10th SEEM in Belgrade: Turkey tops abstract submissions

The 10th EAU South Eastern European Meeting (SEEM) opens tomorrow in Belgrade, the third time the Serbian capital is hosting the annual event.

"The SEEM is going strong, and on its 10th year we are happy to see the increasing participation of young urologists, many of them pursuing exciting research studies in both clinical and basic science. This annual meeting is certainly one of the frontline platforms for young urologists,” said Regional Office Chairman Prof. Bob Djavan.

The meeting is expected to attract more than 400 participants with many coming from Turkey, Greece, Croatia, Slovenia, Bosnia & Herzegovina and neighbouring countries aside from the host country. Turkey also topped this year’s abstract submissions. At least 324 abstracts were accepted and will be presented in 14 poster sessions that will cover a wide range of topics and issues in urology such as uro-oncology, female urology, stone disease and andrology, among others.

The accepted abstracts came from at least 30 countries, with some of the submissions coming from as far as Taiwan, South Korea, Philippines and Egypt. From the accepted abstracts, 171 or more than half were submitted by participants from Turkey. Researchers from the host country and Greece also topped the list of high submissions.

Djavan said local organisers led by Professors Sava Micic and Aleksandar Vuksanovic have prepared a scientific programme that will examine current and key issues in urology. During the two and a half-day event, debates, panel discussions and lectures, punctuated by poster and video sessions will be held to examine crucial topics in prostate, bladder and kidney cancers, minimally invasive surgery and stone disease to name a few.

Six cash awards from will be granted to the top six presented abstract studies selected by the SEEM jurors. Last year, research studies from Bulgaria and Macedonia bagged the first prizes for their work in kidney cancer treatment.