The European Association for the Study of Diabetes (EASD)

was founded in 1965 in Montecatini, Italy. The Association is based on individual membership and embraces scientists, physicians and laboratory workers interested in diabetes and related subjects. Starting in 1996, the EASD introduces Student Membership for which undergraduate students or postgraduate science students are welcome to apply for. Student Membership does not include subscription to Diabetologia and must be reapplied for annually. Application for membership should be made to the EASD Secretariat.

Paid-up members of the Association are entitled to attend the Annual Meetings of the Association at a considerably reduced registration fee. Active Membership in the EASD is combined with subscription to the official journal of the Association, DIABETOLOGIA. In addition, members are entitled to a preferential discount on an annual subscription to several other diabetic research journals.

The Association is governed by a Council of fifteen members (one-third of whom retire each year) who are elected by the General Assembly, which is held at the time of the Annual Meeting. The President and Vice Presidents are elected from amongst the Council Members. The Honorary Secretary and Honorary Treasurer are elected by the General Assembly, as is the Editor-in-Chief of DIABETOLOGIA.

Eight awards are presented annually by the Association: the Castelli Pedroli Prize, the Minkowski Prize and the Claude Bernard Lecturer. The Eli Lilly / EASD Research Fellowship in Diabetes and Metabolism, the Glaxo Wellcome / EASD Burden of Diabetes Research Fellowship, the EASD / Sankyo Insulin Resistance Project Award , the Albert Renold Fellowship and the EASD / Bayer Travel Fellowship awards are to encourage young European investigators to visit another laboratory(ies) to gain experience in new techniques and methodology, to receive postdoctoral training or to carry out collaborative research. Annually the Association holds an EASD Scientists Training Course to attract new talent to diabetes research in new centres throughout the world. Nominations for all of the above are invited from the membership.

Through the Association's Travel Fund, a limited number of Travel Grants are awarded annually to young research workers under the age of 35 to enable them to attend the Annual Meeting.

The Association has fourteen Study Groups: Artificial Insulin Delivery Systems and Pancreas and Islet Transplantation (AIDSPIT), Diabetes Education (DESG), Metabolism and Insulin Action, Diabetic Nephropathy (EDNSG), Diabetes and Nutrition (DNSG), Diabetic Pregnancy (DPSG), Diabetic Retinopathy (EASDEC), Diabetes Care Optimization through Information Technology (DOIT), Diabetic Neuropathy (NEURODIAB), European Diabetes Epidemiology (EDESG), Lipoprotein, Pancreatic Islets, Hypertension in Diabetes (HID) and Psychosocial Aspects of Diabetes (PSAD). The Post Graduate Education Subcommittee (PGESC) is active in sponsoring workshops and courses for clinicians and educators.