The Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation's (JDRF) Research Open Meetings are a fantastic way to keep up to date with the latest research developments and a great way to meet other families who are also affected by type 1 diabetes. The day itself will feature presentations from five of the UK's top researchers on topics including the artificial pancreas, beta cells and islet transplantation.

EMBO (Workshop European Molecular Biology Organisation) are holding a workshop entitled ‘BETA Cell Differentiation & Regeneration’ at Peebles Hydro Hotel, Peebles on 26 Feb- 1 March 2009. For full details please see the EMBO website.

Alison Sudworth Starts work today as SDRN Training Officer. Alison is currently a Diabetes Specialist Research Nurse at the Royal Infirmary in Edinburgh but is being seconded to this SDRN role for 2 days a week for the next seven months. Alison will be available to conduct individualised on-site training and we hope to organise some more centralised training.

The UK Dermatology Clinical Trials Network have contacted SDRN, after watching our ‘Patient Testimonials’ DVD on our website to congratulate us on this innovative piece of work. They say that they have now been inspired to create a DVD of their own.

Nicola Sturgeon MSP (Cabinet Secretary for Health & Wellbeing) opened the new Clinical Research Centre in Dundee today and in her address spoke of the success of SDRN in increasing diabetes research activity across Scotland. She quoted figures for the number of patient study visits conducted in the last year taken from the SDRN annual report 2007-2008.