The European Association for the Study of Diabetes (EASD) is a scientific association founded in
Montecatini Terme
Montecatini Terme is an Italian municipality (''comune'') of c. 20,000 inhabitants in the province of Pistoia, Tuscany, central Italy. It is the most important center in Valdinievole. The town is located at the eastern end of Piana di Lucca ...
, Italy in 1965 with Joseph Hoet as Founding President. The aims of the association are to encourage and support research in the field of
diabetes
Diabetes, also known as diabetes mellitus, is a group of metabolic disorders characterized by a high blood sugar level ( hyperglycemia) over a prolonged period of time. Symptoms often include frequent urination, increased thirst and increased ap ...
, the rapid diffusion of acquired knowledge in that field, and to facilitate its application.
Membership
The association is based on individual membership and embraces
scientist
A scientist is a person who conducts Scientific method, scientific research to advance knowledge in an Branches of science, area of the natural sciences.
In classical antiquity, there was no real ancient analog of a modern scientist. Instead, ...
s,
physicians
A physician (American English), medical practitioner (Commonwealth English), medical doctor, or simply doctor, is a health professional who practices medicine, which is concerned with promoting, maintaining or restoring health through th ...
, laboratory workers,
nurses
Nursing is a profession within the health care sector focused on the care of individuals, families, and communities so they may attain, maintain, or recover optimal health and quality of life. Nurses may be differentiated from other health c ...
and students internationally who are interested in diabetes and related subjects. An Active Member is an individual holding a
medical degree
A medical degree is a professional degree admitted to those who have passed coursework in the fields of medicine and/or surgery from an accredited medical school. Obtaining a degree in medicine allows for the recipient to continue on into special ...
or a scientific worker with an academic degree who has paid the current annual membership fee. Members are entitled to vote at the general assembly, which is held during the annual meeting, and are eligible for election to the council and to the executive committee. Membership also provides the possibility of attending the annual meetings of the association at a considerably reduced registration fee. Active members receive monthly the official journal of the association,
Diabetologia, which publishes articles on clinical and experimental diabetes and
metabolism
Metabolism (, from el, μεταβολή ''metabolē'', "change") is the set of life-sustaining chemical reactions in organisms. The three main functions of metabolism are: the conversion of the energy in food to energy available to run cell ...
. In addition there are rapid communications and review articles on selected topics of current interest by leading experts in the field.
The active membership of the association currently numbers more than 3000 individuals from over 100 countries. The association also bestows honorary membership on any individual whose medical or scientific contribution to diabetes research has been outstanding; the first honorary member of the association was
Charles Best.
Structure
The association is governed by a General Assembly (members) and a
Executive Committee of 5-9 memberswhich is elected by the General Assembly.
[https://www.easd.org/sites/default/files/EASDeV_Bylaws_valid250816.pdf ]
Annual meeting
Th
annual meetingof the association is held in a different European city each year. It attracts 17,000–18,000 participants from over 100 countries worldwide.
Abstracts
An abstract is a brief summary of a research article, thesis, review, conference proceeding, or any in-depth analysis of a particular subject and is often used to help the reader quickly ascertain the paper's purpose. When used, an abstract always ...
are invited from members and non-members. All abstracts are anonymously reviewed by a programme committee, chaired by the honorary secretary. The EASD was one of the first international associations to introduce the anonymous review of abstracts. The scientific programme of the meeting, providing titles of the lectures and symposia, is made available online at an early stage, and, once confirmed, the speakers' names are made available about 6–8 weeks before the start of the meeting. All abstracts accepted for presentation can be accessed online via the online programme. A search function assists the visitor in finding abstracts in their field of interest. Since 2012 the EASD Virtual Meeting presents posters and talks from the conference online free of charge.
To assist the participation of young presenting authors, the association has established a travel fund from which over 100 awards are made available for each annual meeting.
The association awards four major prizes annually: the
Camillo Golgi
Camillo Golgi (; 7 July 184321 January 1926) was an Italian biologist and pathologist known for his works on the central nervous system. He studied medicine at the University of Pavia (where he later spent most of his professional career) betwee ...
Prize, the
Claude Bernard
Claude Bernard (; 12 July 1813 – 10 February 1878) was a French physiologist. Historian I. Bernard Cohen of Harvard University called Bernard "one of the greatest of all men of science". He originated the term ''milieu intérieur'', and the a ...
Medal, the
Minkowski Prize, the Albert Renold Prize Lecture and the EASD-
Novo Nordisk Foundation
The Novo Nordisk Foundation is an international enterprise foundation focusing on medical treatment and research.
In 2021, the foundation had a net worth of $93.73 billion (697 billion DKK),Novo Nordisk Foundation - Annual report 2021: https:/ ...
Diabetes Prize for Excellence. The recipients of these prizes deliver a lecture at the Annual Meeting.
