ENDO 2015 is only a few weeks away and I am excited to share the world-class scientific program with all of you. You will notice more than just a change in the tim- ing of the meeting as we have introduced several innovative new programs to address your professional development needs.
The plenary speakers this year will be outstanding. Just to mention one, David Allis recently won the 2015 Breakthrough Prize in Life Sciences for his foundational research on the unexpected regulation of gene activation by modi- fications to proteins that package DNA, highly innova- tive work with implications for many diseases including neuroendocrine cancer. A $3 million cash award accom- panies the Breakthrough Prize, making it the richest prize in the life sciences, roughly double the Nobel Prize.
Attendees will have a unique opportunity to gain insight into the inner workings of the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) at the special scientific ses- sion “Safety and Efficacy of Diabetes Drugs: Steering between Scylla and Charybdis” presented by Janet Woodcock, MD, director of the Center for Drug Evalu- ation and Research (CDER) at the FDA. Woodcock is a leader in the movement to modernize drug manufac- turing and regulation, and move medical discoveries from the lab to consumers more efficiently.
One of my greatest concerns is the increasing dif- ficulty researchers, especially the next generation, experience in obtaining funding for their research. I enthusiastically recommend that researchers attend the series of “Meet the Program Director” sessions, which will feature representatives from the Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development, National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases, National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences, and National Insti- tute on Minority Health and Health Disparities.
One of the challenges clinicians face in their profes- sional lives is meeting their maintenance of certifica- tion requirements. The Endocrine Society has taken a thoughtful approach to ensuring that members meet these requirements through high-quality products that will generate meaningful improvements to clinical skills. The new ESAPTM Live series is an excellent example of this, where attendees can attend live sessions featur- ing presentations by the authors of the ESAP book.
A new feature of the annual meeting is the “Meet the Editors In Chief” sessions. The editors in chief of Endocrinology, Molecular Endocrinology, Hormones & Cancer, The Journal of Clinical Endocrinology & Metabo- lism (JCEM), and Endocrine Reviews will give guidance on ways to increase the likelihood that your manuscript will be accepted and share their perspectives on the future of scientific journal publishing.
As data collection has become more technologi- cally sophisticated, its interpretation has become cor- respondingly more complex. The “Research Conduct: Doing Science the Right Way” session will explore both the common pitfalls and best practices in data analysis.
Impressive gains in our understanding of endo- crinology were made in 2014, and R. Paul Robertson, MD, editor in chief of JCEM has brought together the authors of 10 of the most excellent articles for the “Best of JCEM 2014.” If you would like to catch up on the state of endocrinology with many of its leaders, you will find this session invaluable.
The meeting is always very busy, but remember that some of the brightest and most innovative minds in every endocrine discipline present posters and oral sessions. This is where the next generation of endocrine leaders showcase their work, and it is important to pro- vide strong support for this group.
The Endocrine Science Socials are another new feature created to facilitate networking. Taking place immediately following the afternoon symposia on March 5, 6, and 7, these events provide the opportunity to informally discuss science with a group of your col- leagues who have interests closely related to yours.
Note that the deadlines for late-breaking abstracts and early registration are in mid-January. I would encourage you and your colleagues to register now to take advantage of the reduced rates and to submit your late-breaking abstracts if you have not done so already. If you have any questions or comments, feel free to con- tact me at [email protected]. I look forward to meeting you all at ENDO 2015! EN
Richard J. Santen, MD President, Endocrine Society
Loading ...