British Journal of Radiology (2005) Supplement_27, viii
© 2005 British Institute of Radiology
doi:
British Journal of Radiology Supplement_27 (2005),viii © 2005 The British Institute of Radiology
Peter SPIERTZ
Chairman of the Board of Trustees of the International Pharmacia Foundation for Medical Prevention and Epidemiology
I am honoured to contribute, on behalf of the Pharmacia Foundation for Medical Prevention and Epidemiology, to this opening ceremony of this Advanced Research Workshop on multi-organ failure following radiation exposure. This Foundation was inaugurated to support research and scientific exchange in the University of Ulm. Each year we support the Epidemiology Summer School and every other year a scientific workshop or symposium of high standing. One part of our programme – prepared initially by Professor Fliedner – deals with the consequences of exposure of human beings to ionising radiation, and the development of approaches and methods to mitigate early and late effects and to understand the mechanisms of radiation-induced organ failure. Your Workshop focuses on these mechanisms using the experience obtained in previous radiation accidents in order to explore improvements for patient care in the future. The Pharmacia Foundation has several times in the past supported radiation medicine activities of the University of Ulm and was prepared to contribute to this Workshop, which is primarily sponsored by the German Armed Forces Medical Services.
On behalf of the Pharmacia Foundation, we hope and trust that you will have a scientifically rewarding meeting, adding new dimensions to a very important problem of radiation medicine.
