Founded in 1974, ESAO is a technical medical society. Among its goals are the promotion of scientific projects in the field of artificial organs and regenerative medicine, the advancement of young scientists, and international networking. ESAO thus operates at the interface between medical technology and clinical application of the latest methods in the field of cutting-edge medicine.
The 48th ESAO Congress, that covers a wide range of topics spanning from apheresis and adsorption to extracorporeal life support and artificial organs, will be hosted in Krems for the second time after the year 2007. The ESAO office is located at the University for Continuing Education Krems. Prof Viktoria Weber, Vice-Rector for Research and Sustainable Development, and Department for Biomedical Research, is currently President of the ESAO. Weber expresses her delight: "Thanks to the support of the University for Continuing Education Krems and the IMC University of Applied Sciences Krems, Campus Krems performs as a venue for the ESAO, even though time was already ticking when preparations started. That Krems has been chosen is something I see as an appreciation of our research and a vote of confidence." The original venue for the congress would have been Moscow.
From extracorporeal life support to artificial hearts
Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the topic of extracorporeal life support (for example, "artificial respiration") has risen to the forefront on 8 September. Aswell has heart health and artificial hearts, which will be discussed in detail at the congress, especially the technological progress that has been achieved in the last decades. Therapeutic apheresis ("blood purification") will be given as much thematic emphasis as the production of organoids. In this context, the successful cooperation with Fresenius Medical Care, Baxter, Berlin Heart and Braun, who are partners of the ESAO when it comes to implementing the latest technical findings, should also be pointed out.
Research well represented at Campus Krems
Up to 300 congress attendees are expected to come to the campus at the beginning of September, more than 100 presentations to be held and 60 posters displaying relevant research results to initiate lively discussions. The University for Continuing Education Krems is represented with several presentations by the Department for Biomedical Research headed by Viktoria Weber and by the Department of Health Sciences, Medicine and Research. The head of the latter, Prof Stefan Nehrer, Dean of the Faculty of Medicine and Health, is chairing a symposium on "Blood Products" at the ESAO Congress. Renowned experts in their fields, such as Prof Claudio Ronco, Vicenza, Prof Heinrich Schima, Medical University of Vienna and Paulo Martins, Worcester, USA are invited to present the latest findings of their research.
Promotion of young scientists
One of ESAO's stated goals under the presidency of Viktoria Weber, the congress places strong emphasis on young scientists. Kicking off on 6 September 2022, the Congress will feature Young ESAO (yESAO) events, including a workshop at the Core Facility. This campus-based research infrastructure of the University for Continuing Education Krems, Karl Landsteiner Private University for Health Sciences, and IMC University of Applied Sciences Krems enables research with state-of-the-art instrumentation in areas including bio-imaging and cell analysis, bone & tissue engineering, and inflammation and material compatibility. The following day, outstanding young researchers will receive the PhD SAGE Awards and the yESAO Exchange Awards.
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