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Venue

The 6th International Symposium on Canine and Feline Reproduction will be held at the University of Veterinary Sciences in Vienna, Austria from July 9 to11, 2008. The Symposium is being hosted by the Centre for Artificial Insemination and Embryo Transfer and the Clinic for Obstetrics, Gynaecology and Andrology of the Vienna Veterinary School.

The University of Veterinary Sciences in Vienna was established in 1765 as the oldest institution of veterinary education in the German-speaking countries, and the third-oldest veterinary school in the world. In 1996, the Veterinary School moved to a totally new campus that offers state-of-the-art lecture halls and conference facilities.

This Wednesday through Saturday Symposium is also being held as a Pre-Conference Meeting to the 16th ICAR (International Congress on Animal Reproduction) which will be held following the ISCFR symposium, in the city of Budapest, Hungary, from Sunday to Thursday, July 13-17, 2008.

Scientific Sessions

The ISCFR Symposium will consist of nearly three days of plenary sessions, review lectures as well as oral and poster presentations on current research. Several informal gatherings to discuss research and poster presentations are scheduled. Abstracts are being solicited on all aspects of reproduction in domestic dogs and cats, and in all exotic, captive and endangered carnivores. These include gamete biology, in vitro fertilization and embryo culture; cryopreservation of gametes and embryos; reproductive physiology and endocrinology of ovarian cycles and pregnancy, the male genital tract, reproductive behavior, and applied clinical theriogenology. Sessions will include clinical and applied research reports as well as reports on basic research. Additionally, sessions and workshops organized by EVSSAR will address a variety of clinical issues.

Plenary sessions each day will include invited and featured reviews and special reports on basic research and clinical applications selected from among abstracts submitted. Parallel sessions on Thursday and Friday afternoon will provide reviews by featured speakers along with short oral communications of accepted abstracts. These sessions will focus on clinical as well as basic research, and include reviews and research reports on clinical reproductive problems, diagnostic methods, and veterinary treatment protocols.

Preliminary Program

The symposium sessions will be organized to best accommodate the presentation of accepted abstracts. Many presenters have already committed to provide reviews or research presentations on a variety of subjects. Some of the confirmed speakers are listed below.

Session Topics

Ovarian, Oocyte and Embryo Biology, Culture and Cryopreservation

Physiology and Endocrinology of Ovarian Cycles: Basic and Applied Aspects

Reproduction of Exotic and Endangered Species

Pregnancy and Neonatal Life: Basic and Applied Aspects

Breeding Management and Clinical Procedures

Semen, Semen Cryopreservation and Andrology: Basic and Applied Aspects

Clinical and Pathological Problems in Small Animal Reproduction

Reproductive Biotechnology and Immunology

Clinical Workshops

Sperm Evaluation, Semen Chilling and Chilled Transport

Assisted Reproduction

Ultrasonographic Examination of Male Genital System

Confirmed Presenters

A. Fontbonne (France)

B.A. Rodrigues (Brazil)

W. Farstad (Norway)

J. Thuroczy (Hungary)

K. Jewgenow (Germany)

A-R. Guenzel-Apel (Germany)

J. Verstegen (USA)

P. Concannon (USA)

G.C. Luvoni (Italy)

M. Wanke, (Argentina)

K. Onclin (USA)

C. Linde-Forsberg (Sweden)

S. Arnold (Switzerland)

G. England (UK)

T. Tsutsui (Japan)

V. Meyers-Wallen (USA)

S. Schafer-Somi (Austria)

Registration & Deadlines

Attendance is by pre-registration and payment of the registration fee. If you are interested in attending and wish to be placed on an announcement mailing list, please submit your email address to the conference secretariat. On-site registration will be available at an additional cost. Details on registration fees, housing alternatives and purchase of extra copies of the symposium proceedings will be available in September 2007.

Language

The congress will be held in English language. Simultaneous translations into other languages will not be provided.

Abstracts & Posters

Abstract Submission Deadline: January 20, 2008.

All participants are invited to submit an Abstract for presentation at the symposium. The work presented can involve in vivo, in vitro or clinical studies on any aspect of reproduction in dogs, cats or wild, captive or endangered carnivores. All abstracts will be reviewed by the Abstract Review Committee and authors will be informed by or before February 15 as to whether or not their abstract is accepted for standard oral presentation, expanded oral presentation, or poster presentation. All accepted abstracts will be included in the Symposium Abstract and Program Book that will be provided to all registrants.

Submissions must be made with the understanding that the first author will attend the meeting to present the oral or poster presentation. Any other intention for presentation at the meeting must be stated at the time of Abstract submission. Abstract submissions are also made with the understanding that the authors will provide an extended manuscript following any such invitation made on or before February 15, 2008. The manuscript deadline will be July 1, 2008. Accepted manuscripts (3-8 printed pages based on assigned length) will be included in the planned Symposium Proceedings book to be published after the end of the conference. Please note that, for each abstract, the presenting author should be listed as the first author. Any individual can be a co-author on multiple abstracts, but can be the first and presenting author on a maximum of two abstract. For exceptions, contact the Symposium Secretariat. Each abstract submission should have the following statement appended:

I/we agree, if requested, to provide an expanded more detailed manuscript represent 3-8 printed pages (as directed) for publication in the symposium Proceedings to be published following the meeting. Such manuscripts will be due July 1, 2008.

