The forthcoming Second BHD Symposium, to be held in Washington DC in April later this year, builds on the success of the first BHD Symposium (held in Roskilde, Denmark 2008) and the preceding years’ scientific accomplishments. Approximately 25 research articles have been published in highly respected, peer-review journals since Roskilde. Most notably we now have a more insightful understanding of the role of folliculin in renal tumourigenesis, thanks to the development of several animal models, two folliculin mutation databases and a published guide to clinical management of BHD Syndrome (Menko et al, 2009). It would be an understatement to say there was a lot to discuss at the second Symposium! Attendees will get the chance to listen to oral presentations and view poster presentations from researchers based around the world covering both clinical and molecular aspects of current BHD research.
This year’s invited guest speak is Dr. Berton Zbar who has over 20 years experience in the field of renal cancer genetics and the organisers are delighted that he has agreed to address the symposium. Before his retirement, Dr Zbar was chief of the Laboratory of Immunobiology at the Center for Cancer Research, NCI-Frederick, USA, where he and his colleagues have studied families affected with the BHD Syndrome as well as von Hippel-Lindau (VHL) syndrome, hereditary papillary renal carcinoma (HPRC), and Hereditary Leiomyoma Renal Cell Carcinoma (HLRCC).
Further announcements about the Second BHD Symposium will be posted on its dedicated page here. Individuals interested in attending this event are encouraged to register and reserve accommodation at the Washington Marriott at Metro Center Hotel through the provided link to obtain discounted rates. Those wishing to submit an abstract can do so here – the abstract submission deadline for both poster and oral presentations is 15th February 2010.
www.BHDSyndrome.org – The primary online reference site for BHD Syndrome