Epigenesis and epigenetics - Physiological consequences of perinatal nutritional programming - 2nd international advanced course 21 - 23 November 2011 Wageningen, The Netherlands Organised by the Graduate School WIAS, in co-operation with the Graduate School VLAG, Wageningen University, The Netherlands

Introduction

Target group
The course is aimed at postgraduates (MSc, PhD) with a background in animal, veterinary, biological, health, or food sciences and open for participants from both industry and universities/research centers. Participants are challenged to actively contribute to discussions.

Course contents

Course aim
Nutritional conditions in early life may, through epigenetic and epigenesist processes, have profound effects on physiological functioning and health in later life. This course aims to provide a detailed scientific background on the mechanisms that may underlie these early-life effects, both at the physiological and gene expression level. The programme combines knowledge on perinatal programming by nutritional factors in humans, laboratory and farm animals.

Course design
The course consists of a series of lectures providing the latest scientific knowledge on the different subjects. Furthermore, this knowledge will be discussed in several workshops with emphasis on application of the theory.

Programme topics
The following topics will be addressed:

Prenatal metabolic pressure

• Prenatal programming; mechanisms and implications
• Hunger winter studies
• Nutrition during pregnancy
• Matching maternal and offspring nutrition: broilers as a model
• Uterine crowding in pigs

Immune programming and early nutrition

• Maternally-mediated immunological imprinting
• Probiotics and allergy: results of the PANDA study
• Early nutrition: with a focus on infant nutrition and breastmilk
• Interaction between host and gut microbes
• Feeding behavior in pigs: effects of vertical information transfer

Epigenetics

• Epigenetic epidemiology in human populations
• Identifying genes involved in the regulation of programming
• Modifying DNA methylation by nutritional interventions

Organisation

Course coordinators
Dr. Wouter Hazeleger, Adaptation Physiology Group, Wageningen University
Prof. Edith Feskens, Division of Human Nutrition, Wageningen University
Dr. Ariëtte van Knegsel, Adaptation Physiology Group, Wageningen University

Other lecturers
Dr. Liesbeth Bolhuis, Adaptation Physiology Group, Wageningen University
Dr. Bas Heijmans, Leiden University Medical Center
Dr. Bert van de Heijning, Danone
Prof. Ellen Kampman, Division of Human Nutrition, Wageningen University
Dr. Aart Lammers, Adaptation Physiology Group, Wageningen University
Prof. Harry McArdle, Rowett Research Institute, University of Aberdeen, UK
Prof. Michael Müller, Division of Human Nutrition, Wageningen University
Dr. Ger Rijkers, University Medical Center, Utrecht
Dr. Tessa Roseboom, Academic Medical Center, Amsterdam
Prof. Huub Savelkoul, Cell Biology and Immunology, Wageningen University
Prof. Kevin Sinclair, University of Nottingham, UK
Dr. Regine Steegers, Erasmus Medical Center
Dr. Liesbeth van der Waaij, Animal Breeding and Genomics Centre, Wageningen UR

General information

Date & duration
The course is scheduled for 21 - 23 November 2011.

Study load
The study load of this course is 0.8 ECTS credits.

Language
The course will be conducted in English.

Location & accommodation
The course venue is Hotel and Conference Centre ‘Hof van Wageningen’. The town of Wageningen is 5 km from Ede-Wageningen railway station, with transport options being taxi or bus. Ede-Wageningen railway station is about one and a half hours from Amsterdam Schiphol Airport. For train schedules visit: www.ns.nl.
A number of hotel rooms have been blocked at Hof van Wageningen for course participants, but only until 10 October 2011. Accommodation costs are € 80 (single room; incl. breakfast, excl. Tax)) and € 98.50 (twin room; incl. breakfast, excl. Tax) per night. For information visit: www.hofvanwageningen.nl. Participants have to book their own hotel room by sending an e-mail to: info@hofvanwageningen.nl.
Please mention booking code EPI-11.

Social programme
On Tuesday evening an excursion and course dinner are organised.

Contact information
Information concerning the course contents can be obtained from Ariëtte van Knegsel, phone: +31 317 483653, e-mail: Ariette.vanKnegsel@wur.nl.
For organisational matters and registration please contact Mrs. C.H.L. Doeswijk, phone: +31 317 485143, e-mail: Chantal.Doeswijk@wur.nl.

Registration & course fee

To register please complete the electronic reply form before 1 November 2011.
Applicants will be informed of acceptance of their registration before November 3, 2011. They will then receive instructions for payment, a letter of acceptance and further course details.
Cancellations may be made free of charge until November 1, 2011. After this date the charge will be 25% of the course fee already paid or due. Substitutions for participants may be made until the start of the course.

The course fee (which includes materials, coffee/tea during breaks, lunches and two dinners (Monday & Wednesday) but does not cover accommodation) depends on the participant's affiliation:

Industry / For-Profit	€ 1300
University Staff / Non-Profit organisations	€ 750
PhD student	€ 375
VLAG PhD students	€ 185
WIAS PhD students	free of charge