The first international ‘Sleep and Breathing’ conference is set to take place from 31 March to 2 April 2011 in Prague, Czech Republic. It is jointly organised by ERS and the European Sleep Research Society (ESRS).

Conceived, designed and moderated by experts, the conference will focus on hands-on practical experience for practitioners and educate on diagnosis, treatment and patient referral. The programme comprises a plenary and a series of specialised symposia and practical workshops.

Professors Walter McNicholas (Ireland) and Claudio Bassetti (Switzerland) will jointly chair the event, with support from Vice Chairs Professors Peter Calverley (UK) and Patrick Levy (France).

“With a growing proportion of respiratory sleep disorders in clinical practice and reports of a knowledge deficit, there is a pressing need for this ‘Sleep and Breathing’ conference," stresses Professor Walter McNicholas.

“It will bring in the experts to provide a comprehensive update and to further relevant education and professional development,” he concludes.

Members of the conference committee include Professors Johan Verbraecken (Belgium) and Thomas Pöllmacher (Germany), with Dr Renata Riha (UK) and Professors Stefan Andreas (Germany), Dirk Pevernagie (Belgium) and Dieter Riemann (Germany) forming the scientific committee.

“In the last 20 years, respiratory sleep medicine has evolved from hobby to hot spot of clinical practice and research,” comments Steering Committee member Prof. Johan Verbraecken.

“The conference targets both leaders in the field of sleep medicine and those with educational needs,” he emphasises.

International conference: ‘Sleep and breathing’. Prague, Czech Republic, 31 March to 2 April 2011.