Scuola Europea di Citogenetica APS

European School of Cytogenetics

The Scuola Europea di Citogenetica - SEC (European School of Cytogenetics) is an APS (non-profit association) under the responsability of Prof. Mariano Rocchi, General Secretary of the E.C.A. (European Cytogeneticsts Association) and Emeritus Professor of the University of Bari. SEC was created to manage the Goldrain course, founded by Albert Schinzel, which is supported also by liberal donations from ECA and ESHG.,


Albert Schinzel, 13 September 1944 - 12 September 2025
 

The best way to honor Albert’s memory is to keep the Goldrain course alive
European Diploma in Classical and Molecular Cytogenetics, Nîmes, March 23-29, 2026 (28th edition)   

The course is laboratory oriented and includes cancer cytogenetics, chromosome structure, molecular mechanisms of chromosome abnormalities and plant and animal cytogenetics.
 
   Nîmes
 
Flyer 2026

Travel tips               

   
Director of the Course: Prof. Jean-Michel Dupont, Paris University.

Contact: jean-michel.dupont@aphp.fr

Venue: Hotel Vatel, Nîmes, France    map    

Registrations open in September 2025, deadline is January 31, 2026

Group photo from previous years: 2025 -A-   -B-   -C-  2024    2023
19th Goldrain Course in Clinical Cytogenetics, founded by Albert Schinzel
August 25-31, 2026 (arrival August 24; departure September 1)

The course was founded in 2007 by Albert Schinzel, who sadly passed away on 12 September 2025. All those involved remain committed to continuing it as a way of honoring his memory.

The course covers all aspects of clinical cytogenetics in depth, including prenatal and postnatal dysmorphology, genetic counselling and ethical issues.
 
==== The registration to the Goldrain course 2026 is now open ====
Venue: Goldrain castle South Tyrol, Italy  map1    map2 

Flyer		      
   
  map of the castle and pensions 

Directors of the Course: Mariano Rocchi, University of Bari, and Jean-Michel Dupont, Paris University,
Programme Committee: M. Rocchi, J-M. Dupont, K. Miller, A. Baumer, E. Klopocki, K. Madan
Rooms available:
Single rooms: 24 in the castle; 4 in the Kiem residence*; map.   Double rooms: 8 in the castle
*Each of the 2 mini-apartments has two separate rooms and a shared kitchen and bathroom.

Travel tips (will be updated later).

Excursion 2026
Application procedure 
       
Download and complete the Application Form reporting fees and opportunities of scholarships.  Once we receive your application form, we will notify you regarding the acceptance*, and provide details about the payment of the registration fee.
   
The 40 available spots will be allocated on first come - first served basis. In 2025 all spots were filled by mid-April.

Contact: mariano.rocchi@uniba.it

*Please note that the course is not for beginners. At least one year's experience in the sector is required.

Programme 2025. The 2026 program is under development.

The management of the Goldrain Course is entrusted to the non-profit association Scuola Europea di Citogenetica (SEC), based in Bari, Italy.Scuola Europea di Citogenetica APS (SEC APS; European School of Cytogenetics APS). A non-profit association has the advantage of being exempt from 22% VAT for the activities organized for its members. This means that after acceptance to the course, you have to apply to become a member of the SEC APS Association (for a nominal fee of  €1,00, which you can ignore). SEC membership expires on December 31st of the year in which you join, without any obligation or automatic renewal.

Download the SEC APS Application Form

Lecturers 

Group photo 2025 and from previous courses: 2024 (1)  2024 (2)   2023  

2024 pictures from

Web site kindly hosted by the University of Bari, Italy.  Not secure (in case it shows): it just means that it is a simple web site in http, not in https