Basic and Clinical Aspects of Cardiac Arrhythmias

Organized by the Faculty Members of the Baltic Summer School,
coordinator Professor Niels-Henrik Holstein-Rathlou.

Place and time
17.08. - 29.08.2008   Theoretical Course, University of Copenhagen, Denmark.
01.09. - 05.09.2008   Laboratory Course Universities of Lund, Kiel and Copenhagen.

Theoretical Course, 17 - 29 August 2008, University of Copenhagen, Denmark
Worldwide experts will present the current knowledge within the following fields:

• Cardiac ion channels and arrhythmias
• Intracellular calcium regulation in cardiac myocytes
• Advanced electrophysiology: models and prognostics
• Genetic approaches to human cardiac arrhythmias
• Ischemia and reperfusion: mechanisms of cardioprotection
• Bioinformatics and systems biology of the heart
• Gap junctions and intercellular communication in the heart
• Cellular signalling in cardiac failure and hypertrophy
• Epidemiology and heart disease
• New preventive and therapeutic treatment strategies and targets

Invited speakers will participate in panel discussions. Course participants are expected to present posters on their work.

 Programme Theoretical Course

Laboratory Course, 1 - 5 September 2008, Universities of Copenhagen, Lund, and Kiel
20 of the young scientists participating in the theoretical course (which have been selected for a BSS 2008-stipend) will also have the opportunity to train in well-established research laboratories. The participants will join on-going research projects using state-of-the-art techniques ranging from genetic analysis of ion channels to epidemiologic research in cardiac disease. Specifically there will be focus on expression systems for molecular research on ion channels and gap junctions, site directed mutagenesis, techniques for genetic screening of populations, techniques for studying gap junction function, patch clamp of ion channels, confocal microscopy of living cells, assessment of mitochondrial function, Langendorff techniques for arrhythmia research and cell survival studies, and assessment of endothelial function in human subjects.

Programme Laboratory Course

Baltic Summer School Stipends
The Baltic Summer School is supported by the EU under the Marie Curie Program which has a special focus on young scientists with research experience at the late phase of their PhD studies as well as at the medical specialist or post-doc levels (or an equivalent academic training). For such researchers participation fee will be taken over by EU. Stipends to support accommodation and travel are available under the program. They are granted on an individual basis upon application, taking into account the cheapest travel connections. A maximum of 75 BSS 2007-stipends will be offered for the theoretical course and 20 BLC 2007-stipends will be offered for the laboratory course.

Application deadline
Application deadline to participate in the courses and for receiving a stipend is Monday, June 2, 2008. The theoretical course will also be open for a number of participants that do not receive a BSS-stipend. Notice of acceptance of applications by Monday, June 2, 2008. PLEASE MAKE SURE YOU RECEIVE AN ACKNOWLEDGEMENT OF RECEIPT OF APPLICATION.

Online-Application

Participation fee
Theoretical Course 300 Euro.

Programme and application details at:
www.balticsummerschool.net or by contacting the Baltic Summer School office:
Gabriele Ach, Department of Physiology,
bss@balticsummerschool.net,
University of Kiel,
Olshausenstraße 40,
24098 Kiel, Germany