“Detection of Growth Factors” was the topic for the 10th Annual Symposium on Anti-Doping Science, hosted by the U.S. Anti-Doping Agency (USADA) in partnership with U.K. Anti-Doping, October 1-2 in London, UK.

This preeminent event in the field of anti-doping science gathered over 100 scientists, laboratory directors, and sports administrators, representing renowned entities such as research institutes, international sport federations, universities, the World Anti-Doping Agency, the International Paralympic Committee, professional sports leagues, and the London Olympic Organizing Committee. Participants from nearly 30 countries attended.

With a focus on detection of growth factors, the 2011 symposium included interactive workshops and keynote addresses on specific topic areas such, as hgH isoforms and biomarkers, monoclonal antibodies to GH, serum proteins and RNA biomarkers. This dynamic and interactive annual symposium enables scientists and experts from both in and out of the anti-doping community to share their expertise, and generate vital dialogue and illumination around the present issues facing the anti-doping movement as well as into the future.

Esteemed speakers included such experts as Dr. Gerhard Baumann of Northwestern University and the Partnership for Clean Competition, Dr. Pierre-Edouard Sottas of the World Anti-Doping Agency, and Professor David Cowan of the Drug Control Centre King’s College London.

Held annually, the USADA Symposium on Anti-Doping Science is designed to enable the medical and science communities to gather and discuss the science behind doping with the potential for developing a uniform testing scheme, a research agenda and timeline, and to make the science and legal aspects of testing more efficient. Previous USADA symposia focused on “Emerging Technologies” (2010); “Detection of Enhancement of Oxygen Transport: Seven Years of Progress” (2009); “Mitochondria to Proteins: New Challenges for Anti-Doping Science” (2008); “Oxygen Transport and Energy Production” (2007); “Intra-Individual Reference Ranges” (2006); “Muscle Development & Recovery: Implications for Doping Control” (2005); “Detection of Human Growth Hormone Abuse in Sport” (2004); “Application of Gas Chromatography – Combustion – Isotope Ratio Mass Spectrometry to Doping Control” (2003); and “Oxygen Transport Enhancing Agents and Methods” (2002).