issue 1 | December 2015

EuroMedLab news
22nd IFCC - EFLM European Congress of Clinical Chemistry and Laboratory Medicine
25th Meeting of Balkan Clinical Laboratory Federation

11-15 JUNE

15th National Congress of GSCC-CB

President’s Invitation
Dear Colleagues and Friends,
On behalf of the Greek Society of Clinical Chemistry - Clinical
Biochemistry (GSCC-CB) and the Congress Organizing
Committee, I would like to invite you to the 22nd IFCC-EFLM
European Congress of Clinical Chemistry and Laboratory
Medicine “EuroMedLab Athens 2017” which will take placein Athens, Greece, on June 11th - 15th, 2017 at Megaron - theAthens Congress Center. This congress will be co-organized along with the 25th Balkan Clinical Laboratory Federation (BCLF) meeting and the 15th National Congress ofGSCC-CB, helping a fruitful exchange of opinions and visions between the Greek, the European and the International colleagues.
The scientific program, containing an interesting combination of presentations, symposia, discussions, sessions, workshops and open to the general public debates,
describing the state of the art and the recent innovationsin Laboratory Medicine in the 21st century, will be carefully finalized in collaboration with the European Societies
through the active cooperation of the International Scientific Advisory Board. During EuroMedLab Athens 2017 we will
be organizing a large, interesting and detailed exhibition ofIVD industry products as also as many Industry SponsoredWorkshops. In Athens several thousand square meters willbe allocated in order that the latest innovations in the fieldof the clinical chemistry, molecular diagnostics, cell counting, immunochemistry, and several other will be exhibited.
Athens, a city famous all over the world for its history andculture, has many places of interest within a relatively small
area surrounding the city center (Syntagma Square) and inwalking distance from the congress venue. The downtown
Congress Center is also conveniently situated nearby tothe districts of Plaka and Monastiraki (old town) as well as
Kolonaki (shopping and museums area and night life district). Acropolis, the New Museum and charming historicquarters with restored 19th century neoclassical homes,
picturesque pedestrian streets, shops and restaurants, andancient monuments from classic and Roman era will offer
you unforgivable memories to take home.
I am looking forward to welcoming you in Athens in July
2017 and I wish you a Merry Christmas and a Happy Newyear 2016.

Alexander Haliassos
President of the EuroMedLab Athens 2017 Congress

What is EuroMedLab news?

Editor: Dr. Katherina Psarra
GSCC-CB, Athens, Greece

EuroMedLab news is issued periodically to report on developments in scientific programand organization of the Congress.
EuroMedLab news is a handy tool to get in touch with Athens and the forthcoming Congress in real time.
EuroMedLab news will be sent to IFCC National Representatives, to all Officers involved
in IFCC or EFLM, to IFCC Corporate Members, to IVD companies, and to anyone who has
shown interest in the Congress; EuroMedLab News may be freely quoted in journals ornewsletters and even photocopied, provided the editor (EuroMedLab Athens 2017 Organizing Secretariat, Milan, Italy) is mentioned.

Issued by:
Organizing Secretariat
MZ Congressi
Via Carlo Farini 81, 20159, Milano, Italy
Phone: +39 02 66802323
Fax: +39 02 6686699
info@athens2017.org

www.athens2017.org

Congress Committees

Scientific Program Topics

Congress President

1. Advanced technologies - New biomarker discoveryDr. Alexander Haliassos

2. Analytical technologies and applications

11-15 JUNE

3. Atherosclerosis - Lipids and Lipoproteins
Congress ORGANISING COMMITTEE

4. Autoimmune diseases - Allergy

Dr. Alexander Haliassos Chair

5. Bioinformatics - Information technology applications

Dr. Efi Mpotoula Treasurer

6. Biology of extreme ages - Pediatric and Geriatriclaboratory medicine - Prenatal and postnatal testing

Prof. Christos Kroupis Scientific Committee Liaison
Dr. Aggeliki Ferderigou Social Events
Dr. Nota Spyropoulou Social Events
Dr. Katherina Psarra Public Relations
Dr. Irene Leimoni Executive ManagerDr. Bernard Gouget EuroMedLab 2015 Liaison
Dr. Angelos Evangelopoulos Corporate Members
Representative
Prof. Tomas Zima IFCC Representative
Prof. Grazyna Sypniewska EFLM Representative

7. Biomarkers in cancer
8. Bone metabolism - Osteoporosis
9. Cardiovascular diseases - Cardiac markers
10. Clinical Studies - Outcomes
11. Critical care, Emergency medicine, Blood gases, POCT
12. Education and Training in Laboratory Medicine
13. Endocrinology
14. Evidence based medicine - Guidelines
15. Gastrointestinal diseases
16. Hematology - Hemostasis

