International Student Congress Of (bio)Medical Sciences

The International Student Congress Of (bio)Medical Sciences, also known as ISCOMS, is an annually held student congress on biomedical sciences. The primary aim of ISCOMS is getting medical students acquainted with research and its many elements.[1] 552 participants from 64 countries attended the 30th edition of ISCOMS in 2023. The 31st edition of ISCOMS will take place from 3–6 June 2024 and the abstract submission is open until Januari 21.[2]

International Student Congress Of (bio)Medical Sciences (ISCOMS)
The official ISCOMS logo
VenueUniversity Medical Center Groningen (UMCG)
Location(s)Groningen, Netherlands
CountryThe Netherlands
Inaugurated1992
Attendance
  • Presenting participants:

200–400

  • Non-presenting participants:

500–600

WebsiteOfficial website

History

edit

ISCOMS started as a congress for medical students in Groningen, named "Studenten Congres Geneeskunde". In 2003, the Student Congres Geneeskunde changed to an international congress with the name International Student Congress of Medicine. In 2004 the name was changed to ISCOMS. In 2010, the name was changed to the International Student Congress Of (bio)Medical Sciences, to show that it is a congress for students in all biomedical fields.

Location

edit

ISCOMS takes place at the University Medical Center Groningen (UMCG) in the Netherlands. It is one of the largest hospitals in the world, offering supraregional tertiary care to the northern part of the Netherlands. The medical center employs almost 17.000 people, numbers almost 1.400 beds and is affiliated with the University of Groningen.

Congress structure

edit

The congress is for (bio)medical students who are interested in research. Students may be either presenting or non-presenting participants. If a participant wants to present their research, they are required to submit their abstract beforehand. A strict selection procedure takes place and only the best students are invited to present their research at ISCOMS. Nonetheless, everybody is welcome to ISCOMS to see the keynote speakers and to participate in workshops.

When accepted, participants are divided into different sessions in which they present their research. This may be either through a poster presentation, or an oral presentation where students can present their research using a slideshow presentation. In both sessions other students and professionals from the UMCG listen and discuss the research. Thirdly, there is a plenary session: the eight best abstracts will be presented in the primary lecture hall of the UMCG.

The congress also holds pre-course masterclasses about research skills, and a great variety of workshops during the congress days on practical skills. Besides that, ISCOMS offers keynote lectures from renowned scientists presenting their research to the participants.

Moreover, ISCOMS offers an extensive social programme, where all the participants have the opportunity to get to know each other and the ISCOMS organising committees. Finally, there is a post-congress tour visiting parts of the Netherlands.

Keynote Speakers ISCOMS 2024

edit
ISCOMS year Keynote speaker Research
2024 Prof. Brian Kobilka MD PhD, Nobel Laureate 2012 Structural insights into G protein coupled receptor activation
2024 Prof. Dennis Lo Yuk Ming MD PhD Non-invasive prenatal and cancer testing: from dream to reality
2024 Prof. Anne Schwerk PhD
2024 Prof. Mukesh Kapila MD PhD CBE Preventing and managing mass atrocities: what can humanitarian and health professionals do?
2024 Prof. Mihaela van der Schaar PhD


Nobel Prize laureates at ISCOMS

edit

Nobel Prize laureates who have given a keynote lecture during one of the previous ISCOMS editions.

ISCOMS year Nobel Prize laureate Research
2022 Regental Prof. Bruce Beutler MD, Nobel Laureate 2011 From phenotypes to genes in immunity
2021 Prof. Sir Peter J. Ratcliffe MD, Nobel Laureate 2019 Understanding cellular oxygen sensing mechanisms: implications for medicine
2019 Prof. Mario R. Capecchi PhD, Nobel Laureate 2007 Mouse models of human disease from cancer to neuropsychiatric disorders
2017 Prof. Ben L. Feringa PhD, Nobel Laureate 2017 The development of multistage chiral catalysts
2017 Sir R.T. Hunt PhD, Nobel Laureate 2001 The discoveries of key regulators of the cell cycle
2016 Prof. Stefan W. Hell PhD, Nobel Laureate 2014 Overcoming Abbe's diffraction-limited resolution barrier in a light-focusing fluorescence microscope
2015 Prof. Martin Chalfie PhD, Nobel Laureate 2008 The discovery and development of the green fluorescent protein, GFP
2014 Prof. Ada E. Yonath PhD, Nobel Laureate 2009 Studies of the structure and function of the ribosome
2012 Prof. Mario Capecchi, Nobel Laureate 2007 The discoveries of principles for introducing specific gene modifications in mice by the use of embryonic stem cells
2011 Prof. H. zur Hausen, Nobel Laureate 2008 The discovery of human papilloma viruses causing cervical cancer
2011 Sir R.T. Hunt PhD, Nobel Laureate 2001 The discoveries of key regulators of the cell cycle
2009 Prof. Ferid Murad MD PhD, Nobel Laureate 1998 The discoveries concerning nitric oxide as a signalling molecule in the cardiovascular system
2009 Prof. Robin Warren MD PhD, Nobel Laureate 2005 The discovery of the bacterium Helicobacter pylori and its role in gastritis and peptic ulcer disease
2008 Prof. Gunter Blobel MD PhD, Nobel Laureate 1999 The prize for the discovery that proteins have intrinsic signals that govern their transport and localization in the cell

