September 2002

Registered Charity No. 326739

Dear Colleague,

BSID Annual Meeting Monday 7 - Wednesday 9 April 2003
Next year's annual meeting of the BSID will be held at the University of Southampton on 7-9 April 2003. The meeting will begin on Monday 7 April with an affiliated meeting of the British Contact Dermatitis Group in the morning and a BSID/Skin Club symposium in the afternoon entitled "The mechanisms underlying the therapeutics of skin disorders".

In addition, on Monday 7 April we plan an evening educational session 6.00-7.00 pm, with a focus on therapeutics comprising two overview lectures. Dr. Braham Shroot will talk on "Rational approaches to topical formulation", and this will be followed by "The drug discovery process" by Prof. Tony Quinn. This session is aimed particularly at clinical trainees and non-clinical scientists who have just entered skin-related research, but more senior colleagues are also welcome to attend. A drinks reception will be held immediately afterwards at 7.00pm.

Scientific Programme
The programme, which begins on Tuesday 8 April, will include sessions for both oral and poster communications. We are able to accept approximately 30 oral communications of 15 minutes each, including 5 minutes discussion time. The programme will also include an overseas guest speaker, the "GlaxoSmithKline Lectureship" - Dr. Gary Fisher from Ann Arbor, USA talking on UVR and EGF receptor signalling, and our UK guest speaker - Prof. V. Hugh Perry from Southampton talking on inflammation in the CNS.

Reduced registration fees will be available this year for PhD students and medical students. The number of travel bursaries for young researchers presenting a talk or poster at the meeting has been increased up to 10.

Local Organisation
The local arrangements for the meeting are being made by Prof. Eugene Healy and Prof. Peter Friedmann. The meeting will be held in the University of Southampton campus. Accommodation will be in an adjacent building on campus and both en suite and standard rooms will be available.
Registration forms and further information regarding accommodation and arrangements for the meeting will be posted on the website.

Abstracts
All abstracts should be submitted by 7 December 2002 and returned to: Prof. N.J. Reynolds, University Department of Dermatology, Medical School, Framlington Place, Newcastle upon Tyne NE2 4HH, UK. Abstracts may be submitted via the web page or by post on the enclosed abstract form. We are aiming to move over entirely to web-based submission next year.

The abstract instructions must be strictly adhered to, and those not conforming to the required format are liable to be rejected. Faxed abstracts will not be considered; the quality does not permit reproduction for publication. Each individual will be limited to one oral presentation but individuals may additionally be co-authors on other oral presentations.

There are no restrictions on the number of poster presentations. Presenters who wish only to be considered for a poster presentation should tick the box on the abstract form. Abstracts should also be submitted electronically, preferably by e?mail to bsid@ncl.ac.uk or on computer disk. Files should be saved in Rich Text Format or in Word 97 or less.Selected abstracts will be printed both in the programme booklet, which will be sent to registrants prior to the meeting, and in the British Journal of Dermatology.

Late breaking abstracts will be considered for poster presentation only. Deadline for late breaking abstracts is 20 February 2003.

Social Programme
A Welcome Reception/Buffet Supper will be held on the evening of Monday 7 April. The cost of this will be included in the Registration Fee and we hope as many delegates as possible will attend.
The Conference Dinner will be held on the evening of Tuesday 8 April.

Fellowships and Bursaries
The BSID is pleased to be able to offer various Fellowships and Bursaries and the Young Investigator Award. Please see the separate information sheet for details.

Job Advertisements
These will be posted on the web page. A template is available and all sections including a closing date should be completed. Adverts will be removed after the closing date.

BSID Website
We have been working closely with Ludwood Interactive over the last six months developing and constructing the BSID website. This will be ready for launch in a week or so and can be viewed at www.bsid.org.uk. I think this will provide a useful, up to date and readily accessible resource. We would welcome feedback and comments and aim to review the structure of the site on an annual basis.

Newsletters
We now have the majority of members' e-mail addresses. In future, newsletters will only be sent by email and posted on the web. Any members wishing to receive a paper copy must specifically request this from the BSID office.

Best wishes.
Yours sincerely,

Nick J. Reynolds
Chairman