Symposium on transmissible spongiform encephalopathies
In order to assess progress made with EU-funded research into transmissible spongiform encephalopathies (TSEs), undertaken in response to the mad cow crisis, the European Commission, DG XII, convened a symposium which was held in Brussels, Belgium, on 27 and 28 October 1998. The symposium was opened by the European Commissioner, Mrs Edith Cresson, and aimed to provide an opportunity for scientists to present their projects, exchange information and assess potential outcomes. A total of 30 research projects on TSEs are currently underway, many of which commenced in 1996, funded within the EU's research programme for Agriculture and Fisheries (FAIR), as well as the life sciences programmes for Biotechnology (BIOTECH) and Biomedicine and Health (BIOMED). A final batch of 13 projects are currently under negotiation and will complement ongoing research activities.