Other remarkable keynote speakers at ISCOMS

edit
ISCOMS year Keynote speaker Research
2023 Prof. Robert S. Langer ScD From nanotechnology to mRNA therapies, and what’s to come: How overcoming scepticism and barriers led to new cancer and heart disease treatments, vaccines, and ways to tackle global health challenges
2023 Prof. Maria Yazdanbakhsh PhD The immunological footprints generated by different environmental factors and their importance in vaccine research
2022 Prof. Jeffrey M. Friedman MD PhD Leptin and the regulation of food intake and body weight
2022 Prof. Karl Deisseroth MD PhD Inner workings of channelrhodopsins and brains
2021 Prof. Ellen Roche PhD Therapeutic strategies for cardiac disease using soft materials, structures and devices
2019 Prof. Andrea B. Maier MD PhD The future of age
2018 Prof. Ugur Sahin MD PhD The identification and characterisation of new target molecules (antigens) for immunotherapy in cancer tumors

This year's theme

edit

This year's theme is "Future Medicine", where every day is dedicated to a unique theme within “Future Medicine. From the inclusive ethos of "Inclusive Health", to unraveling the mysteries within life's building blocks in "Molecular Mysteries", and exploring the convergence of technology and healthcare in "Artificial Intelligence: Friend or Foe", to recognizing the connection of human well-being and the planet in "Planetary Health", each day promises a comprehensive exploration. The themes will be present in the noteworthy speakers, engaging workshops and visual appeal. "Future Medicine" isn't just a theme; it's a guiding principle shaping a dynamic and insightful experience at ISCOMS 2024.

Organisational structure

edit

The organisation of ISCOMS consists of (bio)medical students from the University of Groningen. There are nine Executive Board members and 24 committee members. Committees include the Scientific Programme, Sponsors and Fundraising, International Contacts, Hosting and Logistics, Media and Branding and Research and Development.

ISCOMS Research Fellowships (IRF)

edit

ISCOMS is more than just a congress; it also incorporates several different projects.[3] The ISCOMS Research Fellowships (IRF) is such a project and is unique in Europe and has become an integral part of the experience. It provides a starting point for students to pursue a career in medical sciences, broaden their scientific network, increase the range of their knowledge and amplify their experience with research by giving 25 enthusiastic and talented students the opportunity to join a research group in the University Medical Center Groningen. During a challenging two-week period, chosen students will work on their own individual project and for some this may transcend into a chance to conduct a long-term PhD project in Groningen.[4]

Partners

edit

The official partners of the ISCOMS are:[5]

  • Leiden International Medical Student Conference (LIMSC)
  • International Federation of Medical Students' Associations the Netherlands (IFMSA-NL)
  • Zagreb International Medical Summit (ZIMS)
  • European Medical Students' Association (EMSA)
  • Asian Medical Students' Association (AMSA)
  • Young European Scientists meeting Porto (YES-meeting)
  • International Conference for Healthcare and Medical Students (ICHAMS)
  • Annual International Medical Students Lisbon (AIMS)
  • Brazilian International Congress of Medical Students (BRAINCOMS)
  • Warsaw International Medical Congress (WIMC)
  • International Congress of Medical Sciences (ICMS)
  • Croatian Student Summit Zagreb (CROSS)
  • Antwerp Medical Students’ Congress (AMSC)
  • International Biomedical Congress Sofia (IBC)

Notes and references

edit
  1. ^ "ISCOMS". 4 January 2022.
  2. ^ "Home". iscoms.com.
  3. ^ "Research". 9 December 2021.
  4. ^ "ISCOMS Research Fellowships". 3 November 2021.
  5. ^ "Partners". 7 October 2021.
edit