PREVIEW: ABN annual conference 2017 – a port to the world

ABN david nicholl

Conference details: ABN annual conference 2017, 3-5 May, 2017; Liverpool, UK

Liverpool, the home of the Beatles and the Mersey Beat is the location for the ABN annual conference 3-5 May. So what better place (with apologies to the Fab 4 and their lyrics), than the ACC Liverpool, to “Come Together” and enjoy 3 days of cutting-edge clinical neurology…rather than flogging your-self “Eight Days a Week”?

“We can work it out”

Liverpool is also famous as a Port City and the theme of the meeting is ‘A Port to the World’, reflecting not only its nautical history, but also how our meeting will take us on a neurological journey, covering themes such as:

  • Setting a Precise Treatment Course:
    Personalised Medicine in Neurology with talks from Patrick Chinnery (Cambridge), Kevin Talbot (Oxford) and Munir Pirmohamed (Liverpool)
  • Global challenges in neuroinfection (Tom Solomon (Liverpool), Hadi Manji (London), and Onn Min Kon (London)
  • Navigating new mechanisms & treatments in neurodegeneration – John Collinge (London), Cath Mummery (London) and Anne Rosser (Cardiff)
  • “To boldly go…” innovative developments in neuroscience – Phil White (Newcastle), Roger Barker (Cambridge), Anthony Macquillan (London)
“From us to you”

We were pleased with the success of our 2016 abstract bursary for junior researchers which supported an increase of 20% in abstract numbers and the award of almost 100 bursaries. We have had a record number of abstracts submitted for Liverpool, another 15% increase on 2016, and will be awarding another 100 abstract bursaries. Our poster exhibition this year will include a separate section featuring the work of ABN fellows and our pre-meeting training and development day on Tuesday 2nd May will again offer specific sessions for foundation doctors, specialist registrars and junior researchers. We will also be holding our regular ‘Need to Know Neurology’ session for GPs.

“With a little help from my friends”

The success of the ABN conference depends on the contributions of many different men and women. We are delighted to announce that our invited speakers include Prof Eric Hoffman, Associate Dean for Research, Binghamton University, State University of New York, who will deliver the 23rd Gordon Holmes lecture: ‘Duchenne’s Muscular dystrophy – from gene discovery to treatment’ and Prof Andy Schwartz, Dept of Neurobiology, University of Pittsburgh who will deliver the Practical Neurology lecture ‘Recent progress towards high performance neural prosthetics”. His labs are currently developing prostheses capable of restoring reaching, grasping and manipulation to immobilised individuals.

The Special Interest Groups will once again run their own meetings over three different sessions during the conference, allowing delegates to choose from 15 different areas of interest. As mentioned above the plenary sessions will address topics on wide ranging themes – a port to the world of neurology.

So “Don’t let me down” and get yourself a “Ticket to Ride” and enjoy the ABN annual meeting in the vibrant setting of Liverpool.

Download the programme here.

David Nicholl
Honorary Assistant Secretary Association of British Neurologists