Highlights from ECE 2017 in Lisbon

This year’s European Congress of Endocrinology (ECE), held 20-23 May in Lisbon, was a great success - with over 3000 delegates and just over 1800 abstracts, the whole spectrum of endocrinology was covered. The comprehensive programme included 6 plenary lectures, 30 symposia, 6 new scientific approach sessions, 6 debates, 14 oral communication sessions, 16 Meet the Expert sessions, 3 endocrine nurse sessions and 2 clinical guidelines sessions. Read on to find out more about this year's highlights.  

ECE 2017 saw the introduction of the ECE On Demand site and app, which enabled delegates to access ECE content more easily, with congress content searchable by focus area. In addition, webcasts of many sessions were uploaded within 24 hours, allowing attendees to watch lectures that they were unable to attend. Keep an eye on the ECE 2017 website for more exclusive content from the congress.

On Saturday, ECE 2017 got off to a magnificent start with a welcome from ESE President, AJ van der Lely, and featuring live music with a local flavour at the Opening Ceremony. President van der Lely also introduced the Geoffrey Harris Prize Lecture winner, Matthias Tschop, who gave an excellent talk on hormone-based precision medicine. The European Journal of Endocrinology Prize lecture was won by Miguel Lopez, who talked about hypothalamic targets for tackling obesity. Science for the day was rounded off with the first plenary, where John Wass talked about the fantastical world of hormones. Then delegates enjoyed an evening of socialising and networking at the Welcome Reception.

Sunday kicked off early with simultaneous Meet the Expert sessions, where delegates could meet and question experts from a range of disciplines in an informal setting. These Meet the Expert sessions also ran on Monday and Tuesday with downloadable hand-outs available, so delegates didn’t miss out if they were unable to attend. The Presidential Address was followed by the second plenary, with David Mangelsdorf, on the secret life of FGF21. The first guidelines session on the management of Turner syndrome was very informative and well attended. Sunday also featured the first two, well-received nurses’ sessions, and a lively debate on the role of medical therapy for non-functioning pituitary adenomas. Andre Lacroix delivered the last plenary of the day, on the regulation of steroidogenesis by aberrant hormone receptors.

On the endocrinology packed Monday, Hans-Ulrich Haring delivered a plenary on the role of brain insulin resistance in prediabetic phenotypes. This was followed by a lecture from European Hormone Medal winner, Evanthia Diamanti-Kandarakis, on endocrine disruptors. Monday also saw the second guidelines session on aggressive pituitary tumours. The Clinical Endocrinology Trust Lecture was given by Renato Pasquali and detailed new perspectives on polycystic ovary syndrome management. In addition, Jan Nedergaard presented the last plenary of the day, on the browning of adipose tissue, to a packed auditorium.

On the final day of ECE 2017, Bruce McEwen gave the IPSEN Fondation Lecture on redefining neuroendocrinology. Winners of the 2017 ESE Young Investigator Awards and the Poster Prizes were announced and will be added to the ESE website soon. The final plenary from Manuel Sobrinho Simoes was on thyroid oncology, and the end of ECE 2017 was marked by ESE President, AJ van der Lely, at the Closing Ceremony.

We hope you enjoyed ECE 2017 and hope to see you at ECE 2018 in Barcelona!