44 th Annual Conference:

The 44th annual conference of the ISG will be held in Chennai from November 20th –24th 2003. Dr. K.R.Palaniswamy, Organizing Secretary, has already sent the brochure containing details of the conference, to all the members. The last date for submission of abstracts is July 31,2003. Abstracts received after July 31, 2003 will not be accepted. Abstracts can also be submitted electronically. Log on to the ISG website at www.isgcon2003.org

click on the icon for abstracts and follow the instructions.
As per the decision of the General Body, the schedule of the conference will be as follows: CME program on 20th November, followed by the main ISG conference on two days ie 21st and 22nd November, 2003. The INASL and SGEI meetings will be held on 23rd Nov, followed by the endoscopy workshop on 24th Nov, 2003. Please book these dates in your diary and make it to Chennai where a special scientific feast awaits you.

Mid-term meetings:
One midterm ISG conference was organized in Mumbai on 19th April, 2003, by Dr. Philip Abraham; the theme was “Emergencies in Gastroenterology”. Prof. Abraham Koshy and Dr Naresh Bhat held the other one, on “Colon”, in Bangalore on 10th and 11th of May 2003. Both were of very high scientific standard and were well attended.
ISG provides financial aid of Rs 20,000 each for two mid term meetings every year. Those who are willing to organize these meetings in 2004 should write to the Secretariat. The meetings should be held before July 2004.

Awards:
Nominations for the various Awards should be sent to the Secretariat by July 31, 2003. The details of the Awards are as follows:

Parke - Davis Oration (2004):
The applicant should have done research in any branch of Gastroenterology, as evidenced by at least 20 publications in recognized journals.  The publications  should be full reports with references; summaries in conference proceedings or abstracts of presentations are not acceptable.  The work should have been done in India as far as possible.  If a suitable awardee is not found, the  award may be given to a person whose work has significance for Indian conditions.  Five sets of the application submitted by the proposer should each include the CV and reprints of the five best research papers of the applicant.

Knoll Oration ( 2004):
 This oration is in the field of parasitology / gastrointestinal infection or nutrition as related to gastroenterology.  The applicant should have done research in these areas as evidenced by at least 20 publications in the form of full reports with references;  summaries in conference proceedings or abstracts  of presentations are not acceptable.  Five sets of the application submitted by the proposer should each include the cv and reprints of the five best research papers of the applicant. 

ALkem Om Prakash Memorial Award (2004):
This award will be given to a gastroenterologist member of the ISG who is below the age of 40 years.  The award is based on the 10 best research papers published by the applicant.  Five sets of the application submitted by the proposer should each include the C.V. and reprints of the five best research papers of the applicant. The application may be submitted by the prospective awardee or by a proposer who should be a member of the Society. 

Olympus Mitra Endoscopy Award (2004):
This award, to promote continuing education in the field of endoscopy, is given to senior member of the Society skilled in endoscopy who will visit one or more centers to enchance knowledge in the field.  The awardee will be selected based on experience in endoscopy (as judged from the C.V and publications) and the centers proposed by him.  Five sets of the application should each include the bio-data and reprints of the five best research papers published in the field of endoscopy. The application may be submitted by the prospective awardee or by a proposer who should be a member of the Society.

Dr.P N Chuttani Oration (2004):
Any member of the Society can send nominations. Nominations, along with 10 sets of the bio-data, should reach the Secretariat by July 15, 2003.  The nominee should have a distinguished academic career and should have made outstanding contributions in Gastroenterology or related fields.  The awardee will be selected on the basis of the bio-data.  In case no nomination is received or no suitable awardee is found, the Scientific Committe along with a representative of the Trust will have the right to nominate any person who fulfils these criteria. The awardee will be provided airfare within India, and reimbursement for accommodation for three days during the Annual Conference.

Dr S R Naik Memorial Award (2004):
This award, being instituted for the first time, is to be given to an Indian scientist for the best published work in the field of diseases of the digestive tract and liver, and other sciences as related to these areas. Applicants are required to send their full bio-data, a list of publications in the calendar year for which the award is meant, and 5 photocopies of such publications, to the Hon. Secretary. Selection Committee for the award will consist of two representatives of the ISG and one person from among the faculty of the Department of Gastroenterology at the SGPGI.
The award carries a certificate and a cash of Rs. 20,000.

Dr S R Naik Travel Fellowships (2004):
These fellowships are aimed at encouraging exchange of postgraduate students (DM/MCh/DNBE) between different academic departments imparting training in gastroenterology, surgical gastroenterology and pediatric gastroenterology. These will be awarded to postgraduate students in the above fields to enable them to visit another academic department for training.
Applicants are required to send their bio-data, proof of being a bonafide student in the specialty (from the head of the their department), name of the department and institution that they wish to visit, a letter from the head of the host department accepting her/him for training, and a certificate that s/he is not in receipt of any other financial support for this purpose.
Selection Committee for the fellowship will consist of three persons
(a) a representative of the ISG,
(b) one person from among the faculty of the Departments of Gastroenterology or Surgical Gastroenterology at the SGPGI, Lucknow and
(c) a person nominated by the Head, Department of Gastroenterology, SGPGI, Lucknow.

The fellowship will cover the cost of travel (AC chair car or AC-3-tier), and of lodging and boarding (an amount of Rs. 5,000 per month, reduced on a pro-rata basis if duration is shorter). The fellowship will be tenable for a maximum period of one month.

Other Awards

• Young Investigator Award for best paper (age below 40 years). Two prizes of Rs.20,000 each will given to the best papers in clinical and basic research.

• Award for best paper in Plenary Session.  Two prizes of Rs 30000 each will given to the best papers in clinical and basic research. Please send five sets of full papers for both these awards.

• Award for best posters: two prizes of Rs. 10,000 each.

Elections:
  This year elections will be held for the post of President Elect, and two Governing Council members.

Membership dues:
The membership fees are as follows:

            Ordinary member                      : Rs  500

            Life member                            : Rs 5000

            SAARC member                        : Rs 7500

   Non-resident  Indian(life membership) US$300 

Address and Membership Number:
If you are not aware about your membership number, please inquire with the Secretariat.  Please write to me about any change or addition in your address.  Please mention your number in all your correspondence.

I will get back to you as soon as I receive your e-mail.
Best wishes,

G. Choudhuri                       15 July, 2003
Honorary Secretary, ISG
Department of Gastroenterology ,
Sanjay Gandhi Post-Graduate Institute of Medical Sciences,
Rai Bareli Road
Lucknow,( U.P) PIN- 226014
Phones: 0522-2668700/800/900 Extn: 2413(O) & 2414( R )
Fax: 0522-2668017
E-mail: gc@sgpgi.ac.in
          gourdas@satyam.net.in