The Society of Neuroscientists of Africa (SONA) takes pleasure to invite you to attend the 4th SONA Congress which will take place in Senegal, in 1999.

Senegal is situated across the Atlantic ocean, in the Westerner part of SubSahara Africa. Tourism, Culture and a rich tradition of exchanges make this country very famous and provide an attractive venue. Cheikh Anta Diop University of Dakar is the oldest one in this part of the continent. His department of Neurological Sciences make it one's ambition to develop --, this field of research in a collaborative way.

The Congress will be held at the Meridien President Conference Hall of Dakar which is attractive for his modern meeting facilities, wide choice of accomodations, and various leisure and tours offers.

The provisional program is aimed at highlighting research problems and opportunities in young ambitious Africa neurosciences. Themes range from mechanisms of infectious and parasitical diseases involving the nervous system, muscular and movements disorders, aging and dementia, neuro degeneration, pain, neurovascular disorders to basic neuroscience topics such as developing nervous system, glia, neuronal communication, cell death, apoptosis, neurotoxicology, neuropharmacology, fundamental epileptology and drugs development. Special interest will be focused on African animals models, and developing Neurosciences in Africa.

The Organization Committee will be honored to welcome you and your team members at the Senegal SONA 99 Conference.

The President of the Organizing Committee The SONA 97-99 Chairman

Pr. Ibrahima Pierre NDIAYE Pr. Amadou Gallo DIOP
 
 

NATIONAL ORGANIZING INTERNATIONAL ORGANIZING

COMMITTEE COMMITTEE
 

Pr. I. P. NDIAYE, President	Pr. A. ADEM (SONA Europe, Sweden)
Pr. M. GUEYE, Vice President	Pr. I. ADEOSHUN (SONA West Africa, Nigeria)
Dr. M. C. BA	Pr. W. BENGELOUM (SONA 93-95 Past Chairman, Morocco)
Pr. S. B. BADIANE	Pr. M. BENTIVOGLIO (SONA advisor, Italy)
Dr. M. DIAGNE	Pr. R. BUTTERWORTH (SONA advisor, Canada)
Dr. A. K. DIALLO	Pr. M. CHOULLI (SONA North Africa, Morocco)
Pr. A. G. DIOP	Pr. M. DUMAS (S0MA advisor, France)
Dr. S. DIOUF	Dr. L. HOUENNOU (SONA USA, USA)
Dr. S. FRANZETTI	Pr. J. HUGON (SONA advisor, France)
Dr. L. GUEYE	Pr. R. KALARIA (SONA USA, USA)
Dr. E. M. GUEYE	Pr. J. KIMANI (SONA Secretary-General, Kenya)
Dr. A. K. NDAO	Pr. K. LEENDERS (SONA advisor, Switzerland)
Pr. M. M. NDIAYE	Dr. N. LAKHDAR-GHAZAL (SONA treasurer)
Pr. Mb. NDIAYE	Pr. E. MTUI (SONA Ass. Secretary-General, Tanzania)
Dr. M. INDIAYE	Pr. A. NIEOULLON (SONA advisor, France)
Dr. Nd. NDOYE	Pr. D. OTTOSON (IBR0 Past Secretary-General)
Pr. Y. SAKHO	Dr. V. RUSSEL (S0MA 95-97 Past Chairperson, South Africa)
Dr. F. SENE	Pr. T. SAGVOLDEN (SONA Advisor, Norway)
Dr. A. THIAM	Pr. M. ZIGMOND (SONA advisor. SFN representative)
	IBRO (representative)

SECRETARIAT OF THE CONGRESS

MANAGEMENT & COMMUNICATION

INTERNATIONAL (MCI)

SONA 99

PO Box 4000 Dakar - SENEGAL - West Africa

Tel + 221 824.24.00 - Fax + 221 824.04.63

E-mail: mci@telecomplus.sn

BEFORE THE CONGRESS, FOR ALL QUESTION RELATED TO THE SCIENTIFIC PROGRAM, PLEASE CONTACT:

The SONA '99 Organizing Committee

PO Box 5035 Dakar- SENEGAL

Tel. + 221 825.36.78 or 825.20.67

Fax + 221 825.92.27 or 825.80.05

E-mail: neurofan@telecomplus.sn
 

VENUE

The Congress, Workshops and exhibition will take place at the Meridien President Conference Hall of Dakar. This site is the largest Conference centre, with complete and modern means for organization of meetings. Participants will be transfered from the airport to the congress site and hotels.

OFFICIAL LANGUAGE

The official languages of the Congress are English and French. No simultaneous translation will be provided.

SCIENTIFIC COMMUNICATION

SLIDE SESSIONS

Communications scheduled in slide sessions are limited to 10 minutes for each presentation and five minutes for discussions. A Speaker Ready Room will be available on site to review slides before presentation.

Authors are invited to bring only slides that are 2 mn (thick) and 5 X 5 cm (in size).