Posters presentations will be assigned based on topics, as best fits the Symposium program, or will be assigned at the request of the author wherever possible. In those instances, please indicate "POSTER REQUESTED" on the submission form. All Posters will be on display in the Poster Gallery throughout the meeting, and the Gallery will serve as the venue of several of the social gatherings. Detailed instructions for poster preparation will be provided and posted on the Internet by January 30, 2008. All posters need to be on display by 4:00 PM on Wednesday July 9.

Click here, to download PDF version of the Guidelines for Abstract Preparation for printing.

Symposium Proceedings Volume

The full proceedings of the symposium will be published as a monograph. The basic registration fee will include the cost of one copy of the Symposium Proceedings volume to be published and distributed after the meeting. All orders for extra copies of this Proceedings monograph should be made and prepaid at the time of registration. The book will be printed in a limited edition related to the number of prepaid orders. If you have colleagues who may be interested in obtaining the Proceedings please make them aware of this policy.

Accommodations

There are many hotels between the Veterinary School and the City Center. Those hotels allow for easy visiting of the city center and easy transportation to the Veterinary School. Delegates are responsible for making their own hotel arrangements. See the section on Travel and Tourist Information below for related information and websites.

Travel and Tourist Information

There is a significant opportunity to combine attendance at both the ISCFR and the ICAR meetings. Vienna is connected by direct non-stop flights to all major European cities and some major cities in other continents. Traveling from Vienna to Budapest (ICAR) by direct train (takes approx. 3 hours, by boat, 3-4 hours, by car, 3 hours or by air. Vienna airport is located 20 km (12 miles) southeast of the city. The fastest way from the Airport to the city is the City Airport Train (CAT). There are also frequent train and bus connections from the airport to the city center and to the 21st district close to the Veterinary School (City Airport Train to Floridsdorf station 30 min and a further 10 min by tramway to the vet campus).

Vienna can easily be reached by train and car from all neighbouring countries. Trains from Germany, Switzerland, and western Austria arrive at the Westbahnhof (West Station). If you are coming from Italy or Hungary, you will arrive at the Sudbahnhof (South Station). For details on trains see http://fahrplan.oebb.at/bin/query.exe/dn. Detailed directions to the Veterinary School, registration desk, to local hotels, and information about local transportation options, will be provided soon.

Social Events

The social program for the meeting includes a Beer and Wine Poster Party and Reception on Thursday evening, an opportunity to attend a Vienna landmark on Thursday evening - Klosterneuburg Monastery and Heurigen Restaurant for wine tasting and typical Viennese food. A Closing Banquet on Friday Evening will include visit of the Schlosshof Animal Park and a gala dinner an the baroque Schlosshof palace.

Tours of the City Zoo and the Veterinary School will be available to participants before and after the meeting, i.e., Wednesday morning and Saturday morning. Additionally, city tours and zoo visits for accompanying persons can be arranged at the registration desk throughout the meeting.

Vienna

Vienna, Austria's capital and largest city, is the country's cultural, economic, civic and educational center. The city center offers many museums and tourist attractions. The University of Veterinary Sciences is located just north of the river Danube and is accessible by excellent public transportation.

Contact Information

Dr. Sabine S Schafer-Somi

Centre for Artificial Insemination and Embryo Transfer,

University of Veterinary Sciences

Veterinarplatz 1, A-1210, Vienna, Austria

Ph: +43 (0)1-25077-5401

Fax: +43 (0)1-25077-5490

E-mail: Sabine.Schaefer@vu-wien.ac.at

Organizing Committees

Local Organizing Committee, University of Veterinary Sciences in Vienna

Jorg Aurich, LOC Chairman

Sabine Schafer-Somi, LOC Secretary

Christine Aurich

Petra Bergholt

EVSSAR Representatives to ISCFR-EVSSAR Joint Meeting

Gaia Cecilia Luvoni (ITA)

Susi Arnold (SUI)

Julianna Thuroczy (HUN)

EVSSAR Executive Board 2007-2008

Gaia Cecilia Luvoni (ITA), President and Editor

Susi Arnold (SUI), Vice-President

Julianna Thuroczy (HUN), Treasurer

Philippe Bogaerts, (BEL), Secretary

Konrad Blendinger, (GER)

Angelika Von Heimendahl, (UK)

Tom Rijsselaere, (BEL)

Wojtech Nizanski, (POL)

Proceedings Editorial Committee, ISCFR

Gary C. W. England (UK), Chair

International Organizing Committee, ISCFR

Patrick W. Concannon (USA)

Gary C. W. England (UK)

Sabine Schafer-Somi (AUT)

John Verstegen (USA)

Feel free to forward and distribute this announcement to fellow veterinarians and veterinary students.