Dear colleague,

I am delighted to announce that the 18th Annual ESACT-UK meeting will be held on 3rd- 4th January 2008 at the superb Wellcome Trust Hinxton Conference Centre near Cambridge (see http://www.wtconference.org for more details). We expect between 100 and 120 participants, a mixture of scientists from academia and industry, PhD students and postdoctoral scientists, and trade sponsors.

This year the meeting will consist of a pre-conference workshop on light microscopy, oral presentations, poster sessions and a trade exhibition. Networking opportunities will be available around the poster and seminar area. Spaces for trade exhibitors may still be available. Please contact Phil Offin () if you require further information.

We already have an exciting preliminary scientific programme in place which is detailed below.

Submissions/abstracts are now invited for consideration as oral presentations (15 min) or as posters in areas that are of interest to the delegates. The closing date for abstract submission is 30th November 2007. Details on how to submit an abstract or register for the meeting are described below.

Please note, that students who are ESACT-UK members (or join the society), and whose abstract is accepted for either an oral or poster presentation, will be considered for a bursary covering the cost of registration and accommodation.

The deadline for registration is Friday November 30th . A late fee applies after this date.

I look forward to seeing you at the meeting

ESACT-UK meeting secretary


Preliminary Scientific Programme

Confirmed Speakers

Session 1

A Novel Bioreactor System for Manufacturing in Stem Cell Therapy and Tissue Engineering
Julian Chaudhuri, University of Bath

Identification of novel signal transducers in the mammalian unfolded protein response
Saeed Khan, Durham University

The Current BioProcessing Environment in the UK
Malcolm Rhodes, BioProcessUK
Session 2
The Human Tissue Act and the Implications for Primary Cell Lines

Gordon Stamp, Imperial College and Cancer Research UK

Development of a 3D tissue scaffold of human mesenchymal stem cells

Paul Genever, University of York

The development of methods to improve cell culture performance of mammalian cells
Mohamed Al-Rubeai, School of Chemical & Bioprocess Engineering, University College Dublin
The use of chromatin remodelling elements to increase antibody expression in CHO-K1 cells
Fay Saunders, UCB Celltech
Session 3 Student/Postdoc session
Session 4
Fermentation and Process Optimization
Mark Rendall, Lonza Biologics

Measurement and control of viable cell density in cGMP manufacturing processes

John Carvell, Aber Instruments Ltd, UK


The interaction between fermentation and the early stages of downstream processing
Eli Keshavarz-Moore, Dept Biochemical Eng, UCL
Session 5
Developing highly productive cell culture processes for producing therapeutic antibodies
Andy Racher, Lonza Biologics


PRE-CONFERENCE WORKSHOP

“Getting the most from your microscope”

Thursday 3rd January 2008 (10am-12pm)

Hixton Conference Centre, near Cambridge

This year ESACT-UK will be running a pre-conference workshop on light microscopy on the morning of Thursday 3rd January. This workshop is being organised by Dr Roland Fleck (NIBSC) and Olympus UK Ltd and involve presentations and hand-on experience.

This workshop is free of charge to ESACT-UK members who have registered for the 18th Annual ESACT-UK scientific meeting. Only delegates attending the scientific meeting will be eligible to attend the workshop.

The workshop will be limited to a maximum of 14 places. These will be allocated on a first come first served basis. You will be notified by email prior to the scientific meeting if your workshop application has been successful. To apply for the workshop please tick the “I wish to attend the workshop on Light Microscopy on Thurs 3rd January 2008“ box on the registration form.

For workshop delegates travelling from outside the Cambridge area accommodation for Wednesday 2nd January 2008 can be provided. We will contact you to ascertain if you require accommodation for Wed 2nd Jan if you are selected for the workshop.

For more details about the workshop please contact:


REGISTRATION for 18th Scientific Meeting, 3rd – 4th Jan 2008

I wish to attend the ESACT-UK meeting on Thursday-Friday 3rd- 4th January 2008, at the Wellcome Trust Hinxton Conference Centre near Cambridge (see http://www.wtconference.org for more details)..

Surname: ...... First name: ...... …….

Address for correspondence: ......

...... ……….

Tel: ...... Fax: ...... email: ...... …….