POSTER SESSION

Poster board space of 1 m (width) X 1.2 m (height) will be assigned to each poster presenter for specific sessions, to display illustrative material. EachPoster must be summarized by one slide and presented in one minute during special poster sesslons

ABSTRACTS

Abstracts must be received before 31 December 1998. They must include:

• Title
• Authors (presenting author under lined)
• Address, Phone, Fax, E-mail
• Theme and Topic
• Key Words

• Infectious and parasitical diseases
• Neuro-AlDS
• Muscular Disorders
• Neuroimaging
• Developing Nervous system
• Glia
• African animals models
• Cell death, Apoptosis
• Neurodegeneration
• Neurotoxicology
• Neuropharmacology and Drugs
• Pain
• Neuronal Communication
• Neurovascular disorders
• Cognitive functions
• Neurolinguistic
• Tumors and Malformations
• Developing Neurosciences in Africa
• Fundamental Epileptology

WORKSHOPS AND ROUND-TABLES

If you wish to organize a workshop or a roundtable, please contact the Organizing Committee or the Congress Secretariat.

Students working toward a degree in neuroscience or an allied field are invited to attend the workshops. Please contact the Secretariat of the Congress. Eligibility request must be signed by your Department Head.

REGISTRATION

Different registration fees are proprosed to participants: ($1 = 6 FF)

Early (before 31 July 1998):

($145) 870 FF

Mid (before 31 December 1998):

($182) 1.092 FF

Late (after 31 December 1998) and on-site:

($272) 1.632 FF

For accompagning

Early (before 31 July 1998):

($36) 216 FF

Mid (before 31 December 1998):

($45) 270 FF

Late (after 31 December 1998) and on-site:

($54) 324 FF

Registration fees include Conference documents, admission to the scientific program and exhibits, transfer from Dakar airport to hotel and return, receptions, coffee breaks during the meeting and working lunches on April 14j 15 and 16, 1999. The final program, abstract volume and invitation cards will be available at the registration desk.

Please complete the enclosed registration form and send it with your registration fees to the Secretariat

Refund policy: a 25% administration fee will be charged to cancellations received before 31 December 1998. No reimbursement will be made after 31 December 1998.

FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE

A limited number of grants are available to African Scientists. Interested researchers should apply in writing before 31 October 1998. Please attach a copy of the abstract, updated curriculum vitae, copies of two or three publications during the last three years and details of expected costs.

EXHIBITION

An exhibition by world pharmaceutical industries, international institutions of cooperation, and NGOs will take place at the Congress Centre.

TRANSPORT

International transport: Please indicate your requirements. The multinational airlines AIR AFRIQUE has been chosen as the official carrier for the SONA 99 Congress. You can contact the nearest Air Afrique office (refer to SONA 99) to obtain the special airfare offered to participants and exhibitors on tickets and freight. Payment must be made directly to Air Afrique.

Local transport: There will be a bus service between the Dakar airport, Hotels and Congress site. Taxi service will also be available at the Congress Centre and hotels.

VISA AND VACCINATION

If necessary, an invitation letter can be sent to you by the Secretariat for your visa. Please contact the nearest Senegalese Embassy or Consulate. Vaccination against yellow fever is required.

WELCOME SERVICE

To facilitate police, health and customs facilities, a reception desk will be available at Dakar airport. Please send to the Secretariat all information related to you arrival as soon as possible, so that they can provide assistance.

BADGES

The official badge is required for entrance to scientific sessions, exhibition and receptions.

ACCOMODATION AND MEALS

The Secretariat of the Congress will coordinate hotel reservations. Special rates have been negociated for the SONA 99 participants and accompanying persons.

You can also do your own hotel reservation under your personal responsability. Please contact the secretariat

CAR RENTAL

HERTZ, AVIS, EUROPCAR, and BUDGET are companies represented in Senegal. Participants who would like to rent a car can contact them through the Congress Secretariat or directly at the Dakar International airport.

BANK AND CURRENCY EXCHANGES

Banque Internationale pour le Commerce et l'lndustrie du Senegal (BICIS), Branch of "Banque Nationale de Paris" has been designated as the official bank of the Congress for currency exchange and other bank transactions. Many credit cards (Visa, Master Card, Diner's Club, American Express) are accepted by banks and hotels.

The Senegal currency is the franc CFA.

1 FF = 100 cfa. 1$ = 600 Fcfa. 1 Rand = 142 Fcfa

MESSAGE AND BUSINESS CENTRE

A message centre will be organized at the Congress Centre during the conference.

A business centre will also be available during the Congress and will have the following services: t~lephone, fax, e-mail, telex, Post office, DHL desk, newspapers.

SOCIAL PROGRAM AND TOURS

A welcoming reception will be organized Tuesday 13 April 1999. Special interest dinners can be organized Wednesday 14 for various groups of persons at your request. A Senegalese night is scheduled Thursday 15.

Pre-Congress and post-Congress tours have been arranged. Tours agency will be at you disposal at the Congress Centre for those who are interested in excursions inside Dakar, to Goree Island (Slavery Museum), Pink Lake, Saint-Louis (ancient French Africa capital), Saloum delta and Islands, the green Casamance, Joal, Niokolo Koba animals Park, Doudj birds Park.

CLIMATE

Senegal is situated under an Atlantic climate, near the sea. During April, you can expect a good weather (22° - 30° c~ and sunny days.

TIME AND VOLTAGE

Senegal is on UT (Universal Time). The current electric voltage is 220 V.