2nd International Congress

The success of the 1st International Congress "Highlights of Assisted Reproduction" organised by the Laboratory of Reproductive Physiology-IVF of the Democritus University of Thrace in June 2002 has commanded” us to progress on to organising the

2nd International Congress of Assisted Reproduction

which will take place on the 5th and 6th of June 2004 in Alexandroupolis (“Thraki Palace” Hotel).

The 2nd Congress is co-organised by both the Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology - IVF Unit and the Laboratory of Reproductive Physiology-IVF of the Democritus University of Thrace and is addressed to Gynaecologists, Andrologists, Endocrinologists, Geneticists, Biologists, Embryologists and generally to all scientists who work or plan to engage in the field of Assisted Reproduction.

Worldwide accredited Greek and International speakers will present the new developments in the fields of Infertility, Andrology, Genetics, Assisted Reproduction and Embryology and will also project different and perhaps contrasting views through lectures and round tables.

A special event will be the participation to the congress of Prof. Robert Edwards who, as it is known to all, is a living legend in the scientific field of Assisted Reproduction. Prof. R Edwards on the chance of his participation to the Congress will be announced Honorary Professor of the School of Medicine of the Democritus University of Thrace.

The Congress is dedicated to the memory of Prof. Otmar Bauer who contributed substantially to the establishment of the first centre of in-vitro fertilisation in the Prefecture of East Macedonia and Thrace.

Alexandroupolis, home to the School of Medicine of the Democritus University of Thrace, is located on the South-Eastern end of the European Union and is hoping to constitute a bridge of communication between Europe, Asia and the Balkans. It is a rapidly developing city, which combines many natural beauties with contemporary facilities. The congress will take place in a five star contemporary congress hall situated on the outskirts of the city, beside the coast of the Thracian Sea, adjacent to the Medical School facilities. The vicinity of archaeological sites, museums, natural conservation areas of high interest such as the Evros river delta, the forest of Dadia, and the island of Samothrace as well as the city nightlife will give the participants the chance for brief and enjoyable escapes. We are expecting to see you in this special scientific event.

Alexandroupolis, January 2004

Even though in-vitro fertilisation is a very effective therapeutic method, several areas are still being researched and are in need of improvement. The aim of this Congress is to present the latest developments on the improvement of ovulation induction and treatment of difficult problems.

· Right choice of surgical procedures in order to improve the IVF outcome in case of endometriosis, hydrosalpinx, and male factor

· Intrauterine insemination (IUI) and stimulation protocols for Intrauterine insemination cycles

· Use of pre-implantation genetic diagnosis for improving the chances of embryo implantation

ORGANIZING Committee

SCIENTIFIC Committee

S. AL-HASANI Professor of Embryology, Head of Assisted Reproduction Laboratory, UNIVERSITATSKLINIKUM
Schleswig -Holstein,
Klinik fur Frauenheilkunde und Geburtshilfe, Germany

M. ABOULGAR Professor of Obstetrics & Gynecology, The Egyptian IVF- ET Center 3, Cairo, Egypt

PAUL DEVROEY Clinical Director, Center for reproductive Medicine, Brussels, Belgium

C. DEMIREL Associate Professor of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Ankara Universitesi, Ankara, Turkey

K. DIEDRICH Professor of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, UNIVERSITATSKLINIKUM
Schleswig -Holstein,
Klinik fur Frauenheilkunde und Geburtshilfe, Germany

J. G. GRUDZINSKAS Professor of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Reproductive Physiology Laboratory, London St. Bartholomew’s Hospital, London, U.K.

LARS HAMBERGER Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Goteborg University, Sahlgrenska University Hospital, Goteborg, Sweden

WILLEM OMBELET Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology,
Ziekenhuizen Oost-Limburg, Genk, Belgium

A. PELLICER Professor of Obstetrics and Gynaecology,
Instituto Valenciano de Infertilidad, Valencia University, School of Medicine, Spain

A. RUIZ Embryologist, Director of IVF Laboratory, Instituto Valenciano de Infertilidad, Valencia University, School of Medicine, Spain

H. TOURNAYE Professor of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Center for Reproductive Medicine, Dutch-speaking Brussels Free University, Belgium

A limited number of abstracts will be presented as free oral presentations and will be published on the Proceedings of the Congress.

The abstracts must be submitted by e-mail to the secretary’s office (emakr@otenet.gr) no later than April 15, 2004 in the abstract submission form which follows.

Each abstract should be accompanied by the authors’ registration to the Congress. All those that will be chosen will be presented in the form of Free Oral Presentations. Presentation time will be 8 minutes (including discussion).

For any supplementary information or clarification you may contact the Congress secretary. Tel: 2310-230456/276012 or e-mail: emakr@otenet.gr

The abstracts presented at the Congress will be published in the Proceedings therefore you are requested to follow the guidelines:

4. The names follow after a line gap with small letters, first NAME (in full) and then SURNAME

7. The main text will follow after a line gap and will have the following order:

The official languages of the Congress are: English and Greek. Simultaneous translation will be provided.

Alexandroupolis has an Airport which is linked with "Eleftherios Venizelos" Airport (Athens). Kavala (120 km far from Alexandroupolis) and Thessaloniki (300 km far from Alexandroupolis) have also International Airports. There are good rail and road connections between Thessaloniki, Kavala and Alexandroupolis.

The weather in Alexandroupolis during June is warm, sunny and pleasant. The average temperatures are 22-30^oC during the day and 18-22^o C during the evening.