Words of welcome

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Dear colleagues,

It is with great pleasure, that we invite you to attend the XXXIst International Congress of the ISBT in joint cooperation with the 43rd Congress of the DGTI, which will take place in Berlin, the capital of Germany, from June 26th to July 1st, 2010.

For this congress, the international and the local committees are currently working with great enthusiasm on a programme providing an overview of the latest developments in transfusion medicine. Five different streams will guide you through the congress: “from the lab to the patient”, “cell therapy”, “quality management”, “blood safety” and the “ISBT academy”. The last-mentioned stream will offer young colleagues and beginners in the field a compact overview and education opportunity as well as state-of-the-art updates in all facets of blood transfusion for all of us. In addition, plenary lectures, meet-the-expert sessions, guided poster walks, ISBT and DGTI prize lectures and satellite symposia will take place. A vast number of ISBT Working Parties as well as other scientific groups will take the opportunity to meet at the initial weekend of the congress in Berlin as well. The world of blood transfusion meeting in Berlin in 2010 will comprise experts from Africa, Asia, Australia, Europe, the Mediterranean and North and South America. In all regions of the world, different economic, social, political and epidemiologic challenges need to be met. This International Congress will offer the unique opportunity for all scientists, physicians, nurses, technicians, administrative personnel and colleagues interested in the field of transfusion medicine and cellular therapy, immunology, organ transplantation, hematology as well as adjacent fields to get a comprehensive update. In addition, Berlin 2010 offers great opportunities to “meet and greet” your friends and colleagues, share ideas, plan for the future and go back home with novel aspects for your daily work.

New challenges to the safety of blood components such as re-emerging pathogens and ensuring a safe and adequate blood supply for all patients in the world wait for sophisticated solutions. These solutions will require our full attention as well as the use of international bench marking to save resources. Novel demands of modern medicine, such as cellular therapies, tissue engineering and organ transplantation request our input as well. This International Congress of the ISBT will mark three milestones in the history of our society: First, it will be a joint congress with the German Society for Transfusion Medicine and Immunohematology (DGTI). Additionally, it will mark the second time since the International Society of Blood Transfusion was founded that its International Congress has been held in Germany. Third, in 2010, ISBT will celebrate its 75th anniversary. The first ISBT congress took place in Rome in June 1935.

With the expansion of the European Union to include countries of Eastern Europe, Berlin has regained its former attractiveness in Central Europe. Today, Berlin is once again a leading center of scientific and medical research with one of Europe’s largest university medical faculties at “Charité Universitaetsmedizin Berlin”, which will celebrate its 300th anniversary in 2010 as well. Fourteen universities and more than 80 hospitals are located in the Berlin area. As with scientific and research opportunities, Berlin also offers great social ones as well. The city’s turbulent history in the twentieth century includes the cultural bloom in the “roaring twenties” and its status as emblem of the cold war from the middle to the end of the last century. Today, Berlin is back: It is the capital of Germany again with a population of 3.4 million. The city serves as a bridge between and meeting point for Western and Eastern Europe. Here, culture, business, science, politics and entertainment combine to form a unique lifestyle and you are cordially invited to be a part of it! An impressive number of international companies in the field of blood transfusion are already far advanced in their congress planning: Many satellite symposia, a capacious exhibition and the overall commitment of the major players in the field will give the Berlin congress additional fl avour. We and our teams look forward with interest and excitement to seeing you in Berlin in June 2010!

Erhard Seifried President of the ISBT Congress President XXXIst International Congress of the ISBT Berlin 2010		Reinhold Eckstein President of the DGTI Congress Co-President