First International Advanced Research
Workshop on
In Silico Oncology: Advances and Challenges
(1st IARWISO)

September 9-11 , 2004
Sparta , Greece

Co-Directors
N. Uzunoglu, National Technical University of Athens
and D. Givol, , The Weizmann Institute of Science

Organizing Committee
N. Uzunoglu, D. Givol, N. Zamboglou, G. Stamatakos

Enquiries: gestam@central.ntua.gr

UPDATED: SEPTEMBER 1, 2004

Akay M ., Dartmouth College , Thayer School of Engineering, Hanover , NH , USA
Alcalay M ., European Institute of Oncology, Department of Experimental Oncology, Milan , Italy
Alger J.R. , UCLA, David Geffen School of Medicine, Department of Radiology, Los Angeles , CA , USA
Audretsch W ., Interdisciplinary Breast Center , Women's Hospital, Duesseldorf , Germany
Dale R. , Imperial College School of Medicine and Hammersmith Hospitals , London , UK
Deisboeck T., Harvard-MIT (HST) Athinoula Martinos Center, Massachusetts General Hospital, Charlestown, MA, USA
Domany E ., The Weizmann Institute of Science, Center for Systems Biology, Rehovot , Israel
Duechting W. , University of Siegen , Institute of Control Engineering, Siegen , Germany
Givol D. , The Weizmann Institute of Science, Department of Molecular Cell Biology, Rehovot , Israel
Kozlov, A.P ., St. Petersburg University, Res. Inst. of Pure Biochemicals, St. Petersburg , Russian Federation
Moschovi M., First Dept. of Padiatrics, Medical School, University of Athens, Athens, Greece
Nagl S ., University College London , Department of Oncology, London , UK
Rechavi G ., Sheba Medical Center–Tel Hashomer and Sackler School of Medicine, Tel Aviv University , Israel
Stamatakos G.S ., Institute of Communication and Computer Systems, Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering, National Technical University of Athens, Greece
Uzunoglu N., Institute of Communication and Computer Systems, Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering, National Technical University of Athens, Greece
Zamboglou N. , Klinikum Offenbach, Radiation Therapy Clinic, Offenbach , Germany

PROPOSED DEFINITION OF IN SILICO ONCOLOGY

The emerging discipline of In Silico (Computational) Oncology can be defined as the combination of advanced mathematical and computational methods, techniques and simulation tools (bioinformatics/biocomputing) with experimental and clinical knowledge pertinent to the development and progression of cancer with the aim of better understanding and treating the disease.

As an analytical approach to the natural phenomenon of cancer, In Silico Oncology could be founded on principles analogous to the Newton’s Principles of Natural Philosophy. Therefore, it is highly important to develop and formulate fundamental algorithmic oncological “laws”. This is one of the principal aims of the workshop.

“Leonidas”, Archaeological Museum of Sparta

The 1 st International Advanced Research Workshop on In Silico Oncology: Advances and Challenges will establish an international medium for the exchange of new computationally-oriented ideas and experimental and clinical experience in the vast area of Oncology. Contribution to the shaping of the emerging discipline of In Silico Oncology is one of the main goals of the workshop.

Archaeological Museum of Sparta

The basic topics that will be covered in the Workshop are as follows:

A. Shaping the emerging discipline of In Silico Oncology (ISO)

A.1 Definition and Scope of ISO
A.2 Basic and Applied Character of ISO
A.3 Historical Perspective

B.1 Cancer Bioinformatics/Biocomputing at the Molecular Level
B.2 Modelling Chemotherapy and Radiotherapy at the Molecular Level
B.3 Modelling Other Treatment Modalities at the Molecular Level

C. ISO at the Cellular and Higher Level(s) of Complexity

C.1 Cancer Bioinformatics/Biocomputing at the Cellular and Higher Level(s) of Complexity
C.2 Modelling Chemotherapy and Radiotherapy at the Cellular and Higher Level(s) of Complexity
C.3 Modelling Other Treatment Modalities at the Cellular and Higher Level(s) of Complexity

D. Clinical Applications of ISO

D.1 Diagnostics
D.2 Treatment Planning
D.3 Medical Education
D.4 Patient Education

E. General Discussion, Conclusions and Perspectives

E.1 General Discussion
E.2 Conclusions
E.3 Perspectives

Ancient Sparta with Taygetus in the background

The Workshop will take place at Sparta,  a beautiful town with neoclassical buildings near the river Evrotas, located in the south of the Peloponnese. Sparta , known in Greek as Sparti, has a history which dates back to the Neolithic period, at least 3,000 years BC. In parallel with Athens it played a leading role in classical Greek civilization. Modern Sparta , founded in 1834, occupies part of the site of the classical city and is the capital of the department of Laconia . Excavations have uncovered ruins of temples and public buildings as well as a theatre dating from the Roman period. Taygeta, Lacedaemon , Hyacinth, Leda, Castor, Pollux, Menelaus, Helen of Troy, Lycurgus, Chilon (one of the Seven Wise Men of Ancient Greece), Alcman, Leonidas and contemporary photochemist Panos Grammaticakis are some of the worldwide known mythical or historical personalities directly linked with the epic city. The constellations of Cassiopeia also known as Laconian Key, Cygnus and Gemini, the star Taygeta (one of the Pleiades), Jupiter's moon Leda, Saturn's moon Helene and many other celestial bodies and formations are heavenly reminders of the mythical glory of the city. In September 2003 Steven Pressfield, author of Gates of Fire was invited to Sparta where he was officially honoured by the municipality. The Workshop venue will be the Central Library of Sparta (135, Lykourgou St .)

