Immunology for Oncologists

Accreditation
This course is CME accredited by the

• Accreditation Council of Oncology in Europe (ACOE) which certifies that the programme is recognised a high quality value both from a scientific and didactic point of view. ACOE granted 15 CME points. The programme is also being assessed by the European Union of Medical Sepcialits (UEMS) for EACCME (European endorsement) accreditation.
• European Society for Medical Oncology (ESMO) who granted 15 ESMO-MORA points, category 1.
• The programme has furthermore been submitted for CME accreditation to the Italian Ministry of Health.

LEARNING OBJECTIVES
The course will cover the most relevant aspects of tumour immunity:
a) immune surveillance by NK cells, macrophages and the innate immune system
b) identification of tumour antigens
c) characterization of antigen specific memory T cells
d) immune reconstitution
Immunological approaches to tumour therapy will be discussed, such as immunization with peptides or antigen-pulsed dendritic cells, adjuvants and other methods to enhance immune responses, monoclonal antibodies, bone marrow transplantation and preventive cancer vaccines.

HANS WYDER FELLOWSHIPS
A limited number of Hans Wyder fellowships are available to cover registration, accommodation (in sharing room) and travel costs. To apply for a fellowship, please provide the organiser by 14 February 2005 with your short CV, letter describing the motivation to attend the course, the abstract and the indication of travel costs.

VENUE
The course will be held at the Centro Congressi Monte Verità (www.monteverita.org) in Ascona (Southern Switzerland), a post-graduate training centre belonging to the Swiss polytechnic schools. The centre, which is located on a beautiful hill overlooking Ascona and the Lago Maggiore, is 3 km from Locarno, 40 km from Lugano (Switzerland) and approximately 100 km from Milan (Italy).

TRANSPORTATION
Airport transfers will be organised for arrivals on Saturday, 16 April, from the Lugano airport and from the Milan Malpensa airport. Transfers will leave the airports at 14:00 hours. On Tuesday, 19 April, a transfer will be organised to Lugano and to Milan Malpensa airport and will leave the course venue at 7:30. Pre-registration to the transfers is required by 14 March 2005. Please complete the relevant section in the accommodation form.

INSURANCE
The organisers bear no responsibility for untoward events in connection with, before, during and after the course. Participants are strongly advised to take out their own personal and travel insurance coverage.

ORGANISER AND REGISTRATION
Chatrina Melcher
Bellinzona Office
IOSI Building, Ospedale Reg. Bellinzona e Valli
CH-6500 Bellinzona, Switzerland
Tel: +41 91 8118050 - Fax: +41 91 8118051
E-mail: eso2@esoncology.org

Participants with interesting data/studies relevant to the subject of the course are encouraged to submit an abstract to be considered for oral or poster presentation. Abstracts can be sent by e-mail to eso2@esoncology.org or through the on-line submission (link below).