The 18th ESACT meeting took place in Granada last May,
from 11th to 14th, entitled as “Animal Cell Technology
Meets Genomics”. The meeting was carefully prepared
by the different committees involved in the organization
and scientific
aspects, it gathered 680 people, including scientific
delegates and traders
involved in the parallel exhibition.
The scientific
programme covered a very comprehensive set of lectures,
covering a vaste range of highly interesting topics.
It gave the oportunity to listen both very reputated and stablished
scientists and young PhD students, all of them preparing very
accurate presentations. Many of them showed two of the main
axis that were highlighted in the meeting preparation and
presentation: the increasing impact of the new technologies
in the domain of proteomics and genomics, and the necessary
integration of different disciplines in order to achieve a
desired target. Part of the scientific programme was presented
in two poster sessions, that also had a very high quality
and received a lot of interest and discussion. The posters
preparation was very accurate, and it was difficult for the
members of the poster
award committee to decide the winners
of the best three posters.
In
addition to the main component, the scientific programme,
ESACT meeting are also well known for two additional aspects
highly contributing to their success. The parallel
exhibition gathered about sixty booths exhibiting equipment,
materials and services related to ACT, it was well integrated
to the main Auditorium in the Palacio
de Congresos, and received a lot of interest from the
delegates. The social programme started by the reception
offered by the traders, and had its main highlight with
the visit to the magnificent Alhambra
Palaces and Gardens, followed by a short Spanish
classical guitar concert and a cocktail.
The feeling as a meeting chairman is that the level of the
meeting was very good, and the people attending it enjoyed
its different parts: scientific lectures and poster sessions,
parallel exhibition, social programme and, also, they enjoyed
particularly the city of Granada, its nice atmosphere and
the splendid and bright Spring days we all enjoyed. Once more,
the Granada meeting was confirming the solid evolution of
the ESACT
meeting series, and the continued attention that it receives
from the scientific and technological community working in
Animal Cell Technology in Universities, Research Centers and
Companies.
Finally, I would like to acknowledge very sincerely
all the people who contributed to the success of the Granada
meeting: oral and poster presenters, session chairpersons,
delegates, exhibitors, sponsors, techniciens from the Palacio
de Congresos, support team from Grupo Pacífico, and
specially all the members of the ESACT
Executive Committee, and the Granada Meeting Committees:
Scientific,
Organizing
and Poster Award.
Thank you very much to all of them.

Francesc Gòdia (Chairman)
|