The essence of epidemiology is to measure disease occurrence, pattern, causes and effects of health and disease conditions. Observations are carried out in defined populations which then can be compared with other target groups. The current seminar introduces the commonly used measures that help our understanding of the burden and distribution of disease and the measurement of disease outcomes in relation to a population at risk. This Seminar is designed to provide a forum for scientists, clinicians, and public and private health experts to exchange new ideas and to discuss problems and solutions to the current global health burden and challenges in the future. 

Pesticides caught new attention in the media and in political debates. Recent studies indicate that their impact on human health and ecosystems has been underestimated. As we import a big part of our agricultural raw materials we also share responsibility for the pesticides used abroad. The Symposium explores strategies to reduce pesticides in agriculture – both in Switzerland and at global level. It identifies the role for civil society, consumers, private sector and state in this process.

Programme

The Swiss Competence Centre for Chemical and Toxicological Analytics (ccCTA) is holding a 2-day meeting on "Omics" in Les Diablerets, Switzerland, on 3 - 4 September 2015.

The ETS 2015 meeting will address key topics as transgenic animal models and how to use these at their full potential in DART testing. Contemporary research on inflammation during pregnancy and its effects on fetal development and health will be presented. The value of developmental research in zebrafish will be elaborated on, with special emphasis on the regulatory aspect and distinct uses by the pharmaceutical, chemical and cosmetic industries. From a clinical perspective, the developmental issues involved with pulmonary hypertension will be discussed.

Food authenticity and food adulteration were the major driving forces for establishing food law regulations world wide. Whereas our ancestors were concerned with analysing the water content of milk and wine, we recently have been confronted with mislabelled horse meat. Especially expensive foodstuffs such as caviar, truffles or meat are in the focus of criminal minds in an attempt to enhance their profits. Thus, we can pretend without a doubt that the topic food authenticity and adulteration is both traditional and modern at the same time. Invited plenary speakers will provide insight and guidance on suitable analytical techniques and strategies to detect food adulterations and to test for food authenticity. Experts from analytical laboratories and from regulatory bodies will share their concepts of risk assessment and risk management of food adulterations.

The objective of this workshop is to teach participants the skills to develop robust nano-bio assays for evaluating the potential applications or implications of engineered nanomaterials (ENMs). This will be accomplished by teaching principles of measurement science in assay design, interlaboratory comparisons, and key issues for nano-bio measurements. Participants will gain experience developing assays by working in breakout groups to analyze several common assays using the versatile cause-and-effect analysis, to design control experiments to assess assay performance and uncertainties of key processes, and to refine protocols for each of the assays. 

A training session on the development of AOPs is organised on 16 June 2015 at the OECD Headquarters in Paris. The training team, a subgroup of the Extended Advisory Group on Molecular Screening and Toxicogenomics (EAGMST), has developed a hands on training, the objectives of which are to address principles, best practices and weight of evidence of AOPs, as well as the development of AOPs in the AOPwiki. See draft agenda for further information.

In this Forum Animalfree Research will discuss the possibility of establishing a 3R-Center in Switzerland, and how it could contribute to improved implementation of the 3R-concept. It brings together experts from existing 3R-Centers in order to benefit from their knowledge and discuss options and challenges of founding a comparable Swiss institution. See programme.

"Data-driven innovation in the pharma and biotech industries" This event is particularly relevant for large and small pharma and biotech companies interested in:  • Using the free public tools, data resources and services that are available through SIB and ELIXIR partners  • Hearing successful examples of companies that are active in utilizing big data in their business  • Networking and building collaborations with other companies and ELIXIR partners.  This ELIXIR Innovation and SME Forum is organized by SIB Swiss Institute of Bioinformatics and ELIXIR, and will take place alongside the successful [BC]2 Basel Computational Biology Conference.