Alpha1 Information Day 2016: More visitors than ever before
Author
Alpha1 Germany eV.
220 participants, exciting speakers and a diverse supporting program made the Alpha1 information day a thoroughly successful event.
Our annual Alpha1 weekend took place from April 22nd to 23rd, 2016 at the Radisson Blu Hotel in Bremen. We were overwhelmed with registrations and booked every available room. As a result, we were delighted to welcome the highest number of participants in the 16-year history of Alpha1 Germany for both the members' meeting and the information day – a fantastic feeling!
At the information day, renowned speakers from Germany and abroad informed us about new and established topics related to Alpha-1; panniculitis and other associated conditions; mobility training for Alpha-1 patients; and new aspects of liver research. Physical exercises in the hall provided a welcome break and some lighthearted banter. Since the hall was quite large, the speakers covered a considerable distance during their presentations to ensure they were close to all 220 participants. That's how we take care of our speakers' well-being, too.
Simultaneously with the information day, a large-scale liver study, organized by the RWTH Aachen University Hospital, took place at the hotel. Around 150 participants went through several stations and had the opportunity to have their liver density measured. The fact that the examinations were conducted in multiple hotel rooms was probably a first for the hotel. After all, who wants to lie down in their hotel bed with an ultrasound machine?
The five exhibitors, CSL Behring, Grifols, Echosens, Pulmonx, and Supersonic, presented their products as manufacturers of plasma products, lung valves, and devices for measuring liver density. There was a large turnout and many informative discussions.
To round off this successful event, Markus Baltensperger, a member of Alpha1 Germany, provided musical accompaniment with singing and guitar during the breaks, complementing the many cheerful and interesting conversations between the Alphas, speakers and exhibitors.
Thank you to everyone who made this event so special. It will resonate with many of us.
Gabi Niethammer
Published in Alpha1 Journal 1/2016.
Overview of the lectures
- Lecture by Dr. Timm Greulich: New and Familiar Topics
- Lecture by Prof. Dr. Sabine Janciauskiene: A1AT – a natural, anti-inflammatory drug for A1AT deficiency diseases
- Lecture by Prof. Dr. Rainer Wiewrodt: Panniculitis & Co.
- Lecture by Dr. Oliver Göhl: Training in Alpha-1 Antitrypsin Deficiency
- Lecture by Dr. Pavel Strnad: Alpha-1 Antitrypsin Deficiency – A Forgotten Liver Disease?
