Abstracts
This is now open: http://www.ipcrg-toronto2010.org/. Submissions are encouraged from a wide variety of countries. Abstracts can be submitted to more than one conference, so do consider submitting material you may have submitted elsewhere (your consent is required, if selected before publication of the abstract in our Primary Care Respiratory Journal.). This is a good opportunity for researchers to test out their conclusions with their international primary care peers, who have a special interest in respiratory medicine. These opportunities should enable most people with an interest in respiratory research, whether junior or experienced, to submit an abstract.
Bursaries
The IPCRG has a bursary fund that it will allocate selectively to primary care colleagues who need financial support to attend the meeting in Toronto using an invitation process. Note that this meeting is one week before the WONCA World meeting in Cancun, Mexico. In addition, applications are welcome for subsidized registration fees. For further information go to http://www.ipcrg-toront.o2010.org/page.asp?id=bursaries. Priority will be given to those who submit a relevant abstract. Applications no later than 22 February 2010 e-mailed to [email protected] including the abstract number.
Global Alliance Against chronic Respiratory Diseases (GARD)
WHO GARD has accepted our invitation to hold its meeting at the same venue in Toronto on 2–3 June 2010, and will use the opportunity to showcase primary care. It is expected that this will enable cross-fertilization of ideas and lead to full engagement of primary care professionals in the GARD national programmes.
Research
The IPCRG's UK Respiratory Research Foundation (UKRRF), an NHS National Institute for Health Research (NIHR) Funder, has just confirmed funding to the University of Middlesex and University College London Medical School to conduct a study smokers with chronic illness: A qualitative analysis of barriers, motivation to quit and tailored interventions for smoking cessation in COPD smokers. This will assess the value of computer tailored feedback in general practice to the smoking population with COPD. The UKRRF accepts quarterly applications from UK applicants; by going through UKRRF you can access NHS NIHR support: http://www.theipcrg.org/ukrrf/
COPD early diagnosis
The IPCRG launched a free two-page referenced guide to Early Diagnosis in COPD for World COPD Day. http://www.theipcrg.org/resources/ipcrg_copd_ opinion_5 .pdf
Smoking cessation
In conjunction with the European Lung Foundation, the IPCRG's Smoking Cessation Desktop Helper, a two-page colour guide to smoking cessation in primary care, will soon be available in German, Italian and French. See http://www.theipcrg.org/resources/resources_smokingcessation. php
COPD assessment tools
The IPCRG is developing a users’ guide to assessment tools, to complement its guide to asthma control tools http://www.theipcrg.org/resources/asthmacontrol.php. This should be available by February 2010.
U-BIOPRED now live
U-BIOPRED is a European consortium including IPCRG, of academic institutions, small to medium enterprises, industry partners, patient organizations and pharmaceutical companies who are working together on a five-year project on severe asthma. The aims are to develop a greater understanding of severe asthma which will lead to the development of new treatments. The IPCRG is also participating in WP9—communication andWPIO—overseeing ethics.