PID Care in Development Working Party

2013 - 12th ESID Prague Spring Meeting - Report

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Report on the 12th ESID Prague Spring Meeting, May 13-14, 2013 

Department of Immunology, 2nd Medical School, Charles University, Motol University Hospital, Prague, Czech Republic

The twelfth ESID Prague Spring Meeting was organized by Department of Immunology and Clinic of Pediatric Hematooncology of the 2nd Medical Faculty of Charles University and Motol University Hospital, Prague, Czech Republic, on May 13 and 14, 2013. The meeting took place in its traditional settings in Olympus facility in Prague. It was attended by 32 participants from 9 countries, majority of them from Czech Republic, further from Austria, Egypt, France, Italy, Poland, Ukraine, United Kingdom and The Netherlands, in alphabetical order. The meeting puts an importance on the active participation of young immunologists and gave them the opportunity to present their work in oral presentations.

Since its launch in 2002 the Prague ESID meeting has been devoted to the exchange of information on primary immunodeficiencies (PIDs) between Western and Central and Eastern Europe. The continuous effort to promote exchange of information and rise of scientific levels in Eastern Europe is partly successful. So far several excellent groups were formed in Eastern European countries. There is, however, still visible gap between East and West part of a continent in a diagnosis and care for primary immunodeficiency patients and also in related research activities. 

The program of the meeting was divided into four major blocks supported by contributions and supervision of invited speakers. B cell panel was introduced by Menno van Zelm and further was extensively covered by series of lectures on pathogenesis, diagnosis and treatment of B mediated disorders. Rare immunodeficiencies and well defined syndromes included very interesting talks on novel discoveries in disorders of organelle formation, given by Raffaele Badolato, and showed several other novel genetic causes of immunodeficiencies. Anne Puel gave an excellent review on new findings in pathogenesis of mucocutaneous candidiasis. Last afternoon was devoted to novel technologies and laboratory diagnostics. Sufficient amount of time for discussions and a very active and relaxing atmosphere made traditionally creative environment, typical for ESID Prague Spring Meeting series. 

Social program was also very interesting. Special evening took place in a newly opened University Club, which belongs to Charles University. Situated in a center of a city and located in a gothic basement, the club provides unusual and inspiring settings for a cultural program. That composed from an opening exhibition of paintings of Academy of Fine arts on the theme Prague, followed by a block of folk songs and yoyo performance. Traditional Czech dinner in a closed by restaurant finished the evening. 

The meeting was also organized as a part of the activities related to the Day of Immunology, declared by EFIS on 29th April, 2013 and to Primary Immunodeficiency Week 2013. The meeting is also an event of J projects meetings, promoting awareness about PIDs in Eastern European Countries. ESID Prague Spring Meeting was supported by the Charles University, 2nd Medical School, Prague and by Motol University Hospital, Prague. General partners of this year events were Baxter, CSL Behring, Olympus and Shire, further contributions came from Grifols, Exbio, Octapharma, Schoeller and Synlab. Special support was provided by Czech Immunology Society. The meeting is traditionally supported by Jeffrey Modell Centers Network. 

We thank all sponsors and all participants for their contributions and we are looking forward to the biennial ESID meeting in Prague in 2014. 

Anna Љedivб
Prague, May 17, 2013