Postgraduate education
The association holds annually an EASD Scientists Training Course and a
Robert Turner Clinical Research Course to attract new talent to diabetes research in different centres throughout the world. Nominations are invited from EASD members. Together with the
Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation
JDRF is a nonprofit 501(c)(3) organization that funds type 1 diabetes (T1D) research, provides a broad array of community and activist services to the T1D population and actively advocates for regulation favorable to medical research and approval o ...
(JDRF), EASD organises a yearly workshop in
Oxford
Oxford () is a city in England. It is the county town and only city of Oxfordshire. In 2020, its population was estimated at 151,584. It is north-west of London, south-east of Birmingham and north-east of Bristol. The city is home to the ...
, United Kingdom, where 20 seniors and fellows come together.
The association organises both European and Extra-European postgraduate courses.
To date EASD has held
postgraduate education
Postgraduate or graduate education refers to Academic degree, academic or professional degrees, certificates, diplomas, or other qualifications pursued by higher education, post-secondary students who have earned an Undergraduate education, un ...
courses in Albania
Austria
Azerbaijan
Brazil
Bulgaria
Cameroon
China
Croatia
Czech Republic
Denmark
Ethiopia
France
Georgia
Germany
Greece
Hungary
India
Iran
Ireland
Israel
Italy
Kazakhstan
Kenya
Lithuania
Macedonia
Malta
Nepal
Oman
Palestine
Panama
Poland
Portugal
Romania
Russia
Serbia
South Africa
Spain
Sri Lanka
Tanzania
Turkey
UAE
UK
Ukraine
Uzbekistan
Vietnam
The EASD Post Graduate Education Committee (PGEC) is active in organising workshops and courses for clinicians and educators.
Study groups
The association has the followin
Study Groups
Artificial
Insulin
Insulin (, from Latin ''insula'', 'island') is a peptide hormone produced by beta cells of the pancreatic islets encoded in humans by the ''INS'' gene. It is considered to be the main anabolic hormone of the body. It regulates the metabolism o ...
Delivery System (AIDPIT); Diabetes and Cancer Study Group; Diabetes Education Study Group (DESG); Diabetic Pregnancy Study Group (DPSG); Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD); Diabetes
Neuropathy
Peripheral neuropathy, often shortened to neuropathy, is a general term describing disease affecting the peripheral nerves, meaning nerves beyond the brain and spinal cord. Damage to peripheral nerves may impair sensation, movement, gland, or o ...
Study Group (NEURODIAB); EASD Eye Complication Study Group (EASDEC); European Diabetic
Nephropathy
Kidney disease, or renal disease, technically referred to as nephropathy, is damage to or disease of a kidney. Nephritis is an inflammatory kidney disease and has several types according to the location of the inflammation. Inflammation can ...
Study Group (EDNSG); Incretin Study Group; EASD Islet Study Group; European Diabetes
Epidemiology
Epidemiology is the study and analysis of the distribution (who, when, and where), patterns and determinants of health and disease conditions in a defined population.
It is a cornerstone of public health, and shapes policy decisions and evidenc ...
Group (EDEG); Diabetes and Nutrition Study Group (DNSG); Psychosocial Aspects of Diabetes (PSAD); Diabetic Foot Study Group (DFSG); EASD Study Group on Primary Care Research in Diabetology (PCCD); Genetics of Diabetes Study Group; Diabetes and
Cardiovascular Disease
Cardiovascular disease (CVD) is a class of diseases that involve the heart or blood vessels. CVD includes coronary artery diseases (CAD) such as angina and myocardial infarction (commonly known as a heart attack). Other CVDs include stroke, h ...
Study Group (D&CVD).
European Foundation for the Study of Diabetes
In 1999, the EASD increased its commitment to stimulate diabetes research in Europe by creating the European Foundation for the Study of Diabetes (EFSD). The foundation is closely related to the EASD; it is governed exclusively by the Executive Committee of the EASD, which itself is under the close supervision of the EASD General Assembly. EFSD operates on a strictly non-profit basis under the control of the relevant authorities for charity and taxation.
The EASD, as an academic non-profit association, benefits from the possibilities offered by the legal status of its Foundation to advance diabetes research by various methods. Since its inception, EFSD has committed an amount approaching Euro 100 million to diabetes research in Europe by various funding means. In the last five years, the foundation has become a significant European funding agency for diabetes research, and is continually striving to enhance awareness in Europe of the severity and magnitude of this devastating disease.
Most programmes offer funding for researchers working in Europe and associated countries, but some are open to scientists from all over the world. All applications are subject to peer review by a panel of leading experts in the field.
References
External links
European Association for the Study of Diabetes (EASD)European Foundation for the Study of Diabetes (EFSD)
{{Authority control
Diabetes organizations
Medical and health organisations based in Italy
European medical and health organizations
1965 establishments in Italy
Organizations established in 1965