Günter Valet - President Elect of The European Society for Analytical Pathology [ESACP]
Cytometric techniques are presently utilized in many biomedical and cell oriented disciplines. Today's cytometric approach to pathological states is necessarily multidisciplinary, with varied input from general biochemistry, molecular biology, immunology, cell physiology, genetics, informatics or engineering.
Due to the fast expansion of cytometric disciplines, certain peculiarities have developed in its world wide organisation over the years.
In 1979, with the aim of strengthening Cytometric development, around 150-200 scientists from around the world jointly founded the Society of Analytical Cytometry (SAC) which in 1980, began to produce its own journal, Cytometry. From these early developments, the Society has grown internationally, and in 1990 changed its name accordingly to the International Society of Analytical Cytometry (ISAC) to emphasize this fact. Developing further, in 1993, a clinical division with a publication section in Cytometry was established to deal with clinical manuscript submissions, as well as producing "Clinical Communication in Cytometry" (CCC), edited in conjunction with the Charleston Clinical Application of Cytometry group since 1994.
The foundation of the regionally active European Society for Analytical Cellular Pathology (ESACP) in 1986 was initiated mainly by image analysis and the clinically oriented Concerted Action for Automated Cytometry (CAAC) of the EEC. The journal of Analytical Cellular Pathology (ACP) began in 1989 and from its beginning focused upon the clinical aspects of image and flow cytometry.
The elaboration of consensus protocols, the joint organisation of cytometry courses and the focus of meetings in Europe has generated the need for closer cooperation of cytometric societies within the EEC. This has prompted ESACP at its recent Grenoble meeting to initiate the establishment of the CytometryNet via internet data lines. The CytometryNet will be a complement to the installation of cytometric E- Mail boxes for educational and methodological purposes e.g. by Paul Robinson (University of Indiana) for ISAC and on a smaller scale also by the Gesellschaft für Zytometrie (GZ) in Germany.
The goal of the CytometryNet will be to provide a range of organizational information on individual national societies such as contact information etc., the elaboration of consensus protocols, the organisation of international meetings and joint research projects. A CytometryNet is seen as an attractive idea since it provides free world wide access to a host of Cytometric information to people with an interest in the topic, as well as providing easy entrance onto the network for new cytometric societies. The first CytometryNet on-line service has recently been installed and can be reached by Gopher and FTP (anonymous login) at any of the aforementioned locations :
Gopher or FTP to: cytoesacp.biochem.mpg.de OR cytogerm.biochem.mpg.de
In order to provide improve the access to the CytometryNet and to simultaneously remain intouch with the Cytometric Bulletin Boards of a large number of institutions etc., it is possible to connect to the WWW CYTORELAY at :
http://www.biochem.mpg.de/research-groups/valet/cytorel.html
The electronic interlinking will be an efficient tool for the coordination of the world wide advancements in cytometry. It will particularly favor the clinical sciences. An enormous effort for standardization and quality control is required for the world wide establishment of "good laboratory practice" (GLP) procedures. Although the practical implementation of a scientific consensus may vary in different countries, the efforts for reasons of intellectual and financial economy are best made on a world wide scale. It is my hope that the CytometryNet will substantially contribute to this effort.