Towards the end of April, four of the Platelet Services team were delighted to travel to Aberdeen for the annual Platelet Society meeting. This group of platelet focused researchers from academic and industrial based laboratories have been meeting annually, sometimes as part of a larger European conference, since 1998.
On this occasion, around 90 scientists, predominately from the UK but also from Europe and as far afield as Canada and the USA, came together to discuss current research and recent advances in platelet and megakaryocyte basic science and clinical studies at the amazing P&J Live events venue on the outskirts of Aberdeen.
The Platelet Services team are regulars at this meeting, both since the formation of the company and in our previous research lives, with members having participated since the founding Oxford meeting in 1998. It was wonderful to meet up with both familiar faces and new friends to talk science and exchange stories.
The main body of the meeting comprised selected oral presentations and poster sessions covering a broad range of current science. Platelet Services was pleased to present a poster including some hot off the press data, “In vitro assays to de-risk new cancer therapeutics: comparing the effects of BH3-mimetics on platelet viability”. Five plenary speakers gave a varied programme of presentations covering decades of research careers.
Supporting these meetings is highly important to us and we enjoyed being one of the sponsor companies. Our exhibition stand was a hub of activity for many of the delegates, congregating for discussions on all topics. Additionally, the event was perfect to further existing client and partner relationships and have ongoing study discussions. In quieter moments we enjoyed catching up with fellow sponsors and friends sited around us.
The main evening social event, an international street food buffet, allowed us to continue debate more informally, whilst trying not to be distracted by watching the aircraft coming in to land at the airport through the huge panoramic windows of the venue! As with the best Scottish events, the organising committee arranged a ceilidh (pronounced kay-lee, for those of you who are not familiar with this great tradition!) to finish off the evening. We managed to get the whole Platelet Services contingent dancing, even those less keen on the idea!
Platelet Services found this to be a rewarding conference to attend. Platelets are tricky characters to work with but the associated science continues to thrive at the forefront of technological advances and the platelet science community remains a hugely supportive and friendly environment for those in all stages of their career, fostering learning and innovative science.
We are looking forward to next year when the platelet research community in this corner of the world will be indulged with two conferences – a Platelet Society meeting in Manchester and a European Platelet Network (EUPLAN) meeting in Germany.
Visit our news page to learn more about our previous and upcoming events here.
