3rd Thesinge biofilm meeting

                                 The 3^rd Thesinge biofilm meeting

                                           BIOFILMS “all over”

 

When?          September 20-21, 2010

Where?         Thesinge, a picturesque rural village,
                      9 km north of the city of Groningen, The Netherlands

Hosted by the rural village community of Thesinge, the Thesinge biofilm meetings have provided a unique scientific forum for a small, select group of maximally 70 people active in the field, collected for two days "away from it all" to focus formally and informally on biofilm science and technology issues.

Thesinge biofilm meetings attempt to provide open, provocative discourse to stimulate thinking and creative approaches in a friendly, family-style atmosphere.There are no proceedings, only an abstract/program book, and active exchange.

What’s it about?

Biofilm research is booming since the field of application is extremely wide. Over the past decade, new techniques have become available for the basic study of interactions between microorganisms and surfaces to answer questions like:

• “What makes them stick? What causes them to detach? Why do they form a biofilm?”

Although the meeting is set-up to include all fields of application, primary focus is on biomaterials implant-related infections - the number one cause of implant failure.

Prevention of biofilm formation is the ultimate goal in nearly every field of application. This has stimulated a worldwide search for new antimicrobial surfaces and approaches.
The Thesinge meeting will highlight new developments in antimicrobial coatings:

• “Why silver? Do QUATS really work? What are options for antimicrobial-releasing coatings?”

Objectives/goals :All participants are asked to contribute intellectual and other creative input to inspiring new ideas, new approaches and new information to participants.

                                  Let’s make sure that we do not surrender to the biofilm!
                                                Come and help find new solutions.

Symposium format: Informal single-track sessions with participation limited to 70 people. Emphasis is on exchange and discussion, and the program is set up such that we try to allow as many participants as possible to give a presentation.

We distinguish three different types of scheduled presentations and off-the-floor presentations:

40-min keynote addresses will be given by:

• Terri Camesano ( Worcester, MA, USA)
  Worcester Polytechnic Institute, Department of Chemical Engineering
  “Physico-chemical mechanisms of microbial adhesion”
   
• Tom Bauer (Cleveland, OH, USA)
  Cleveland Clinic, Department of Anatomic Pathology
  "Clinical perspectives on device-related infections"
   
• Joerg Tiller (Dortmund, Germany)
  Technical University of Dortmund,
  Department of Biomaterials and Polymer Science
  “Never surrender: antimicrobial surfaces!”

Selected lectures: Participants selected by the organizers invited to give 20-min lectures

Mini lectures: Participants selected by the organizers invited to give 10-min lectures

Off-the-floor: Opportunities for 5-min “hot topic” or “point-counterpoint” off-the-floor-addresses at the close of each day.

 

In order to participate, please use the attached application form or download it from: http://www.bme-umcg.nl/biofilmmeeting  and email to:  thesinge.conferences@gmail.com

 

**Applicants will be allowed to the symposium on a “first come, first served” basis**

 

Admission will be definitely closed after 70 participants are registered.

Only a limited number of participants from one institution will be allowed.

**Meeting sponsors are welcomed with complementary attendee registrations**

 

Those attending should plan to arrive in Groningen, NL (~2.5 hour train ride from Amsterdam-Schiphol airport) by Monday morning, September 20, 12.00h at the latest for meeting-arranged transport to Thesinge, outside of Groningen.

 

The meeting ends Tuesday afternoon, September 21 at 18.00 h.

 

This symposium is sponsored by: The W.J. Kolff Institute (University of Groningen), DePuy , Wrigley, Straumann, Cochlear, Gaba, Philips Sonicare, Proctor & Gamble, DSM, Polyvation, BASF, Dolphys , Heraeus

                                                    BIOFILMS “all over”

 

On behalf of the organizing committee:

David Grainger
Henny van der Mei
Henk Busscher