2008 - Post Genome Respiratory Epidemiology II - An interdisciplinary challenge

In the past decennium there has been considerable progress in research determining the genetics of complex diseases, including asthma and COPD and other complex diseases. A first research seminar on "Post genome respiratory epidemiology" has been held in 2002. The primary aim was to sensitize respiratory epidemiologists to the potentials of genetic and genomic research. Since epidemiologists and clinicians have incorporated genetic aspects in their studies by candidate gene approaches and genome wide search, debated aspects are no longer whether genetics should enter respiratory epidemiology but how.

This second "Post Genome Respiratory Epidemiology" ERS research seminar organised in cooperation with Ga2len aimed to:

• illustrate current challenges in epidemiology in relation to genetics, genomics and post genomics in asthma and COPD by combining states of the art regarding the field and other views from a broaden perspective
• favour interdisciplinary a