Since its establishment in Vienna in 1991, together with the organising ECR Office, the ECR has grown into the second largest medical meeting in Europe and the second largest radiological congress worldwide. It has continued to evolve and refine itself ever since, in terms of science, education, supporting programmes, and services. The increasing number of submitted abstracts and their improving quality bear witness to the continuing excellence of ECR's scientific programme. The constitution of the ESR Travel Service on the other hand, together with the unique Arts & Culture programme, with a dedicated booth at the congress venue and a special brochure for every delegate, exemplify the ECR's inimitable efforts to provide its participants with the best service a meeting may offer.
The ECR 2008 Congress President is Prof. Maximilian F. Reiser, from Munich, Germany. Under his aegis the popular 'ESR meets ...' programme, which gives three countries the opportunity to present themselves and their latest scientific accomplishments, will be enriched with an important further component. Besides the 2008 guest countries Germany, Israel and India, ECR will for the first time invite a partner discipline of radiology, to improve the ongoing dialogue with other medical specialties. The first guest in this new series will be general medicine.
The well-known high quality of ECR's scientific programme is reflected in the eminence of its lecturers and moderators from more than 40 countries, as well as in the diversity of its topics. ECR 2008 has attracted an all-time record number of abstract submissions, with 5,269 abstracts representing an increase of almost 20% compared to last year. Highlights of ECR 2008 will be three Categorical courses about MRI, breast imaging and Multidetector CT; three New Horizons Sessions on MR diffusion and perfusion, minimally invasive therapy and high field applications (above 3T); three State-of-the-Art Symposia on liver tumours, coronary CTA and new methods in the treatment of small bowel diseases; as well as the esteemed Hospital Manager Symposium. The Foundation Course on interventional radiology, three Professional Challenges Sessions, 18 Special Focus Sessions, 75 Refresher Courses, numerous interactive teaching sessions and the ever popular Image Interpretation Quizzes will top off the scientific programme. The focus of the upcoming meeting is on women in radiology, with a Professional Challenges Session dedicated to this theme, a Mini Course on women's imaging and a Special Focus Session about uterine fibroid embolisation.
The accompanying technical exhibition is a tribute to the involvement of an increasing number of companies from all over the world (more than 270 have already registered for ECR 2008) and their demands for more space and visibility. After the tremendous enlargement in 2007, it has now expanded into several neighbouring locations. The newly established so-called 'ECR City' is due to fulfil all needs of the industry partners as well as those of their clientèle.
In keeping with its reputation as one of the most innovative meetings in the world of science, ECR always tries to come up with new ideas of how to serve its delegates. As a logical consequence, the ESR Travel Service was founded in 2006 to facilitate travel and accommodation arrangements for all guests of the congress. An easy-to-use online tool was developed, which allows delegates to browse through a range of hundreds of hotel rooms on offer throughout Vienna. From the most exquisite, luxurious suite to cosy, unpretentious rooms, the selection will certainly cater to everybody's taste.
The beauty and diversity of ECR's host town, Vienna, is best represented in its cultural multifariousness. Thus each meeting participant is provided with a special Arts & Culture programme. A booth at the heart of the congress venue is dedicated to this service, with skilled personnel on hand to answer all related requests. The magnificent Arts & Culture Brochure, a virtual picture book of Vienna's artistic landscape, offers descriptions of museums & exhibitions, and detailed programmes of operas and concerts, theatre and dance performances. Enclosed in every congress bag, it will most certainly become an essential requirement for any trip through Vienna.
For further information, please visit:
http://www.myesr.org
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About The European Congress of Radiology
The European Congress of Radiology represents the medical specialty of Radiology throughout Europe and the Mediterranean. The ECR comprises an Executive Committee, a Programme Planning Committee, a Technical Exhibition Committee, an International Relations Committee, and 15 Scientific Subcommittees.
The next ECR congress will be held from March 7-11, 2008, in Vienna, Austria. For more information on ECR meetings and initiatives, visit www.myesr.org.