The International Society of Paediatric Oncology European Neuroblastoma Group’s (SIOPEN) AGM & 4th Neuroblastoma Research Symposium

270 delegates from around the world attended a range of meetings, workshops and talks over the four day event.

Clinicians and scientists interacted and presented their research findings with an overall aim of improving the outlook for all patients with neuroblastoma around the world.

Social programme:
Attendees enjoyed a drinks reception and entertainment from the Northumbrian Piper at the BALTIC Centre for Contemporary Art. Guests and could look out across the stunning quayside from the River Terrace to see the Gateshead Millennium Bridge illuminated in the SIOPEN conference colours.

Delegates were also invited to a conference dinner and Ceilidh within the Great North Museum Hancock.

Convention Bureau support:
NewcastleGateshead Convention Bureau helped to source the perfect venue for the conference, assisting with several site visits. The team also helped to source accommodation and provided a booking website for delegates.

To make the delegates feel at home in NewcastleGateshead the Convention Bureau provided a welcome desk at the Crowne Plaza, where NewcastleGateshead Initiative’s destination manager provided information on the exciting things to do and see in NewcastleGateshead. He also gave delegates advice on the best ways to get around the local area. In addition the Convention Bureau provided pocket guides and maps in the delegate bags ensuring they got the most out of their stay.

Organiser testimonial:
Professor Deborah Tweddle, Professor of Paediatric Oncology at Newcastle University and Chair of the local organising committee for conference commented “This was a hugely successful conference with many more delegates than we originally anticipated from as far away as Hong Kong and Australia as well as Europe and the US. The local organising committee worked extremely hard to put together a stimulating and vibrant scientific programme which included all aspects of neuroblastoma research, from basic biology to the latest results of ongoing international clinical trials.

“Within the spacious surroundings of the newly opened Crowne Plaza hotel, clinicians and scientists were able to interact and foster new collaborations for the future benefit of patients with neuroblastoma, an aggressive tumour of the sympathetic nervous system which is currently one of the most difficult childhood cancers to cure. The feedback from the meeting was excellent in all respects; the scientific content, the venue and the social programme, there was a real buzz that new progress in our understanding of the clinical and biological basis of neuroblastoma was being made.

“We could not have put on such an outstanding meeting without the expert help of Caroline Reed and her colleagues from the NewcastleGateshead Convention Bureau and on behalf of all members of the local organising committee we would like to express our sincere gratitude for help with our conference planning over the last 12 months.”