This report will be published in full [Harris, R., Rhind, J.A., J Med Genet, in press]. We are grateful to Professor Peter Harper and to Dr. A.W. Johnston for helpful discussions, to Professor Martinus Niermeijer for pre-piloting the questionnaire and to the following respondents for their information: Professors Aula (Finland), Basopoulos-Kyrkanidou (Greece), Beighton (South Africa), Berg (Norway), Connor (UK), Czeizel (Hungary), Fellous (France), Fryns (Belgium), Ginter (Russia), Harper (UK), Haughton (Ireland), Kucerova (Czech Republic), Legum (Israel), Mattei (France), Maximillian (Romania), Mikkelsen (Denmark), Müller (Switzerland), Niermeijer (Netherlands), Olah (Hungary), Passarge (Germany), Romeo (Italy), San Roman (Spain), Schmid (Switzerland), Schnedl (Austria), Tavares (Portugal), Temtamy (Egypt), and Wajlstrom (Sweden).

European Society of Human Genetics

25th Annual Meeting

Barcelona, May 6–9, 1993

The Scientific Programme will consist of Plenary Lectures, Workshops, Free Communications, Poster Sessions and Poster Exhibition. It will include the recent developments in human genetics, as well as clinical genetics, cytogenetics and molecular genetics.

Abstracts and preliminary programme

A call for abstracts will be sent in autumn 1992. Abstracts should be submitted in English according to the abstract form rules together with the registration form, no later than January 30th, 1993.

The Programme Committee will select high-quality abstracts for slide or poster presentation.

For further information contact:

Dra. Francisca Ballesta

Hospital Clínico y Provincial

Unidad de Genética

C/Villarroel, 170

Barcelona 08036 (Spain)

Phone: 34-3-454.60.00

Fax: 34-3-454.66.91.

Mauro Baschirotto Annual Award in Human Genetics

The European Society for Human Genetics is proud to announce that Mr. and Mrs. Baschirotto are making available through the ESHG a 1,000 ECU award for outstanding achievements in human genetics.

Recipients of this prestigious award will be European research groups, teams or, exceptionally, individuals who have contributed substantially to our understanding of human genetics.

The European Society has constituted a committee of experts which will select the next recipients from nominees presented by two members of the ESHG. The next proclamation will be at the Society Meeting in Barcelona, May 6–9, 1993. If you would like to nominate a group or a team for this award please send a documented letter, signed by two ESHG members, before January 30, 1993, to the following address:

J.J. Cassiman

ESHG — Chairman of the Scientific Program Committee

M. Baschirotto Award

Center for Human Genetics, University of Leuven

Campus Gasthuisberg, Herestraat 49

B-3000 Leuven (Belgium)

figure 1

During the last meeting of the ESHG, Prof. Lore Zech (Uppsala, Sweden) was assigned the Mauro Baschirotto Award for her outstanding contributions in the field of Human Cytogenetics. The picture shows Prof. Zech while accepting the plaque accompanying the prize.

Recognition of the Specialties of Medical Genetics

Rodney Harris

Judith A. Rhind

Genetic Enquiry Centre, Department of Medical Genetics, Manchester, UK

In the spring of 1991 the Board of the ESHG set up a working party to review manpower and training in medical genetics both within and outside the European Community. This is a summary of the first phase of the review consisting of the results of a questionnaire survey of clinical genetics (to be published in full; see footnote).

Clinical genetics is officially recognised in only four EC countries (Germany, Netherlands, Portugal, UK) with a total of 171 specialists, and in six non-EC countries (Austria, Czechoslovakia, Finland, Israel, Norway, and Sweden) with 119 specialists. In seven EC and five non-EC countries there is no formal recognition but 44 and 34 specialists, respectively, were reported to be working in these countries, for example paediatricians but also others including non-medical staff who offer clinical genetic services. Procedures for accreditation differ and in this first survey it is difficult to compare the roles and training of clinical geneticists. Informants from five EC countries (France, Germany, Netherlands, Portugal, UK) and six non-EC countries (Czechoslovakia, Egypt, Finland, Israel, Norway and Sweden) reported established training programmes in clinical genetics with a total of 109 and 49 trainees, respectively. In Denmark ad hoc arrangements add another 3 trainees. The reported duration of training varies from 2 years (France, Germany) to up to 9 years (Denmark). There is general agreement about the skills required by clinical geneticists and consequently about the content of training programmes, and in more than half the EC and non-EC countries respondents strongly support the establishment of a European diploma in clinical genetics.

Recommendations

These findings demonstrate inadequate and inconsistent provision for clinical gentics in Europe, while little is known of the services and training available for laboratory genetics. The ESHG Board therefore recommends:

  1. (1)

    the expansion of the Working Party to include additional clinical, molecular and cytogenetic members to discuss the role of specialist medical geneticists and their training, and the possible establishment of common European diplomas in medical genetics;

  2. (2)

    the following terms of reference: to establish and keep up to date a database of clinical and laboratory genetic services and training in Europe and adjoining countries. To make recommendations to EC and national governments in order to achieve official recognition and resources.