Meetings update

Published: 28 Apr 2017
Category: Meetings update

Recent highlights

Pharmacology 2016
13–15 December 2016 | London, UK

At our recent annual meeting, Pharmacology 2016, we welcomed 1,070 guests from 44 countries to the Queen Elizabeth II Conference Centre in Central London.

The Society hosted are record number of 16 symposia ranging across all aspects of pharmacology, including three sessions organised by our guest societies; the American Society for Clinical Pharmacology and Therapeutics (ASCPT), the American Society for Pharmacology & Experimental Therapeutics (ASPET), the Biochemical Society and the Chinese Pharmacological Society (CPS). Pharmacology 2016 attracted the greatest number of symposia (32) and abstracts submissions (450) to date, which emphasises the growing popularity of the meeting.

Pharmacology 2016 also saw the introduction of the career bootcamps, flash poster presentations and a delegate lounge. Following the feedback received from attendees in our post-meeting survey, all three additions will be featured again at Pharmacology 2017. The most popular sessions continue to be the plenary prize lectures, which filled the lecture theatre to capacity throughout all three days.

To celebrate the 85th anniversary of the Society, a special Welcome Reception was held as part of Pharmacology 2016 at the prestigious National Gallery for a maximum of 250 people (the limit was 150 in 2015). This increased capacity for reception guests was well-received by responses in the feedback survey, as it allowed more delegates to participate and network.  

We are delighted that the Pharmacology 2016 app was downloaded by 41% of attendees and we will be looking into improving user experience and accessibility going forward, to ensure all visitors who want to can benefit and engage.

ITMAT in Edinburgh
17 March 2017 | Edinburgh, UK

The Institute for Translational Medicine & Therapeutics (ITMAT) Meeting was held on the theme of ‘Big Data & the Development of New Medicines’ and was organised jointly by the Royal Society of Edinburgh and the British Pharmacological Society. The meeting welcomed 113 delegates from the UK and Europe, both early and established researchers, from across science and medicine. This was the first ITMAT meeting to be held in Europe, and we are thrilled to have been a part of this successful and well-received event.  
 
Upcoming meetings

8th European Workshop on Cannabinoid Research
31 August – 2 September 2017 | London, UK

The field of cannabinoid research has been one of most vibrant and active areas of pharmacology and biomedical sciences in the recent years. The British Pharmacological Society is proud to host the 8th European Workshop on Cannabinoid Research at the University of Roehampton.

This three-day conference in London will focus on basic and translational cannabinoid research, with perspectives provided by a range of high-profile speakers from around the world. The programme of plenary lectures and scientific sessions/symposia has been arranged by the Organising Committee to bring together scientists from across this changing and exciting field. The symposia will cover the actions of cannabinoids across a broad range of themes/systems including, drug discovery, brain function, inflammation, cardiovascular, gastrointestinal, metabolism, cancer and drug abuse. Students, Post-docs and early career scientists are encouraged to submit their research, and abstracts will be selected for additional oral presentations.

The Organisers look forward to welcoming established academics/researchers, clinicians, postdoctoral researchers and early career investigators, postgraduate students, pharmaceutical industry representatives, policy makers, government agencies and members of the media.
 
Joint meeting with the Society for Medicines Research
5 October 2017 | London, UK

The Society will be organising a joint meeting with the Society for Medicines Research on emerging paradigms in drug discovery. This meeting is specifically geared towards young researchers with an interest in drug discovery research, welcoming attendees from the UK and Europe.

The one-day programme will feature the internationally-recognised speakers Professor Chas Bountra (University of Oxford), Professor Steve Charlton (University of Nottingham) and Dr Darrin Disley (Horizon Discovery). It will provide an opportunity for young researchers to present their research through oral and poster presentations and to network with other scientist working in the field of drug discovery.
 
Pharmacology 2017
11–13 December 2017 | London, UK

We have had consistent feedback from exhibitors, delegates and other key partners that the original dates for Pharmacology 2017 were too close to Christmas and may have prevented significant numbers from attending – especially coinciding with the peak Christmas travel period.

At the start of this year, the Meetings Team worked hard with the Queen Elizabeth II Conference Centre to move the meeting to our preferred dates: Monday 11 – Wednesday 13 December 2017. This decision was made, with Council approval, to enable a larger cohort of delegates and sponsors to attend, and it is hoped that it will be much more economical for many.

Pharmacology 2017 will welcome the Japanese Pharmacological Society as a guest society. Earlier this year, the Meetings Committee Members and Affinity Group Co-chairs reviewed all session proposals and started to put together an attractive programme, which will include 15 symposia and four workshops alongside prize lectures, and an array of other opportunities to learn about recent advances in pharmacology and to network with pharmacologists from around the world.

For further details and programme information please visit the Pharmacology 2017 web page: www.bps.ac.uk/pharmacology2017
 
Changes within the Meeting Team

As a result of the growth of the Society’s growing meetings and events calendar, the Meetings Team is appointing a new Events Co-ordinator role which will support the existing team in the delivery of their many activities. This will increase the Meeting Team to three members of staff. Sophie Bowtell started in this new role in early April.

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About the author

Niall was appointed Lecturer in Pharmacology in the School of Medicine at University College Cork in 2008. He also holds a Faculty position at the APC Microbiome Institute where his research focuses on the microbiota-gut-brain axis. Niall has a PhD in Pharmacology from King’s College London and trained in both the USA and Canada. He is Co-chair of the Society's Systems and Integrative Pharmacology Affinity Group and on the Editorial Board of the British Journal of Pharmacology. He also contributes to the activities of the European Society of Neurogastroenterology and Motility and The American Gastroenterological Association Institute Council.

Susanne joined the British Pharmacological Society from the Royal Society of Medicine, where she had looked after a number of medical specialities and organised clinical and non-clinical meetings and events. Previous to that Susanne lived and worked in Bournemouth and Brussels where she organised educational and pharmaceutical conferences in Europe and North America. She is responsible for the logistical organisation and management of upcoming meetings and events.