History of the European Pancreatic Club: The First 40 Years 1965-2005

The European Pancreatic Club (EPC) was founded during a first symposium on December 9 and 10, 1965 in London (President H.T. Howat). The nine founding members were one biochemist (Jean Christophe, Belgium), one physiologist (Alfred A. Harper, UK), two surgeons (André Delcourt, Belgium, Yngve Edlund, Norway) and fi ve physicians with special interest in the pancreas (Werner Creutzfeldt, Germany, Oliver Fitzgerald, Ireland, Karel Herfort, Czechoslovakia, Henry T. Howat, UK, Henri Sarles, France). It was the first scientific society worldwide which was concerned with the study of the pancreas. The idea was to bring basic scientists and clinicians together in an informal atmosphere to promote friendship and communication on research between them. The 2nd symposium was held in Marseilles in1967 (President H. Sarles). Until now there have nearly always been annual meetings, the one in 2005 is the 37th. In 1973 the EPC decided to lay down 'Internal Rules' and in 1992 new statutes were introduced. It became a member of the United European Gastroenterology Federation (UEGF) and is coorganizer of the United European Gastroenterology Week (UEGW). The offi cial journal has been Pancreatology since 2001; previously the abstracts had been printed in Digestion since 1982. The offi cers of the EPC are the President, the Past President, the President Elect, the Secretary, the Treasurer and six Councillors from different European countries, three from basic and three from clinical science. A selection committee (4 basic and 4 clinical scientists) decides on the acceptance of papers. Offi cers and Presidents are elected by the General Assembly. At the meetings on average 150 contributions are accepted for presentation; the abstracts are printed in Pancreatology. Papers came from nearly all European countries and from overseas. In numbers Germany, France, the UK, Italy and Sweden are at the top. In total 4,837 scientific presentations were made from 1971 to 2004. Fifty-nine symposia and 245 invited lectures informed about the state of the art. Since 1991 a Young Researchers Corner given by international experts is especially designed to give information on new techniques of research. The European Study Group of Pancreatic Cancer (ESPAC) and the European Registry of Hereditary Pancreatitis and Familial Pancreatic Cancer (EUROPAC) are affi liated with the EPC. Since 1999 a Newsletter of the EPC has been published. The website of the EPC is www.e-p-c.org.