AT THE HEART OF EUROPEAN MEDICAL BIOLOGY CHALLENGES
The 56th JIB (International Biology Days) will bring together the key stakeholders in European medical biology. This annual
meeting is dedicated to private and hospital biologists, biomedical engineers, researchers, laboratory technicians,
secretaries and hospital pharmacists, and provides an outstanding platform for meetings and discussions. It combines an
exhibition, involving closely 200 companies showing everything from in vitro diagnostics to cutting edge innovation and
laboratory services, with a scientific congress featuring leading speakers in the field of medicine. The show and congress
will take place simultaneously this year from Tuesday 8th to Thursday 10th
November 2011 and will highlight the topic of ageing and the associated
biological mechanisms as well as the future projections of the Young
Scientists Task Force, an International IFCC network (International
Federation of Clinical Chemistry). Other highlights of the event will be the
welcome for Switzerland as the country of the year and the establishment
of the European Laboratory States General.
In 2010, the JIB event welcomed 9,271
visitors (28.14% coming from 63
countries) who could discover 196
innovations of exhibiting companies,
suppliers of medical laboratories.
Photos© Christian Bamale
Reform underway: a new era for biology
The progressive reform of French biology is a root and branch
reorganisation of the entire profession. For Jean Benoit, President
of the JIB, “this active phase in the restructuring of laboratories
places the emphasis on the medical aspect of the profession, which
is known for its high level of expertise backed up by state of the art
technology.” 60 to 70% of medical diagnoses are based on biology.
“At the dawn of a new era, these Days are an excellent platform for
meetings where biologists can come together with suppliers showing
their innovative solutions, as well as providing them with an
opportunity to develop their knowledge and to exchange
experiences with their peers by taking part in the profession’s major
congress.” Mandatory accreditation, another element in the French
reform, will also be treated in depth during these days.
A restructured congress
In order to give the congress an educational and practical edge, the session programme has been restructured in order to
improve the dissemination of knowledge, to encourage the sharing of experiences and feedback about the practice of the
profession of biologist within a laboratory. Access to practical information relevant to day-to-day activities in the
laboratory will be made easier by means of Practical Study Cases sessions complementing scientific talks with the
emphasis on promising content.
The biology of ageing, one of the
major themes of the congress and
the Scientific Days of the SFBC
(French Clinical Chemistry Society)
The biology of longevity will be one of
the headline sessions of the Congress
and will deal with the genetic and
historic aspects of research strategies in
this field, with a view to our aged
populations enjoying good health as
they age. The agenda for this theme will
also include sessions devoted to the
biology of cardiovascular pathologies
and vitamins and dietary mineral
deficiencies in elderly patients. The
congress will also devote considerable
time and space to current concerns. A
subject such as ‘Financing innovation in
biology’, organised by the SDB (union of
biologists) will provide a platform for
high quality talks.
“Think the unthinkable”: Focus on the “young biologists and
scientists” session.
Another of the important meetings at the congress will be the ‘Young
Scientists’ session, and the presentations of the work of this international
network. « Think the unthinkable » will set the tone! Set up by the IFCC,
the goal of this working group is to involve more young biologists and
scientists in laboratory medicine, to assist in their training, to encourage
exchanges and to promote the sharing of their experience with other
health professionals from around the world. One entire session will be
devoted to this group at the JIB. Presentations and round tables will be
organised to consider subjects such as “The role of multi-disciplinary work
groups”, “What future for laboratory medicine?” or “Interaction between
the laboratory and clinicians.
The European Laboratory States General: improving understanding
of the European biology professions
In order to help understand the challenges facing biology at a European
level, the JIB event is organising the ‘European States General’ with the
assistance of societies, associations and federations involved in clinical
labs. These will take the form of round tables at which stakeholders will
discuss various problems facing their respective professions with their
counterparts. This event will reinforce the opening up of the JIB towards
Europe (+33.54% increase in the number of European visitors between
2009 and 2010).
Photos© Christian Bamale
Switzerland, Guest of honour
In pursuit of this spirit of collaboration and openness, the JIB are
welcoming Switzerland as the country of the year in 2011. As well as
a Swiss presence at the event, there will be a dedicated scientific
session organised with the Swiss Association of Medical Analytical
Laboratories (FAMH) and the Swiss Union of Laboratory Medicine
(SULM/USML) which aims to provide an overview of biology and the
health professions in Switzerland, and foster dialogue with their
French counterparts. The session will be organized in collaboration
with the Swiss Society of Clinical Chemistry, the Swiss Haematology
Society, the Swiss Society of Allergology and Immunology, the Swiss
Microbiology Society and the Swiss Society of Medical Genetics.
The International Biology Days (JIB) are organized by the Federation of Biologists (SDB) and the French Clinical Biology
Society (SFBC) stages its National Scientific Meetings as part of the congress. The SFBC administers the scientific
committee in conjunction with the following societies and historical partners: the Lariboisière Biology Days (JBL),
Inserm, the Francophone Vitamins and Bio-Factors Society (SFVB), the Francophone Society for the Study and Research
into Toxic and Trace Elements (SFERETE) and Molecular Biology Initiatives (BioMI). The congress is staged under the
auspices of the lFCC (International Federation of Clinical Chemistry and Laboratory Medicine), with the support of the
EFCC (European Federation of Clinical Chemistry
Press Contacts
Catherine Rouillé
Virginie Renouvin
+33 (0)1 49 74 42 01
[email protected]