SCIENTIFIC PROGRAM COMMITTEE

17. Inflammation, Vascular biology, Endothelium, OxidativestressProf. Eleni Bairaktari

18. Inherited disorders - Metabolic disorders

Prof. Eleftherios Diamandis

19. Kidney diseases

Prof. Maurizio Ferrari

20. Laboratory and Sports medicine

Dr. Alexander Haliassos

21. Laboratory Management, Accreditation,Quality Assurance

Prof. Christos Kroupis
Prof. Evi Lianidou
Dr. Konstantinos Makris
Prof. Paraskevi Moutsatsou
Prof. Mauro Panteghini
Prof. Demetrios Rizos

22. Microbiology - Infectious diseases
23. Molecular diagnostics - Genetic testing
24. Neurological - Neurodegenerative diseases25. Nutrition, Vitamins and Trace Elements
26. Obesity, Metabolic syndrome, Diabetes

Prof. Andreas Scorilas

27. Patient sample management, (standardization,harmonization, reference ranges, etc)

Prof. Georgia Sotiropoulou

28. Pharmacogenetics - Personalized Medicine

Prof. Christos Tsatsanis

29. Rare Diseases
30. Toxicology - Therapeutic Drug Monitoring

EuroMedLab news
Scientific Program Highlights
The aim of the scientific program will be to provide attendees with the most up-to-date information on a wide varietyof topics related to the Laboratory Medicine and its clinicalapplications. The program will include an Opening Lecture,
4 Plenary Lectures, 23 Symposia (15 organized by the Scientific Program Committee “SPC”, 4 by IFCC, 3 by EFLM and1 by BCLF), 39 Educational Workshops and 3 Poster sessions.
• Four open (to the press and public by free on-line registration) Debates will be organized by the SPC. This is a
new feature of EuroMedLab 2017. Controversial issues ofgeneral interest will be discussed in these sessions.
• Plenary Lectures will cover medical issues of paramountinterest and should be useful to all attendees, irrespectiveof sub-specialty.

• The 23 Symposia coordinated by SPC will cover a wide
spectrum of important topics, including new areas of service, research and development. They will consist of threeinvited lectures and two presentations selected from theposters’ abstracts.
• A substantial part of the program will be devoted to Poster viewing and discussion.
• The Educational Workshops will be organized with theactive support of IVD Industry, and they will be reviewed
by the SPC, in order to be fully integrated in to the EuroMedLab Congress.
• A number of Satellite Meetings will be organized before
and after the main Congress in collaboration with other Scientific Societies from Greece and other Europeancountries.

SAVE THE DATES!
1 November 2016

Deadline for poster abstract submission** The early deadline is due to the recent rules for the ﬁnancing and/or the participation in congresses that require
about 3 months for the authorization of PRESENTING authors from the regulating authorities.

30 April 2017

Deadline for reduced registration fees

How to get to Athens
11-15 JUNE

Athens is easily accessed by air, sea and land (road andYork, Larnaca and Dubai come in at least once per day.

railroad) as it is the Greece’s capital and one of the major

Located 33 km (20 miles) southeast of Athens, it is easily ac-cities of the Balkans and the Eastern Mediterranean area.

cessible via Attiki Odos, a major highway part of the Athens

Moreover, moving around the city is a real pleasure. Ath-City Ring Road. Public transport to Athens and the port ofens public transportation system connects the city center

Piraeus is provided by the new metro system, express airportand Megaron - Athens International Conference Center, thebus connections, taxi and high-speed rail.

Congress Venue, with all surrounding areas through a mod-A free return metro ticket to Athens as also as a transport

ern network combining many lines of metro, suburban rail-title allowing the unlimited use of the entire Athens pubic

way, train, buses, trolleys and trams. The road system has

transportation system during the Congress period will

been modernized in recently with new highways. The capi-

be offered to all registered delegates and accompanying

tal is connected with other parts of the mainland through apersons, at their arrival at the airport.

network of railways, buses and coaches. Furthermore, Ath-

By roadens has direct connections to all Greek islands through theAthens can be reached by road via the Western Balkan

ports of Piraeus, Lavrio and Rafina.

countries, Bulgaria, Albania and Turkey.

By airBy railroad

The new award-winning “Eleftherios Venizelos” Athens In-

The main railway network of Greece currently provides links be-ternational Airport, has been serving the Greek capital since

tween Athens and Northern and Southern Greece and the rest

its opening to the public on March 28th, 2001. Its excitingof Europe through the Western Balkan countries and Bulgaria.

design has, according to surveys, made it one of the world’s
leading airports in overall passenger satisfaction for the last

By seafour years and Europe’s fastest growing airport.

