Mr. Ysbrand S. Poortman,

Founder member of the Dutch National Federation of Patient and Consumer associations (NPCF, 1982) and of the Dutch Alliance of Parents' and Patients organizations of which he has been executive director (VSOP) since 1975.

On the European level he is Vice President of the European Alliance of patient and parent organizations for Genetic Services and innovation in medicine (EAGS) and since 1994 Vice President of the European Platform for Patient Organizations, Science and Industry (EPPOSI) in Brussels.

Since 1994 Mr. Y. S. Poortman is Vice President of the World Alliance of Organizations for the Prevention of Birth Defects (WAOPBD). Besides he is a member of the board of the Center for Clinical Genetics of the Erasmus University in Rotterdam since 1980 and of the Dutch National Health Council since 1999 and since 1999 as well CEO of the Dutch public genetic resource center.

He is author of many publications (books, articles, teaching packages and information materials) on genetics and biologist by education.

VSOP
Mr. Y.S. Poortman
Vredehofstraat 31
3761 HA SOESTDIJK
NETHERLANDS
Tel.: 31 35 6028155
Fax.: 31 35 6027440
E-mail: vsop@knoware.nl