2002 Strasbourg - European Society of Human Genetics

Welcoming Addresses
Dear Colleagues,
It is particularly fit to have the ESHG/EMPAG meeting in Strasbourg, as this city houses the European Parliament and many other
European institutions, such as the Council of Europe, the European Court of Human Rights, and the European cultural TV channel
Arte. It is also host for the headquarters of the Human Frontier Science Program Organisation and of the European Science
Foundation, organisations that foster international scientific cooperation.
Strasbourg has a rich history in medicine and in genetics. Medical teaching was established in 1540, and a first chair in medicine
created in 1585. The university hospital has important architectural remains of this period (the old pharmacy and the wine cellar, both
still active). Neurofibromatosis was first described there in 1882, by Friedrich von Recklinghausen, the professor of pathology, who
also introduced the name haemochromatosis in 1889. DNA, discovered in the nearby city of Basel, by Friedrich Miescher, was soon
studied in Strasbourg by the young Albrecht Kossel, later a Nobel Laureate for his work on the chemical constitution of proteins
and nucleic acids (and appropriately, our daily newspaper is called DNA!). The city hosts several major public research centres in
molecular and cellular biology and genetics, and biotech companies. Basel, Freiburg, and Heidelberg, three other major centres of
research in biology and medicine are located within 150 km from Strasbourg, leading to trinational co-operation for development and
teaching of biotechnology.
Strasbourg is one of the most beautiful European cities, rich in architectural treasures (including its magnificent cathedral in pink
sandstone), in picturesque sites with rivers and canals bordered by half-timbered houses or stone palaces, and in art museums. Our
city has a very active cultural life. The social programme will allow you to see the brand new Museum of Modern Art , sample local
gastronomic delights in the beautiful Neo-Renaissance Aula of the Palais Universitaire, and listen to excellent music, from Bach organ
works played on an epoch instrument to lively Gipsy Jazz (two specificities of Alsace musical life). The gourmet will find an extensive
choice of restaurants, from the most sophisticated 3-star Michelin cuisine to the busy and picturesque “wynstubs” around the
cathedral, or to a score of tantalising pastry shops. All these attractions are within 10 minutes reach of the Congress Centre, using the
fast high-tech tram system. For pre or post congress leisure, one can enjoy the beautiful villages lining the Route du Vin (Wine Road),
overlooked by romantic medieval castles, and the picturesque town of Colmar (hosting the famous Issenheimer altar by Grunewald).
The scientific programme offers excellence for all professionals interested in human and medical genetics, and profitable encounters
with colleagues, in an enjoyable environment. We are particularly pleased that the meeting is a joint one with the European Meeting
on Psychosocial Aspects of Genetics. The number of registered participants and exhibitors, the largest ever at an ESHG conference,
is a testimony of the attractiveness of our meetings and of the growing importance of ESHG.
I cordially welcome you and wish you a fruitful and exciting conference from the scientific as well as from the social point of view.
Dear Colleagues,
Bienvenue à Strasbourg,
Jean-Louis Mandel
Local Host ESHG 2002
On behalf of all the members of the EMPAG-2002 programme committee, we welcome participants to our meeting which
focuses on the psychological and social aspects of genetic disease, genetic risk and genetic testing. While the EMPAG
meetings started more than 10 years ago, this is the first to be held in conjunction with the European Human Genetics
Conference organised by the ESHG. We consider this an important occasion, reflecting the enhanced awareness of
psychosocial issues amongst colleagues from all disciplines working in human genetics and stimulating a multidisciplinary
approach in genetic clinics in a growing number of countries.
The scientific programme committees of both conferences have worked together in a very positive way to provide a programme
with jointly organised as well as independently organised sessions which are also accessible to the participants of both meetings.
Hereby it was a prerequisite to enable the EMPAG meeting to retain its own identity including opportunities for participants to
meet informally with colleagues with similar interests, but also to attend sessions together with colleagues attending the ESHG
conference. In addition, ESHG participants are welcome in all EMPAG sessions.
We believe that the EMPAG programme of invited presentations (in sessions planned together with the ESHG), oral
presentations based on submitted abstracts, poster presentations and a workshop, reflects the “psychosocial contribution” being
made by researchers and genetic counselling practitioners in the field of human genetics in Europe and beyond. We look
forward to the lively and thoughtful discussion which we have come to associate with EMPAG meetings. We also hope that the
anticipated success of this first opportunity to hold our meeting in conjunction with ESHG will be an important step resulting in
more collaboration to the benefit of individuals and families confronted with genetic disease. We wish all EMPAG participants a
worthwhile, stimulating, and of course enjoyable, few days in Strasbourg.
Gerry Evers-Kiebooms Lauren Kerzin-Storrar
Co-chairs EMPAG 2002
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