The slower-paced summer is winding down, and soon all of us will have returned from our respective vacations rejuvenated and ready to dive into work afresh---at least in theory.

To that end, this coming Fall offers a selection of stimulating conferences and workshops likely to expand your IVD knowledge, teach you new things, and hone your skills. A few are highlighted here:

1. Mass Spectrometry in the Clinical Lab conference, September 6-7, Chicago, IL, USA. This event, presented by AACC, will aid attendees in determining whether mass spectrometry makes sense for their labs and educate them on the clinical applications for which it is currently being used.

2. Evolution of Advanced IVDs conference, September 19-20 2012, San Diego, CA, USA. Brought to you by us here at IVD Technology, this conference will offer business strategies, news on innovative technologies, and regulatory updates from speakers in the know.

3. Investment In Innovation (IN3) Medical Device 360° Summit, October 15-17 2012, San Francisco, CA, US. This partnering, investment, and networking event is designed to benefit all medtech stakeholders, bringing together start-ups and medtech thought leaders for discussion of critical issues.

---Maureen Kingsley