INVITATION PGDIS 2015: CHICAGO, ILLINOISDear colleagues,

Dear Colleagues,

On behalf of the Preimplantation Genetic Diagnosis International Society (PGDIS), we would like to invite you to participate in the 14th International Conference on Preimplantation Genetic Diagnosis (PGD), which will be held in Museum of Contemporary Art (MCA), Chicago, USA, 11-13 May, 2015. This Conference returns to Chicago, where the 1st PGD Congress was organized 25 years ago, and coincides with the introduction of PGD, so we will celebrate Quarter Century of PGD, which has had dramatic progress and expanding practical implications in reproductive medicine and genetic practices not only in Western countries, but all over the world.

So the main emphasis of the Congress will be on the PGD technological developments which evolved from conventional PCR to NGS, and to the growing challenges with introduction of these developments into clinical practice and particularly into assisted reproductive technology (ART), in the efforts to improve reproductive outcome in poor prognosis ART patients.

Because of growing complexity of PGD, due to a recent trend in the application of PGD to multiple indications, involving also a concomitant testing for both single gene and chromosomal disorders, a special Workshop will be devoted to the analysis of complicated PGD cases, and also one to Patient Prospective, to demonstrate miracle stories on PGD related stem cell transplantation treatment for congenital and acquired disorders for which there is still no available therapies.

Due to recent shift of preimplantation aneuploidy testing from FISH to aCGH & NGS, and biopsy procedures from cleavage stage to blastocyst biopsy, two Pre-Congress Workshops will be also organized, including (1) Next Generation Technology for PGD and 24-Chromosome Aneuploidy Testing (Chicago, May 10, 2015), and (2) PGDIS Annual Hands-on Workshop on PGD for Genetic and Chromosomal Disorders by blastocyst biopsy (Istanbul, 7-9 May 2015).

The Congress will be organized in Downtown of Chicago, next to John Hancock Center, which is an excellent venue, especially delightful in spring. Hotel accommodation has been arranged for a special low price in the Ritz Carlton, which is in two-minutes walking distance from MCA.

We are looking forward to welcoming you in Chicago.

Anver Kuliev, MD, PhD, Chairman of Organizing Committee, Executive Director of PGDIS
Semra Kahraman, MD, President of PGDIS

COMMITTEE

Organizing Committee: View Organizing Committee Members
Conference Chairman: Anver Kuliev
PGDIS President: Semra Kahraman
Scientific Committee: View Scientific Committee Members

SPEAKERS

Speakers: View Scientific Program

SCIENTIFIC PROGRAM

Pre – Conference Course Program:
- Next Generation Technology for PGD and 24-Chromosome Aneuploidy Testing
Main Conference Program:
- View Scientific Program

CME ACCREDITATION

The PGDIS Conference program was approved by Royal College of Pathologists for 18 continuing medical education (CME/CPD) credits.

ABSTRACT SUBMISSION

Guidelines
Submission deadline and general policy
All abstracts must arrive at conference secretariat mail@rgipgd.com not later than March 31, 2015. Abstracts should be submitted in English only.

IMPORTANT: Presentations should be unpublished, original material, not yet presented at any other meeting. First authors can submit one abstract only. All abstracts will be refereed anonymously. Authors are requested to indicate their preference for oral and/or poster presentation. Abstracts initially submitted for but not selected for oral presentations can be transferred to the poster sessions.

Abstract content and format
Abstracts should be structured to include the following parts:
Introduction: should be informative and short, stating why the study was conducted;
Material & methods: indicating the locale, number and type of human subjects, non-human species or material being studied, the principal procedures, assays, tests or treatments performed;
Results: confirming or refuting the hypothesis, supported by statistics if appropriate;
Conclusions: stating the major new findings of the study and specifying what these findings add to what is known already.
Abbreviations: may be used after a first definition.
Abstract title: Do not use capital letters and do not indent. The title should reflect the contents and should exceed 150 characters (15 words).
Author names and affiliations: Where the family name may be ambiguous (e.g., a double name), please indicate this clearly. Present the authors' affiliation addresses (where the actual work was done) below the names. Indicate all affiliations with a lower-case superscript letter. Provide the full postal address of each affiliation, including the country name, and, if available, the e-mail address of corresponding author.
Corresponding author: Clearly indicate who will handle correspondence at all stages of refereeing and publication, also post-publication.
Contact Information: Ensure that telephone and fax numbers (with country and area code) are provided in addition to the e-mail address and the complete postal address.
Body Text: must be a maximum of 500 words. The different parts of the abstract - introduction, material and methods, results, conclusions - are to be typed in bold.
References: Citation in text
Please ensure that every reference cited in the text is also present in the reference list (and vice versa). It is not recommended that references are cited in the abstract but if for some reason they must be, they must also be given in full in the reference list. Unpublished results are not recommended in the reference list but may be mentioned in the text. Exceptionally, if unpublished references are included in the reference list, they should follow the standard reference style of the journal and should include a substitution of the publication date with "Unpublished results". Personal communications are not allowed in the reference list, but may be mentioned in the text where the name and brief address of the person must also be supplied. Citation of a reference as "in press" implies that the item has been accepted for publication.
Web references:
As a minimum, the full URL should be given. Any further information, if known (DOI, author names, dates, reference to a source publication, etc.), should also be given. Web references can be listed separately (e.g., after the reference list) under a different heading if desired, or can be included in the reference list.
Reference style:
Text citations: All citations in the text should refer to:
1. Single author: the author's name (without initials, unless there is ambiguity) and the year of publication;
2. Two authors: both authors' names and the year of publication;
3. More than three authors: first author's name followed by "et al." and the year of publication.
Citations may be made directly (or parenthetically). Groups of references should be listed first alphabetically, then chronologically.
Reference list: Please provide name and initial(s) for all authors, followed by year of publication. References should be arranged first alphabetically and then further sorted chronologically if necessary.
Submission procedure: Abstracts can only be submitted on-line, sent by email to mail@rgipgd.com
Topic choice: Authors are urged to carefully consider the list of topics, before indicating the appropriate topic for their abstract.
Keywords: Authors are requested to mention a minimum of two and a maximum of five keywords.
Abstract Assignment: The assignment of Abstracts for Oral or Poster presentation is performed by the Evaluating Committee. Abstracts assigned for Free Communications will be presented in one of the 4 Sessions (one on May 11, one on May 12, and two (paralleled) on May 13. Duration of each is 15 min, including questions and discussion. Abstracts assigned for Posters should be displayed on Poster Board before the 1st Coffee break on May 11, and removed after the afternoon Coffee break on May 12. Each Poster will be assigned (maximum) 2' (80 cm) wide x 4' (120 cm) high area on the Poster Boards in a portrait/vertical format.

