47th Annual Scientific Meeting of the
European Society for Clinical Investigation

Albufeira, Portugal
17 – 20 April 2013

Dear friends and colleagues,

It is an honor and an immense pleasure to invite you to attend the 47th Annual Meeting of the European Society for Clinical Investigation (ESCI), which will take place in April 17-20, 2013 in Albufeira, Portugal. The meeting will be held in an amazingly beautiful area by the Atlantic coast, which I am sure will surprise all the participants. We hope this is the beginning of a great adventure for all of you. Please consider this meeting as a perfect combination between body and soul.

ESCI is an interdisciplinary society made for and by clinicians and basic scientists across Europe. The society works to integrate the different aspects of biomedical research from  bench to  bedside and increase the odds for successful translational application of basic science. The Annual Scientific Meeting is the major annual event of ESCI and bridges basic and clinical researchers from all ages and academic experience. We always aim at excellence  and we expect that invited speakers and attendees will present work that is the framework to the development of more effective therapies in order to improve human health.

The meeting will have eight major workshops on various aspects of biomedical science. During the two and half days of the meeting, we will have top quality workshops focusing on topics such as phagocyte biology, menopause, oxidants and antioxidants, rheumatology, cardiology, pathophysiology of renal stones, digestion and nutrition, as well as mitochondrial biology. Besides, we are organizing the 2nd edition of the ESCI Course on Methodology of Research, which we are sure will attract young researchers. We will also organize active poster sessions, where young presenters of clinical and basic research data can interact among themselves and with senior scientists. The abstracts submitted and accepted to the meeting will be published in a supplemental issue of the European Journal of Clinical Investigation (last 2011 ISI impact factor: 3.08).
In addition to the workshops, we have invited a number of renowned scientists to give plenary talks on latest developments in biomedical research. Also, the winners of the two ESCI Awards on Basic/Translational and Clinical Research (given to exceptional young European scientists) will also give award talks at the meeting.

The venue of the meeting is the five star CS São Rafael Atlantic Hotel, known for its privileged location close to the beach of São Rafael, a few minutes from Albufeira downtown. All rooms have ocean or garden views, which present a typical Mediterranean setting, with large extensions of palm and olive trees. More lodging is also available very close to the meeting hotel. The surrounding areas offer plenty of opportunities to those interested in golf, biking, swimming and diving, fishing or hiking, among other activities. The hotel also offers several swimming pools where great science can be discussed over a glass of wine with your feet in the water.

Albufeira, located less than one hour from the airport of Faro and with easy access by car, is located in the southern part of Portugal. It can also be reached by train or by those which prefer to land at the airport of Lisbon (250 Km north). It has a population of about 14,000 people, which basically explodes during summer time, since this is a hot spot for tourists (about 5 million people can visit the city during the summer). Albufeira was occupied initially by the Romans (“Baltum”) and then by the North Africans, which gave it their present name (derived from Al-Buhera). The Arabs created a network of agricultural and fishing sites. In fact, the fishing tradition is still very present in the city, as well as the remnants of the old Arab architecture. After sunset the city downtown becomes alive with all its bars and pubs and a tidal wave of visitors.

By the way, please do not miss the Congress Dinner, traditionally meant to let researchers relax while tasting great traditional food and chatting with colleagues coming from all over the world. You are in for a great time!

We look forward to welcoming you all to Albufeira in the southern tip of Portugal. We will all be part of a great ESCI Meeting. Please let us uplift you.

Paulo J. Oliveira, Ph.D.