Brussels, 07 Sep 2004
Who?
EU Directorate-General, Joint Research Centre (JRC).
What?
Media briefing on Joint Research Centre support in developing diagnostic and therapeutic tools.
When?
11h00 Monday, 4 th October, 2004.
Where?
VU Medisch Centrum, Amsterdam & the JRC's Institute for Energy, Petten. The European Commission's Joint Research Centre (JRC) is organising a practical media briefing to demonstrate how scientists are devising more effective therapies. This briefing will show how the JRC and its partners spanning the medical profession, government, patient organisations, foundations, industry and policy-makers from EU institutions, are working together to improve the coherence and efficiency of their research.
During this event, a range of eight research projects will be presented and discussed with media. Concrete demonstrations of the latest developments towards practical and meaningful early stage diagnosis and therapies for patients will also be given on-site.
Key highlights of the press conference include:
- Alpha-immunotherapy - radioactive 'bullets' attacking cancer at its source
- Boron Neutron Capture Therapy (BNCT) at the High Flux Reactor, Petten
Insights into further areas will be offered, such as alternatives to animal testing in carcinogenicity testing; biomedical radioisotope production and regulation; early diagnosis with fluorescence endoscope; and the identification of biomarkers for kidney cancers.
Participating media will have the opportunity to freely network with European scientists working in the field of cancer research. An inter-active poster session detailing each of the projects will precede the briefing.
Cutting-edge research activities undertaken at the VU Medisch Centrum will also be presented. This includes an on-site visit to see a newly developed four dimensional CT scanner - one of the first in Europe - providing greater precision during treatment.
Following the morning presentation (in Amsterdam) on Boron Neutron Capture Therapy, participating media will be brought to Petten to see the High Flux Reactor. They will be given the latest news on Phase II BNCT clinical trials that have just started for the treatment of melanoma metastases to the brain - a first in Europe. Journalists will have the opportunity on-site to enter the reactor and see how this unique treatment process works in practice, while discussing with experts future prospects for thyroid, liver, head and neck cancers.
Media Programme Highlights
10:00 - 11:00: Interactive poster session & meeting with project leaders
11:00 - 12:15: Press conference & project presentations followed by media Q&A
12:15 - 13:00: Visit of hospital facilities & demonstration of 4 dimensional CT scanner
13:00 - 13:45: Networking lunch
15:00 - 17:00: Tour of the High Flux Reactor, Petten followed by onward travel for media to Amsterdam airport or train station.
Further information
Aidan Gilligan, Media Officer, JRC Public Relations Unit; Tel: 00 32 (0)2 2986482; Fax: 00 32 (0)2 2996322;
Email: aidan.gilligan@cec.eu.int; On JRC: www.jrc.cec.eu.int
Note to media
Whereas no restrictions will apply on media numbers at the briefing, on-site visits of the VU Medisch Centrum, Amsterdam and, particularly, the High Flux Reactor, Petten will be controlled. Media are, therefore, requested to complete and return the registration form overleaf, as soon as possible.
Media registration form: PDF Word
http:///www.jrc.cec.eu.int/index.asp
Item source: http://www.jrc.cec.eu.int/download/dn200 40907rdcancer.pdf