REGISTRATION INFORMATION

Two Ways to Register:

ACCOMMODATION INFORMATION

Contact: VEGA International Travel directly for hotel assistance.
Confirmation: Upon receipt of registration forms and appropriate fees, confirmation will be sent within week.
Cancellation Policy Until December 31, 2014: Refund of 50% the whole fee.
Cancellation Policy after January 1, 2015: No refund is possible.
Payment:
1. Bank transfer in USD Bank transfer receipt must be sent to mail@rgipgd.com and the name of the participant must be mentioned on the bank receipt. Please note that “all bank charges are to be paid by the sender”.
2. Credit card
Print your name exactly as it appears on the credit card, indicate type of card (American Express, Mastercard or Visa), credit card number, expiration date and CVC number.
Personal cheques and bank drafts cannot be accepted!

SOCIAL EVENTS

Welcome Reception: May 10, 2015 at MCA with performsnce of Jazz Group
Speakers’ Dinner: May 11, 2015, 7:00PM
Conference Dinner: May 12, 2015, 7:00PM - Odyssey Cruise

GENERAL INFORMATION

Conference Venue: Museum of Contemporary Art
Conference Venue Address: 220 East Chicago Avenue, Chicago, Illinois
Registrations: May 10, 2015 17:00 – 19:00; May 11, 2015 08:00 – 18:00
Pre-Conference Course: May 10, 2015
Conference: May 11, 12, 13, 2015
Early Registration: Ends on Dec 15, 2014
Registration Cancellation: Apr 11, 2015
Abstract Submission: Ends on Mar 15, 2015
Conference Dinner: May 12, 2015
Certificate of Attendance: May 13, 2015

CATERING

Coffee breaks and lunches will be served at the conference venue, MCA.
May 11, 2015: Morning Break | Lunch | Afternoon Break
May 12, 2015: Morning Break | Lunch | Afternoon Break
May 13, 2015: Morning Break | No      | No

CONFERENCE LANGUAGE

The official language of the conference is English.
No simultaneous translation will be provided.

CERTIFICATE OF ATTENDENCE

Certificates of attendance can be allocated from the registration desk at the conference hall on May 13, 2015.
Participants who will leave early should inform the conference secretariat a day before departure.

TRAVEL TO CHICAGO

Please contact, official PGDIS Chicago conference organizer VEGA International Travel, who is ready to offer you the most convenient flights, for your international travel. Please keep in mind that VEGA Travel is at your service for all your needs until and after the meeting. They will try to make your trip to Chicago as comfortable and unforgettable as possible.
To order your ticket from VEGA Travel:Contact Vega Travel at www.vegatravel.net
Phone and Fax: Contact Vega Travel at www.vegatravel.net
Travel Payments:Payments can be made by credit card to VEGA Travel; ordered tickets sent by email.
Airport Transfers: Contact VEGA Travel
Daily Excursions: Contact VEGA Travel

BOOTH INFORMATION

View Booth Floor Plan
View MCA Kanter Floor Plan
11-12 May 2015, 8’x10’ booth = USD 4,000

Dates	Exhibitor Registration	Installation	Exhibit Hours	Dismantlement
5/11/15	7 to 9 AM	7 to 9 AM	9:00 to 18:00	x
5/12/15	x	x	9:00 to 14:00	14:00 to 18:00

Reductions and Cancellations: All booth reductions and cancellations must be made in writing.
Written Notice received prior to January 1, 2015: Amount retained 50%
Written Notice received prior to April 1, 2015: Amount retained 75%
Written Notice received after April 1, 2015: Amount retained 100%
Exhibit Package: Complimentary registration/badge for two (2) staff member for each booth spaces purchased, program book, list of attendees, a table and a chair
For further information & booking: email mail@rgipgd.com
Fax: 001 847 400 1516

FLOOR PLAN

Floor Plan: View Booth Floor Plan
MCA Kanter Floor Plan: View MCA Kanter Floor Plan
Order Form: View Exhibitor Prospectus

CONTACT

Address:2910 MACARTHUR BLVD Northbrook, Illinois, 60062
Phone: +1 847 400 1515
Scientific Correspondence: Anver Kuliev, M.D., PhD anverkuliev@hotmail.com RGI
Travel Reservations: VEGA International Travel www.vegatravel.net
Travel Contact Person: Gennady Podolsky, Phone: +1 312 332-7211, gennady@vegatravel.net
Travel website: www.vegatravel.net