14th European Congress of Clinical Microbiology and Infectious ...

ESCMID – News from the President
Dear Colleagues and Members of European Society of Clinical Microbiology and Infectious Diseases
Welcome to Prague on the occasion of the 14th European Congress of Clinical Microbiology and Infectious Diseases
(ECCMID). The ECCMID is one of the largest international meetings in its field. It focuses on the implications of latest
research findings for the advancement of laboratory, clinical and public health practice in diagnosis, therapy and pre -
vention of infection. This year’s superb Scientific Programme has again been developed by the ECCMID Programme
Committee under the remarkable leadership of Prof. Patrick Francioli, in association with Czech colleagues of the
Organising Committee. We are most grateful to them and to Prof. Jarmila Jelinkova, President of the Congress, as
well as to all the clinicians and scientists who are contributing to this programme.
This year’s ECCMID opens on the historical day when the Czech Republic and nine other countries of Eastern and
Southern regions of the continent are joining the enlarged European Union. Science and Medicine have long been
leading the way to peaceful collaboration across national borders. In the field of infectious diseases, the need for
international co-operation has never been greater. Therefore, the broadest participation of colleagues from all parts
of Europe and beyond is essential to address the challenges that we are facing. To this end, a record number of
attendance grants and support from local societies have been arranged to allow young scientists and clinicians to
present their data at the 14th ECCMID.
The scientific and organising committees have developed a truly cutting-edge programme that offers a choice of a
hundred oral sessions, including keynote lectures by outstanding scientists, state-of-the-art symposia, interactive
sessions, meet-the expert tutorials, reports of ESCMID Study Groups and integrated industrial symposia. Thanks to
an all-time record in quantity and quality of abstracts submitted, selected new data will be shared in 200 oral and
1500 poster presentations. As last year, guided poster walks will discuss new findings of particular interest.
ESCMID recognises the leading contribution that European scientists have given to medical microbiology and the
study of infectious diseases. It gives me special pleasure to invite you to attend the lecture by Prof. Jean-Paul Butzler
(Belgium), who is this year’s recipient of the ESCMID Award for Excellence in Clinical Microbiology and Infectious
Diseases, on Sunday May 2 opening session. I also encourage you to attend the presentations by the recipients of
the Young Investigator Awards, Dr. Marc Lecuit (France) and Dr. Arianna Loregian (Italy) on Monday May 3.
The annual ECCMID also offers you the opportunity to progress co-operative projects and education initiatives
through the annual business meetings of the thematic ESCMID Study Groups and EUCAST, the EU Committee on
Antimicrobial Susceptibility Testing. Do not hesitate to join any of these meetings if you are interested in becoming
a member of one of these groups. I also invite you to stop by the ESCMID booth and the nearby European Network
Corner. In this area suitable for informal meetings, information material will be available about ongoing ESCMID
Study Group activities, European projects supported by ESCMID such as EARSS and ESAC, and European Commission
programmes in biomedical science and public health.
Over the last years, our society has matured and expanded its range of activities. It should respond to the evolving
needs of its membership by adapting its organisational modalities. The European Council Meeting will be holding
its meeting on Saturday May 1. I welcome all elected delegates and representatives of specialist societies to attend
this Council meeting where a new affiliation scheme will be proposed as the basis for a renewed Council with the
aim of strengthening our partnership with National Societies of Microbiology and Infectious Diseases. The plan for a
single European Congress in the infection disciplines in co-operation with other international organisations will also
be presented. The ESCMID General Assembly of Members will be held during the lunch break on Sunday May 2.
I encourage all members to attend this important meeting. In addition to the Executive Committee’s report of
activities, revisions of the Society’s Statutes meant to foster democratic rule will be presented and submitted for
approval.
I look forward to meeting many of you during the next few days. I especially hope to meet you at the Opening Ceremony
on Saturday May 1. Among eminent personalities, Mr. Georgios Gouvras from the Directorate General Health
and Consumer Protection of the European Commission will be addressing delegates on the EU Health Programme
and the perspective of establishing the European Center for Disease Prevention and Control. The ceremony will
conclude with a performance by the Prague Black Light Theatre. A welcome cocktail and entertainment will follow.
I wish that the 14th ECCMID offers you the scientific excellence, inter-disciplinary dimension and social experience
that you expect from a world class congress while allowing you to enjoy the unique atmosphere of the beautiful city
of Prague. Thank you for attending ECCMID. I hope that you will return home with up-to-date knowledge, new ideas,
and enthusiasm about translating these into your practice.
Prof. Marc Struelens
President of ESCMID
www.escmid.org/eccmid2004
page 7