Erkki Ruoslahti (Burnham Institute, La Jolla, CA) has been awarded the Jubilee Lectureship in recognition of his pioneering discoveries in the extracellular matrix and cell adhesion fields. Dr Ruoslahti was a co-discoverer of fibronectin in the early 1970s, and following studies to pinpoint the sites in fibronectin that were responsible for its adhesive activity, he identified the RGD tripeptide motif as a key cell attachment site in this, and other, matrix proteins. The discovery of RGD led to its use as an affinity agent, and subsequently Dr Ruoslahti's laboratory performed the first definitive isolation of a fibronectin receptor.

Venue

This Biochemical Society Focused Meeting is taking place at Chancellor's Conference Centre, University of Manchester, UK.

Chancellors Hotel and Conference Centre incorporates The Firs, the former property of Sir Joseph Whitworth, FRS. The site was officially opened as part of the University of Manchester in 1997 and is situated about 4 miles south of Manchester City Centre at Fallowfield.

Manchester

Manchester is a lively, cultural city situated in the North West of England, UK containing many attractions for visitors.

Places of interest within The University of Manchester include The John Rylands Library, The Whitworth Art Gallery, The Manchester Museum, Contact Theatre, Jodrell Bank Observatory and Tabley House.

Other attractions in Manchester worth visiting are the Museum of Science and Industry, Pumphouse Peoples History Museum, Manchester Town Hall, Manchester Cathedral, The Lowry, The Museum of Transport, historic Castlefield, Old Trafford (Manchester Uniteds football stadium), Manchester Art Gallery, Royal Exchange shopping centre and Boddingtons Brewery.

For further information regarding Manchester or the surrounding North West of England please visit Virtual Manchester, Manchester Online or North West Tourist Board (telephone: +44 (0) 1942 821 222) or telephone Manchester Tourist Information Centre on +44 (0) 161 234 3157 / 3158.

Travelling to Chancellors Conference Centre

Chancellors Hotel and Conference Centre directions

By Air
Manchester Airport (telephone: +44 (0) 161 489 3000) is located approximately 8 miles from Chancellors Conference Centre.

Getting from Manchester Airport to Chancellors Conference Centre
By train - trains run from Manchester Airport to Manchester Piccadilly railway station (approximate journey time: 20 minutes, approximate cost: 6 return). From Manchester Piccadilly station attendees can either catch a taxi (approximate journey time: 15 minutes, approximate cost: 7) to Chancellors Conference Centre or a bus from Piccadilly Gardens bus station (see local bus information below).
By taxi - Manchester Airport has taxi ranks at all terminals (approximate journey time: 25 minutes, approximate cost: 10).
By bus/coach - Skyline buses (no. 43) run from Manchester Airport to Wilmslow Road, Fallowfield at 20 and 50 minutes past the hour. See GMPTE for further details.

By Coach
There are good express connections to Manchester from most towns and cities in Britain, plus international routes from Amsterdam, Brussels and Paris.

The National Express coach station is located in Chorlton Street, Manchester City Centre (location F5 on map of Central Manchester).
For National Express bookings telephone +44 (0) 8705 808080 or visit National Express for further details.
From Chorlton Street attendees can either catch a taxi or walk to Piccadilly Gardens station and catch a bus (see local bus information below).

By Train
Manchester has three main train stations, Piccadilly, Oxford Road and Victoria, all are located near the City Centre.
From all stations attendees can either catch a taxi which will take about 15 minutes and cost approximately 7 or a local bus (for further information see local bus information below).
From Manchester Piccadilly - attendees should walk to Piccadilly Gardens bus station (location G6 on map of Central Manchester).
From Manchester Oxford Road - buses depart from Oxford Road.
From Manchester Victoria - attendees are advised to catch the metro to Piccadilly Gardens bus station.

For further information regarding train times and tickets please contact National Rail Enquiries
(telephone: +44 (0) 8457 48 49 50) or thetrainline

By Local Bus
Piccadilly Gardens bus station (location G6 on map of Central Manchester) - attendees can catch bus numbers 41, 42, 43, 44, 45A or 48.
Manchester Oxford Road - attendees can catch bus numbers 40, 41, 42, 43, 44, 45, 46, 48 or 49.

For Chancellors Conference Centre alight at Owens Park on Wilmslow Road. Continuing the journey on foot, at the junction where Wilmslow Road meets Moseley Road turn left and left again at the next set of traffic lights. Chancellors Conference Centre, Chancellors Way is on your left.

By Car
Parking is available on site, please inform meetings@biochemistry.org if you intend to bring a car.

