parliament and its Presidency, it has been a great success and a very fruitful event. An official Declaration has been produced during the conference, underscoring its clinical and political goals along with practical proposals that are now presented to top-level stakeholders and policymakers. Please click here to read the final document, an additional important step in ESPEN’s Fight Against Malnutrition program.