Membership
The British Microcirculation Society is the professional organisation for scientists and clinicians working on the biology and pathology of small blood vessels, lymphatics and interstitium.
The Society provides three functions:
A forum for presentation and exchange of scientific work in the microcirculation. Support for microvascular research by UK postgraduate and postdoctoral researchers.
Representation of issues affecting the microcirculation or research issues in the field.
Membership (currently over 270) is available to researchers, clinicians and teachers in the fields of medical sciences - including anatomy, biophysics, cell biology, genetics, biochemistry, pathology, pharmacology, physiology, clinical medicine and surgery - the pharmaceutical industry, veterinary medicine and mathematics and physical sciences.
Application for membership
Meetings The Society holds a scientific meeting and AGM in the Spring of each year and the proceedings are published in Microcirculation. The spectrum of interests is one of the strengths of the Society and enlivens discussion at its meetings. Additionally, the Society contributes symposia to International and European Microcirculation Congresses which are held in the Summer biennially. Membership of the BMS includes free membership of the European Society for Microcirculation, free access to the Journal of Vascular Research, free online access to Microcirculation, and free colour page charges for publication in Microcirculation.
Support for Research
The Society works to advance the careers of researchers in the microcirculation by providing awards that pay for attendance at meetings and visits to laboratories for the purpose of developing new techniques.
Information
The Society through its website, blogspot, newsletter and email, provides information to its members on recent events, jobs in the field, upcoming meetings of interest, laboratory contacts and details of support. It also acts as a centre for journalists enquiries about science in microcirculation.
Some areas of interest (including recent symposia)
Blood Flow: Regulation of vascular tone, laser doppler flowmetry; capillaroscopy. myography, edhf, nitric oxide, prostaglandins, vasomotion.
Physical forces and the microcirculation: Shear stress, mechanical stretch, osmotic interactions, Starling forces, rheology.
Hypoxia and ischaemia: Ischaemia reperfusion injury, angiogenesis, altitude sickness, coronary ischaemia, hypoxia signalling, atherosclerosis, extracellular matrix.
Exchange in different organs: Blood brain barrier, feto-maternal exchange, renal, joint, skin, bone, lung, spleen, cardiac, intestine, prostate, pancreas, ovarian and muscle microcirculations.
Tumour microcirculation: Angiogenesis, lymphangiogenesis, metastasis, drug delivery, tumour blood flow, vascular invasion, tumour oxygenation, radiotherapy.
Inflammation: Leukocyte adhesion, rolling and diapedesis, neuropeptides, vascular permeability, reactive oxygen species, nitric oxide, adhesion molecules, selectins.
Endothelial cell biology: Differential gene expression, endothelial receptors, proteomics, endothelial markers, cell signalling, signal transduction, caveolae, integrins, ion channels.
Vascular Permeability: Cell junctions, caveolae, endothelial gaps, occludins, cadherins, oedema, junctional integrity.
Lymphatics and interstitium: Lymphatic contractility, valves, pressures etc, lymph formation, flow, lymphoedema, lymphangiogenesis; interstitial pressures, biochemistry, structure, flow etc
Pathologies: Cancer, atherosclerosis, diabetes, arthritis, burns, Reynauds disease, scleroderma, pre-eclampsia, stroke, venous disease, asthma, shock, allergies, retinopathies, renal disease, ARDS, ulcers
Summary of Society Membership, Jan 2012
Ordinary members = 179
Student members = 83
Honorary members = 12
TOTAL membership = 274
Annual subscription: 60.00 GBP (Sterling) by Direct Debit, or 64.00 GBP by cheque (made payable to the British Microcirculation Society) and for overseas members. 20.00 GBP student subscription (dependent upon letter from Supervisor confirming student status) Members, except those Overseas, are asked to pay their annual subscription, which is due on 1 January, by Direct Debit. Overseas Members should pay by cheque in Sterling (GBP). The first subscription should be enclosed with this application form. If an application is not accepted, the Direct Debit form (or cheque) will be returned. Annual subscription includes online access to the journal Microcirculation.
If members wish to cancel their membership, could they please inform the Honorary Treasurer, Dr Jacqueline Whatmore (jackie.whatmore@pms.ac.uk).