Please see the AA or RAC for any further route advice.

Metrolink
The Metrolink is Greater Manchester's tram system, for further details please visit GMPTE

For Greater Manchester travel enquiries by bus, train or tram telephone +44 (0) 161 228 7811 or see GMPTE.

Application

Fees (include all meals and social events)

Residential (en suite accommodation at Chancellors Conference Centre)
Biochemical Society Full Members - 300
Students - 200
Non Members - 450

Non-residential
Biochemical Society Full Members - 200
Students - 100
Non Members - 350

Successful delegates will be contacted in October 2003.

All payments must be made prior to the Meeting.

Payment of fees
The following methods will be accepted:

Credit/Debit card
(Preferred method of payment, and the only acceptable form of payment for online registration)
The following credit/debit cards will be accepted:
American Express, Eurocard, Mastercard, Switch, Visa

Cheques
Please include payment with your registration form. Types of cheques accepted (made payable to Portland Customer Services) are:
Sterling cheques, drawn on a UK bank.
US dollar cheques, drawn on a US or London bank.
Euro cheques (in Euro currency NOT Eurocheques).

Bank drafts are accepted as follows:
Drafts must be in pounds sterling, drawn on a UK bank or US dollars drawn on a US or London bank. Must be made payable to 'Portland Customer Services'.

Bank transfer
Registration fees can be accepted by bank transfer. Please make sure you include the reference 'Jubilee reg. fees' and your family name.

Bank: NatWest, 25 High Steet, Colchester, CO1 1DG
Sort Code: 60-06-06
Account: Portland Press Limited
Account Number: 01863630
SWIFT code: NWBKGB2112B

Registration

The Biochemical Society registration desk will be situated in the foyer of Chancellors Conference Centre.
Badges will be issued at the registration desk and must be worn for the duration of the conference.

Registration desk opening times:
Monday 1 December 16:00 18:00
Tuesday 2 December 08:00 18:00
Wednesday 3 December 08:00 12:00

Poster Session

Poster abstract submission
Submission of poster abstracts has now closed. If you missed the deadline but would like to bring a poster to the meeting please contact Christine.Cook@biochemistry.org.

Has my abstract been accepted?
After abstract submission you should have received a submission number which will identify your abstract. If you did not receive a submission number, then please e-mail meetings@biochemistry.org immediately. Approximately 2 weeks after the abstract submission deadline has passed, you will receive an email informing you whether your poster has been accepted.

Poster session
Tuesday 2 December 13:00 - 14:00

Poster size
Posterboard size is 2m high by 1m wide portrait. Velcro to mount your poster will be provided at the meeting.

Accommodation

Residential delegates will be housed in en suite accommodation at the Chancellors Conference Centre. Check in is available from 14:00 on day of arrival.

The registration package includes 2 nights bed and breakfast en suite accommodation. All rooms are equipped with a desk, direct dial telephone, television, hairdryer and tea and coffee making facilities.

Breakfast will be served in the Carriage House Restaurant between 07:30 and 09:30.

All delegates must check out before 09:30 on day of departure, luggage storage is available on site.

Rooms with disabled facilities are available; please contact Christine.Cook@biochemistry.org if required.

Trade Exhibition

Bibby Sterilin Ltd
Carl Zeiss International
EuroTech
Leica Microsystems (UK) Ltd

Meeting Dinner

Tuesday 2nd December 2003
The meeting dinner is included in the conference fee and will be held at the Royal Naz Restaurant in Rusholme.
Return coaches will be provided from Chancellors Conference Centre.

Confirmation

All registered delegates will be sent a confirmation e-mail to confirm registration details. This letter should be checked carefully to ensure that all requirements are correct. In particular, the spelling of names and affiliations should be checked, as this information will be used to create badges.
Confirmation e-mails also act as a receipt, and should also contain venue maps and delegate information. Please bring the letter with you to the conference.

If you have not received a confirmation e-mail two weeks before the meeting, please contact Portland Customer Services on +44 (0) 1206 796 351

Refunds

Cancellations will be accepted in writing until Friday 14 November (subject to a 15 cancellation fee). After this date, neither full nor partial refunds can be given.

Disabled Access

Disabled access is available. It would be helpful if you could let Christine Cook (Christine.Cook@biochemistry.org) know in advance if you require any special assistance during your stay in Manchester.

Official Letter of Invitation

Official letters of invitation, which are intended to assist with administrative arrangements in certain countries, will be issued upon request once an abstract has been submitted (and accepted), and registration fees have been received. Such letters do not imply commitment of financial or other support by the organizers.