There are daily ferryboat connections from Italy (Ancona,At the crossroads of Europe, Africa and the Middle East,Bari and Brindisi, Venice and Trieste) to Patras the second

Athens is a city that is easily accessible from virtually any

largest port of entry to Greece; approximately 220 km (135point of the world. Flights from major airport hubs in London,miles) from Athens. The Middle East is accessible via theFrankfurt, Paris, Berlin, Zurich, Milan, Rome, Istanbul, New

port of Volos located 300km (180 miles) from Athens.

EuroMedLab news
Congress Venue
The EuroMedLab Athens 2017 Congress will be held at theMegaron Athens International Conference Center, one of
the finest and technologically advanced conference venues
in Europe. The center offers an impressive environment ofbeauty, cutting edge facilities and unrivalled client service.
MEGARONATHENS INTERNATIONAL CONFERENCE CENTER
Vassilisis Sophias Ave. & Kokkali Str.
Athens GR-115 21, Greece
Phone: +30 2107282000

Athens Metro Map

Christmas in Athens
11-15 JUNE

Usually they are not white Christmas but there are lights ev-

struments called “triangles”, are singing carols. They areerywhere, shops competing for the best Christmas, extraor-

walking through the neighborhoods, knocking at the doors,

dinarily imagined decoration and lighten Christmas trees

asking from the owner of the house to give them permis-

that can be seen throughout the city, in all neighborhoods.

sion to sing the carols. During Christmas Eve they are sing-

What is unique in Athens during these holidays, in addition

ing “In this house where we have come we wish the ownerto numerous Christmas trees, are the traditional, and deco-

to live a thousand years and his house never to fall apart”.

rated with lights, little boats. Not long time ago, young chil-

Or on New Year’s Eve they are singing “Aghios Vasilis” (thedren used to carry them around when singing Christmas

Greek Santa Claus) is coming from Caesarea, he is bringing

carols from door to door on Christmas Eve. Why a deco-us gifts and…” And what do they get in return? In the oldrated boat instead of a tree? Where this tradition is coming

days, the housewife used to share her freshly baked tra-from? Is it because of the eternal love of the Greeks for theditional Christmas sweets “kourampiedes” and “meloma-sea? Is it because of so many Greeks actually made a livingkarona” but now, most people give to the singing kids main-from whatever the sea had to offer? Is it because the patronly money. During these days, all around the streets, shops

saint of the sea is Aghios Nikolaos (Saint Nicolas) who isand houses, people can hear the echo of Christmas carols.

celebrated on December 6th? No matter what, nowadays aVery few Greek people must exist who never walked as kids

lot of lighten boats, away from the sea, can be seen aroundendlessly around the streets singing Christmas carols anddecorated squares in Athens reminding Greeks their uniquevery few houses all over Greece must exist which do not

tradition in addition of course to Christmas trees.

bake or buy from pastry shops quantities of kourampiedes

On the eves of Christmas, New Year day, and “Foton” (lights)

and melomakarona to last them for all the holiday season.

or Epiphany Day (on the January 6th), groups of children of

And who is the one who brings the gifts for the kids inall ages, sometimes wearing Santa Claus hats or carrying

Greece? The Greek version of Santa Claus. Aghios Vassilis,and hitting the traditional, made of iron, primitive music in-is a Greek orthodox wise Saint from Asia Minor who wears

EuroMedLab news

the same traditional Santa Claus red costume, and he plac-bring it out. It is considered a big blessing for the winneres the gifts under the tree on New Year’s Eve night. But noand it is a great attraction for all Greeks, another opportuni-milk and cookies for the Greek Santa Claus. The first day of

ty to be again outdoors, by the sea.

the year is full of surprises, joy and laughter for all the kids
no matter where they live.
On New Year’s Eve a big concert takes place on Syntagma
square in the center of Athens, not far from our EuroMedLabcongress venue, in front of the Parliament. From there, people can stroll to the old part of the city under the Acropolis.
On January 6th, towards the end of the festive days, according to Greek Orthodox religion the waters are sanctified. InAthens this ceremony takes place in the big fountain by thecity Cathedral, but also in all the nearby ports like Piraeus.
There, a wooden cross is thrown into the water and many
courageous men jump into the sea to grab the cross andThe Congress Organizing
Committee and theScientific Program Committee
together with theOrganizing Secretariat
wish you aMerry Christmas