Please tick the appropriate boxes:

I wish to give an oral presentation (Delegates whose presentations are selected will be able to attend the meeting free
of charge. Those not selected will be able to present a poster. Normal attendance fees will apply).
My abstract is enclosed. Closing date for abstracts is 30th Nov 2007.
I wish to present a poster.
My abstract is enclosed. Closing date for abstracts is 30th Nov 2007.
I am an ESACT-UK member/ new member and wish to apply for a bursary. Closing date for bursary
applications is 30th Nov 2007. Please enclose a supporting letter from your supervisor with your abstract.
The committee is keen to encourage young scientists to become more actively involved in the running
of the society. Please tick the box if you would be interested in finding out more.

The title of my abstract is: ………………………………………………………………….

I wish to attend the workshop on Light Microscopy on Thurs 3rd January 2008

Accommodation and meal requirements:

I require accommodation on the night of Thursday 3rd Jan (included in full registration fee).
Male / Female
For all delegates, please tick if you WISH to attend the Society Dinner on Thursday evening
(included in registration fee).
I require a special diet. Please give details: …………………………………………

Registration fees:

£160 ESACT-UK member, residential* £75 member, day rate**

£230 Non-member, residential* £100 non-member, day rate**

* includes all meals including society dinner on Thursday

** includes lunch, excludes society dinner (additional £40) and accommodation

Please note a late registration fee of £35 will be charged for applications received after 30th November .

My registration fee is enclosed with this form. Please ensure that your name is
clearly associated with the cheque. Please make cheques in sterling payable to ESACT-UK.
I agree to my details being made available to trade exhibitors

Post completed forms to: Meetings Secretary, Cambridge Antibody Technology, Granta Park, Cambridge CB21 6GH

ESACT-UK 18th Annual Meeting 3-4 Jan 2008

Further Information

Venue The 18th Annual ESACT-UK meeting will be held on 3rd-4th January 2008 at the Wellcome Trust Hinxton Conference Centre near Cambridge (see http://www.wtconference.org for more details).

The meeting will start on Thursday 3rd and finish mid to late afternoon on Friday 4th. A preconference workshop on light microscopy will also be held. Residential fees include all meals during the conference period. Day rate fees only include lunch and refreshments. Accommodation will be provided in rooms adjacent to the Conference Centre. Adequate parking is available.

Oral communications

Abstracts selected for oral presentation will be allocated a 15 min slot. We suggest 10-12 minutes for the presentation and 3-5 minutes for discussion. In fairness to all presenters, time will be strictly adhered to. Presentations should be PowerPoint presentations sent to the meeting secretary in advance of the meeting. Invited speakers will generally be allocated a 30 min period to include the presentation and time for discussion. A prize of £500 will be awarded to the presenter of the best oral communication, as determined by a panel of three judges. The prize will be used to assist the winner in attending a conference relevant to their work in animal cell technology. (Presenters must be ESACT UK members and invited speakers are not eligible for this prize).

Poster communications

Posters are normally attached by Velcro (we will provide if required). Do not use heavy card for backing your poster. The posters will be on display for the whole meeting and authors are requested to be at their posters during poster sessions. A prize of £250 will be awarded to the presenter of the best poster, as determined by a panel of three judges. The prize will be used to assist the winner in attending a conference relevant to their work in animal cell technology.

Abstracts Abstracts should be submitted typed in 12 point Times Roman font, ready for reproduction on a single A4 sheet. The abstract should include the title, authors (underline the presenting author) and addresses in the heading. Abstracts will be reviewed by the Organising Committee, but will not be edited for typing errors etc.

Bursaries Members of ESACT-UK may apply for one of a number of bursaries to help them attend the meeting and present their work. To apply please enclose a brief CV and supporting letter explaining why this meeting would be beneficial to you, together with your abstract.

Society dinner and wine reception

Following the Thursday afternoon scientific sessions, there will be a wine reception in the Poster and Trade Exhibition area. All delegates are invited to this social occasion as it is included in the registration fee. The society dinner (price included in residential fee, £40 for day delegates) will be held immediately afterwards. A cash bar will be available all evening.

·  ESACT-UK membership

If you would like to join the Society, please e-mail to receive a membership pack. The annual subscription is £12 if paying by cheque and £8 if paying by standing order.

If you would like to receive ESACT-UK membership information

please contact the ESACT-UK secretary directly by e-mail: