January 2002

Dear Colleague,

Annual Meeting, University of East Anglia, Norwich, 25-27 March 2002

1. Scientific programme
We have accepted 30 oral presentations and 31 posters for the main meeting running from Tuesday 26 March to Wednesday 27 March. For those delegates who wish to claim CME (Continuing Medical Education) points, a total of 5 hours a day may be claimed.
There will be two guest lectures: Tuesday 26 March at 12.15-1.00 pm - the GlaxoSmithKline Lectureship - Dr. Jan Nico Bouwes Bavinck from Leiden University Medical Centre, The Netherlands, will speak on "Genetic and environmental risk factors for non-melanoma skin cancer" and on Wednesday 27 March at 11.15-12.00 pm, Dr. Jonathan Pines of Wellcome/CRC Centre, University of Cambridge, will talk on "Regulation of mitosis by proteolysis".

2. Affiliated meetings
The British Photodermatology Group is holding its annual meeting in the morning at 10.00am until 1.00pm on Monday 25 March. The Skin Club is holding a symposium on "Skin Allergy" beginning at 2.00pm until 5.00pm on Monday 25 March. Programmes of these meetings are enclosed. Please note that pre-registration is required.

3. Educational session
On Monday 25 May we will hold an evening educational session 6.00-7.00 pm, comprising two overview lectures. Professor Jonathan Rees will give an introductory talk on molecular biology/genetics entitled "Molecules, genes and skin research", and this will be followed by "The principles of photophysics, photochemistry and photobiology applied to dermatology" by Professor Brian Diffey. This session is aimed particularly at clinical trainees and non-clinical scientists who have just entered skin-related research, but more senior colleagues may also feel they need updating! A drinks reception and buffet will be held immediately afterwards at 7.00 pm.

4. Meeting arrangements
The local arrangements for this meeting have been co-ordinated by Dr. Clive Grattan. The meeting and accommodation will be at the University of East Anglia. The scientific programme will be held in Lecture Theatre 2 on the main campus. Accommodation will be in adjacent halls of residence and en suite rooms only will be available. Please note that the University of East Anglia requires delegates to pre-register for the meeting, and that the latest date for registration is 11 March 2002. Payment must accompany registration forms. Refunds will not usually be given if you are unable to attend.

A welcome reception sponsored by Syngenta Central Toxicology Laboratories, for which there is no charge, will be held at 7.00pm on the evening of Monday 25 March in the Sainsbury Centre and this will be followed by a buffet supper from 8.00pm also in the Sainsbury Centre. The conference dinner by Delia Smith's Canary Catering will be held on Tuesday 26 March in the Top of the Terrace Room at Norwich City Football Ground. We are grateful to Aventis for generous sponsorship of the dinner.

5. Committee membership and request for nominations
Jonathan Barker's second 3-year term on the committee expires at the time of the annual meeting. I would like to thank Jonathan, on behalf of the committee, for his valuable input and contributions over the last six years. Marie Cumberbatch's 3-year term also expires at the annual meeting and Marie has indicated that she is willing to stand for a second term. Two positions on the committee will therefore become vacant and nomination forms for new committee members are included with this mailing. According to constitution, the committee membership should contain at least two non-medically qualified scientists and therefore at least one of the two positions should be filled by a non-clinical scientist. Nominations need to be received 6 weeks in advance of the annual meeting, i.e. by 11 February 2002.

6. Late breaking abstracts
The date of the abstract deadline was moved this year from November to 14 December 2001. This year we are able to accept late breaking abstracts for consideration as a poster presentation. Abstracts should be submitted on the BSID abstract form and electronically (on computer disc or e-mailed to bsid@ncl.ac.uk by 21 February 2002. Authors will receive a decision from the committee within one week and abstracts will subsequently be published in the BJD.

I look forward to seeing you at the 2002 meeting and hope that you will contribute towards its success.

Best wishes
Yours sincerely,

Nick J. Reynolds
Chairman

Enc. Registration form
Programmes (BSID, BPG, Skin Club)
Nomination form for committee (BSID members only)
Minutes of AGM 2001 (BSID members only)

REMINDERS
We are aiming to communicate with our membership electronically after March 2002. Some members' e-mail addresses are still required. If you haven't already done so, please send to bsid@ncl.ac.uk
Annual subscriptions were due on 1 January 2002. Please forward payment to the Treasurer. Payment by standing order is preferred, and forms are available on request.