Modern Sparta Town Hall

The Byzantine city of Mystras , a precursor of the Renaissance and a UNESCO World Heritage Site

Accepted extended abstracts are included in the Book of Short Communications (BSC) that will be distributed during the Workshop. The title of the BSC is: N. Uzunoglu, G.Stamatakos, D. Givol Eds, Book of Short Communications, First International Advanced Research Workshop on In Silico Oncology: Advances and Challenges, Sparta, Greece, September 9-10, 2004, Institute of Communications and Computer Systems, National Technical University of Athens, Athens, Greece, 2004

Selected full papers will be included in the Workshop Proceedings volume. More details will be available during the Workshop.

PAPER PRESENTATION

All paper presentations will be oral. Each speaker (either invited or proferred paper presenter) will be allowed 30 min to make his or her presentation. After completion of each presentation, 5 min will be allowed for discussion.

Both Microsoft Power Point (TM) and overhead projector presentations are acceptable.

Participants may bring their laptops with them. As the main meeting area (round table structure) is equipped with a local network to which a data projector is connected, they may make their presentation from their seats.

The opening ceremony (open to the public) will take place in a room with capacity of approximately 150 seats.

There are about 12 internet connected PCs available.

Special prices have been arranged in the Hotels Lida ( http://users.otenet.gr/~lidahtl and Menelaion (http://www.menelaion.com/ or http://www.magicaljourneys.com/Sparta/sparta-hotels-menelaion.html) at Sparta . Please provide the indication “1 ST IARWISO” followed by your first and family names during the booking procedure. A hotel room for the night 11 to 12 September should also be booked at a hotel in Athens by proferred paper presenters as the coach will reach Athens late at night on September 11. Special prices have been arranged in the Hotel Dorian Inn
(http://www.greekhotel.com/athens/dorianinn/home.htm or
http://www.dilos.com/hotel/16) . Please provide the above mentioned indication to this hotel too.

For invited speakers arrangements have been made on an individual basis and in line with the invitation letter content. Notification on the final arrangements will be sent to invited speakers by e-mail shortly.

PARTICIPANTS' ARRIVAL AND DEPARTURE

The Workshop will take place between Thursday 9 th September and Saturday 11 th September 2004 (3 working days) at Sparta , Greece . Wednesday 8 th September will be spent on the participants' arrival at Athens and their subsequent transportation to Sparta (210 Km, 3 hours coach drive approximately).
Sunday 12 th September will be spent on the participants' departure from Athens.

PLEASE NOTE: RECEPTION OF INVITED SPEAKERS AT THE ATHENS AIRPORT "ELEFTHERIOS VENIZELOS" AND SUBSEQUENT TRANSPORT TO SPARTA WILL BE ARRANGED ON AN INDIVIDUAL BASIS BY E-MAIL. RELEVANT INFORMATION WILL BE SENT TO INVITED SPEAKERS BY THE ORGANIZING COMMITTEE SHORTLY.

The picturesque town of Gytheion,
port of both ancient and modern Sparta

The Greek Ministry of National Education and Religious Affairs

Institute of Comminication and Computer Systems, National Technical University of Athens

Technical Chamber of Greece

The Demos (Municipality) of Sparta

The Central Library of Sparta

The Alexander Onassis Public Benefit Foundation

The Eugenidis Foundation

The Propontis Foundation

AVENTIS PHARMA AEBE

GENESIS PHARMA A.E.

SUPPORTERS

Prefectural Government of Laconia

Fifth Ephorate of Byzantine Antiquities

Laconia Citrus Processing Cooperative

Taygetos Winery - Theodorakakos Estate

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS

The Co-Directors and the Organizing Committee are grateful to D.Dionysiou, PhD, V.Antipas, MSc, and X. Papadomichelaki, Dipl. Eng., MBA, of the Microwave and Fiber Optics Laboratory, School of Electrical and Computer Engineering, National Technical University of Athens, Greece, for their significant support during the organization of the workshop. They also acknowledge the substantial contribution of Mr S. Antonakos, Mayor of Sparta, and Mrs E. Tzinieri-Tzanetakou, Director of the Central Library of Sparta. They thank Mrs M. Papapostolou and Mr N. Georgiadis for the guided tours of ancient Sparta and Byzantine Mystras respectively.

Eurotas, the Valley of Lacedaemon , Sparta and Taygetus (Photo N.S.Koumaris)